BATON ROUGE, LA – Senate Majority Leader Sharon Hewitt’s SCR25 was passed by the House of Representatives by a vote of 96 to 1. SCR25 urges and requests the Louisiana Department of Education to prepare for the implementation of an “education savings account” program. Several other states have implemented similar “education savings account” programs, and the Senate Majority Leader Hewitt sees them as potential models for Louisiana. 

“Parents want more options and more choices in how their children are educated. Education Savings Accounts, ESAs, allow parents to use the state-funded portion of their child’s educational dollars to enroll their child in a different educational setting that might be more appropriate for their child.  Last year I authored an ESA bill that the Governor vetoed.  In preparation for the likelihood of an ESA program being established by this legislature or a future legislature, SCR25 requests that the Department of Education begin the planning process to allow quicker implementation of an ESA program upon enactment of legislation. If this Governor does not sign ESA legislation, I will sign it as your next Governor.”

The resolution calls for the Louisiana Department of Education to create a sustainable framework, identify potential third-party vendors, and communicate with appropriate state agencies to prepare for the implementation of this program. A report of progress is requested to be submitted to the Senate and House education committees no later than January 12, 2024. 

This resolution shows Senate Majority Leader Hewitt’s commitment to providing parents with more choices in their children’s education and why she is still considered the “Louisiana Leader in Education.”