Orleans Parish Enrollment: FAQ

Application Deadline: January 29, 2021

What is the Louisiana Scholarship Program?

The Louisiana Scholarship Program is a program designed to provide students with additional opportunities to attend the school of their choice. Applicants are eligible to receive state-funded scholarships to enroll in participating nonpublic schools or high performing public schools.

Current Scholarship Students

Want your child to stay at his or her current school? No problem!

If your current school serves the grade your student will enter in 2021-2022, you are guaranteed a seat if you wish to return. If you wish for your child to return to his/her current school, no action is required on your part.

If you wish for your child to return to his/her current school, no action is required on your part.

To apply to a school other than your current school, follow the instructions under “How to Apply”. Continuing Louisiana Scholarship Program students do not need to submit eligibility documentation.

Students in Terminal Grades

Please be sure to submit an application if the school your student attends does not serve the grade your student will be in next year. For example, if your current school serves K-8, a new application must be submitted for students who will be in 9th grade next year.

Eligibility Requirements for New Applicants

To be eligible for a Louisiana Scholarship Program scholarship:

  • Your child must be a resident of Louisiana.
  • Your child must be entering kindergarten or enrolled in a public school with a C, D, F, or T grade on both October 1 and February 1 of the current school year or a continuing Louisiana Scholarship Program student.
  • Have a family household income that meets the requirements below:

How to Prove Eligibility

PROVING INCOME ELIGIBILITY

If the parent participates in any one of the programs below, the parent can bring evidence that they participate in the program. The following documents are accepted for INCOME verification:

  • Placement form from DCFS (in the case of foster children)
  • Louisiana Purchase Card
  • SNAP Benefits
  • Social Security Benefits

If the parent does not participate in any of the programs listed above, the parent will need to bring proof of income for every income-earning member of their household.

  • Most recent federal tax Return
  • Most recent pension statements
  • Most recent unemployment compensation statement
  • Most recent Social Security benefits statement
  • Louisiana Purchase Card budget sheet or benefits statement

RESIDENCY VERIFICATION

Eligibility documentation must be submitted to a participating Louisiana Scholarship Program school or, if the family is applying to a school in Orleans Parish, to a Family Resource Center.

The following documents are accepted for RESIDENCY verification:

  • Rental lease agreement or mortgage agreement
  • Electricity/gas bill
  • Telephone bill (Must be a landline - cellular phone bills will not suffice
  • Cable or internet service bill
  • Sewage/water bill
  • Current official letter from a government agency (DSS, DHH)
  • Homestead exemption notice
  • Property tax notice

PRIOR YEAR SCHOOL ELIGIBILITY

  • Eligible students entering grades 1-12 must have attended a school with a grade of C, D, F or T during both the October 1, 2020 and February 1, 2021 of the current school year or a continuing scholarship student. Students who did not attend such school on those count dates will not be eligible for a scholarship.
  • Students applying to kindergarten must be entering kindergarten for the first time and must be 5 on or before September 30, 2021.
  • Because eligibility will be determined after the application window has closed, the Louisiana Department of Education cannot guarantee your eligibility at the time of submission. Being determined eligible does NOT guarantee a seat at a Louisiana Scholarship Program school.

How and When to Apply

Families applying for a Louisiana Scholarship Program scholarship for a child not currently enrolled as a Louisiana Scholarship Program student in grades K-12th MUST confirm their eligibility.

  • Application Opens: November 20, 2020
  • Application Deadline: January 29, 2021

Apply online at https://oneapp.secure.force.com/

All Family Resource Centers remain closed. Click here to contact an enrollment representative.

Proof of residency and proof of income may be submitted online. See “Income Eligibility” and “Residency Eligibility” sections above to learn what is included in proof of residency and income

Apply to attend schools outside of New Orleans:

https://webapps.doe.louisiana.gov/publicapps/scholarshipsonlineapp/

How do I know which schools are participating in the program?

A list of participating schools is available online here.

Does it matter how quickly I apply?

No. You only need to prove your eligibility at one of the schools. That school will then mark your child's application as eligible. In the case of Orleans Parish, the Family Resource Center will mark the child's application as eligible.

Do I need to prove eligibility at every school I rank on my application?

No. You only need to prove your eligibility at one of the schools. That school will then mark your child's application as eligible. In the case of Orleans Parish, the Family Resource Center will mark the child's application as eligible.

What will the program cost me?

The program is free to all qualifying students. For nonpublic schools, the Louisiana Scholarship Program will cover the full amount of a school’s tuition and required fees, up to the maximum state allocation per student. However, we encourage you to reach out to schools of interest to see what services are included. Public schools will receive the full value of the maximum state allocation. Funds will be paid directly to the school on behalf of the student. Uniforms and any optional fees, including field trips and lunch (if school does not participate in the free and reduced-price lunch program) will be your responsibility.

Where can I find a list of C, D, F or T schools?

The list can be downloaded online here.

Do all students who apply to the program receive Scholarships?

The Louisiana Department of Education will attempt to place as many applicants as possible in their preferred school choice; if the number of applicants exceeds the number of seats available at a specific school and grade level, then those Louisiana Scholarship Program seats will be awarded through an unbiased lottery process. Acceptance in another school may be available on a limited basis and not guaranteed.

Will participating schools provide transportation?

Providing transportation for all Louisiana Scholarship Program students is not a requirement of this program. Please check with the participating school of your choice to determine if transportation services are available.

Where can I get more information?

For more information about the Louisiana Scholarship Program, please visit the program’s website, email studentscholarships@la.gov, or call the Louisiana Department of Education’s Help Center at 1.877.453.2721. The Help Center is available Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

How does this program serve students with disabilities?

The Louisiana Department of Education does not consider a student’s disability when matching students to schools. Some Louisiana Scholarship Program schools may offer additional education services for students with disabilities, but all schools must enroll all students awarded, regardless of disability. Please check with the school(s) of your choice before listing it on your child’s application to ensure it is able to meet your child’s needs.

What if my child is entering a grade their current school does not serve?

You must submit a new application and list choices that serve the appropriate grade, but you are not required to resubmit eligibility documentation. Students in terminal grades receive preference in the lottery but are not guaranteed a placement. If you do not submit an application, your child will not receive a placement for next year.