Voucher program applications open now

Central Catholic High School is the only Tri-City area school accepting applications for the Louisiana Scholarship Program. The application period opened Tuesday.

The Louisiana Scholarship Program is designed to provide students with opportunities to attend high-quality schools. Applicants are eligible to receive a state-funded scholarship to enroll in participating nonpublic schools.

Ten students enrolled for the 2015-16 school year as scholarship recipients at Central Catholic, which is an increase from last year’s six students, Central Catholic High School Administrative Assistant Sandy Daigle said.

Low-income families with children enrolled in public schools rated C, D, F, or T statewide are eligible to participate in the Louisiana Scholarship Program, according to a Louisiana Federation for Children news release. Children entering kindergarten for the first time are also eligible.

“The scholarship program gives parents access to quality education options that work best for their individual needs,” Louisiana Federation for Children President Ann Duplessis said in a news release. “The scholarship program already serves as a lifeline to thousands of Louisiana schoolchildren from low-income families.”

Families can apply online (www.lascholarshipprogram.org) or at the participating school of their choice until Feb. 26. Applications can be completed for schools in and outside their parish of residence.

The Louisiana Department of Education will mail award letters in April.

There are 128 schools participating in the scholarship program during the 2016-17 school year. Of the 128 schools, 89 schools in 27 parishes are accepting applications for new students.

More than 7,100 students are currently enrolled in the scholarship program.

Since students are receiving state funding to attend a private school, they must take the same assessments as their public school peers, according to the news release. Achievement on the assessments is used to determine the status of a school’s continued participation in the program.