Are you a Louisiana parent looking for help paying for your child’s education? The LA GATOR Scholarship Program gives families money to choose the best school for their kids. Whether you want private school, tutoring, or other educational services, this program can help make it happen.
What is the LA GATOR Scholarship Program?
LA GATOR stands for Louisiana Giving All True Opportunity to Rise. This is Louisiana’s first education scholarship account program that gives families money to spend on approved educational services for their children in kindergarten through 12th grade.
Instead of being stuck with one school choice, you get an account with money that you can use for private school tuition, tutoring, textbooks, online classes, and other approved education expenses.
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How Much Money Can You Get?
The amount your child receives depends on family income and disability status. For the 2025-2026 school year, students may receive up to $15,253 for students with a qualifying disability under IDEA, or $7,626 for students from families earning at or below 250% of the federal poverty level (that’s $80,375 for a family of four).
This money goes into your account, and you decide how to spend it on approved education services for your child.
Who Can Apply?
To qualify for the LA GATOR Scholarship Program, your child must be a Louisiana resident and meet one of these requirements:
- Currently enrolled in the Louisiana Scholarship Program
- Has a disability under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
- Comes from a family earning at or below 250% of the federal poverty level
- Is a sibling of a student already in LA GATOR or Louisiana Scholarship Program
Phase 2 will add students with family income less than 450% of federal poverty guidelines, and Phase 3 will eventually make every Louisiana student eligible regardless of income. Right now, the program is in Phase 1.
What Can You Use the Money For?
You can spend your LA GATOR funds on many approved education expenses, including:
- Private school tuition and fees
- Tutoring services
- Textbooks and curriculum materials
- Online learning programs
- Educational therapy
- Career and technical school tuition
- AP exam fees and college entrance exam fees
- Technology for learning
- School uniforms
All purchases must be made through the Odyssey platform. You cannot get reimbursed for out-of-pocket expenses, so everything must go through the system.
How to Apply
Here’s the step-by-step process to apply:
- Go to the official website at https://lagator.la.gov
- Create an account on the Odyssey platform
- Fill out the online application (takes less than 5 minutes)
- Provide proof of Louisiana residency (state ID or driver’s license plus two utility bills)
- Submit income documents if applying based on family income
- Submit disability documentation if applying based on IDEA eligibility
- Submit your application before the deadline
The application window typically opens on March 1 and closes on April 15 each year. Don’t wait until the last day because the system can get busy.
Application Timeline for 2025-2026
Over 39,000 Louisiana students applied for LA GATOR for the 2025-2026 school year, with nearly 35,000 determined eligible. Not all eligible students will receive funding because it depends on what the Louisiana Legislature approves in the budget.
Students currently in the Louisiana Scholarship Program get top priority for funding, followed by students with disabilities or from low-income families. Applications submitted earlier get priority over later applications within the same category.
What schools and services accept LA GATOR?
Over 240 nonpublic schools participate in the LA GATOR program. You can see the complete list of participating schools and service providers at lagator.la.gov.
Private schools, tutoring companies, online learning programs, and other educational service providers must be approved by the state to accept LA GATOR funds.
Important Things to Know
Here are some key points to remember:
- Eligibility does not guarantee funding. There are limited scholarships available.
- You must work directly with schools to complete enrollment. Some schools may require registration fees that cannot be paid with LA GATOR funds.
- Have a backup plan in case you don’t receive funding.
- Your child cannot participate in LA GATOR while enrolled in public school, homeschool, or certain other programs.
- All transactions happen through the Odyssey platform, not directly with schools.
Keeping Your Scholarship
Once you receive LA GATOR funding, your child can continue receiving it as long as they:
- Remain eligible under program rules
- Stay enrolled in an approved school or use approved services
- Continue meeting attendance requirements
- Take required annual assessments
Louisiana Scholarship Program students who stay at their current school will continue receiving the same amount they got in 2024-2025 until they finish that school’s final grade or leave the school.
How the Money Works
After you’re awarded a scholarship, you’ll set up your account on the Odyssey platform. The money stays in your account and you use it to pay for approved services.
When you select a school or service, the payment goes directly from your account to the provider. You never receive cash directly, and you cannot be reimbursed for expenses you already paid.
Get Help with Your Application
If you need help applying or have questions, Louisiana has support available:
- Visit the Odyssey Support Center at https://support.withodyssey.com
- Contact the LA GATOR call center
- Email the help desk for assistance
- Watch tutorial videos on the support website
The support team can walk you through the application process and answer your questions about eligibility, funding, and approved expenses.
Start Your Application Today
The LA GATOR Scholarship Program gives Louisiana families real choice in their child’s education. Whether you want private school, specialized tutoring, or other educational services, this program puts you in control.
Check your eligibility, gather your documents, and submit your application when the window opens. This could be the opportunity your child needs to get the education that works best for them.
Official Website: https://lagator.la.gov
Odyssey Support: https://support.withodyssey.com
Louisiana Department of Education: https://doe.louisiana.gov