A Toothless GATOR?

Governor Jeff Landry is once again urging lawmakers to expand funding for Louisiana’s education savings account program, known as GATOR. The program is doing exactly what it was designed to do: give families real choices and put students first. Yet once again, critics in the Legislature are standing in the way of expanding a program that parents are clearly demanding. It remains severely limited despite campaign promises from many in the legislature that it would be a priority this term.

Governor Landry wants lawmakers to significantly increase funding for GATOR in the upcoming budget. The governor argues that demand proves the program’s popularity and that expanding access is essential to fulfilling its promise. But a handful of legislators are continuing to throw up roadblocks.

Governor Jeff Landry has called for increased funding for GATOR after overwhelming interest in its first year. Tens of thousands of families applied. Only a fraction received awards, not because the program failed, but because lawmakers underfunded it. Demand is not a flaw. It is proof of success.

Opponents argue that GATOR lacks accountability, but that claim does not hold up. The program includes spending controls, approved vendor lists, auditing requirements, and parental responsibility for outcomes. Unlike the one size fits all public system, GATOR empowers parents to decide what works best for their children and parents have the strongest incentive of all to demand results.

Another common criticism is that GATOR somehow “drains” public schools. That argument ignores reality. Funding follows students. When a child leaves a public school, that school no longer bears the cost of educating that student. Meanwhile, per pupil spending in Louisiana public schools continues to rise, regardless of modest participation in school choice programs.

Lawmakers also point to budget pressures as a reason to hesitate, but that argument is likely the weakest, as the existing dollars would simply follow the student.

GATOR does not eliminate public education. It complements it and it encourages parental involvement. Public schools remain funded, fully operational, and free to improve and compete. Families who are satisfied with their schools lose nothing. Families who are not finally have a chance to improve their child’s education.

Louisiana has an opportunity to lead on education freedom, not retreat from it. The GATOR program is popular, responsible, and focused on students rather than systems. Lawmakers should stop treating parental choice as a threat and start treating it as a solution.