Funding for private schools tough issue
Parents of private and parochial school students in Louisiana have friends in the Legislature trying to give them tax breaks or other funds to help cover tuition. Unfortunately, state finances being bleak makes it almost impossible to give them any financial assistance.
The state is facing a $700 million budget shortfall for the fiscal year beginning July 1, so there is no extra money floating around. And Gov. John Bel Edwards has said public schools are facing another freeze for the 2018-19 school year in extra funds they are supposed to get each year through the Minimum Foundation Program.
The first students affected are those who attend private and parochial schools on vouchers financed with state aid. John White, state superintendent of education, announced earlier this month the state is running $2 million short for the current fiscal year and $5 million to $7 million short in the next school year.
If state money isn’t found, the private schools and dioceses have to absorb the costs. The Advocate reported that nearly 1 in 5 students, or about 140,000 attend private schools, one of the top percentages for private school enrollment in the nation.
Supporters say the vouchers give students in low performing public schools a chance to get a better education. Opponents say the program takes money away from public schools that haven’t gotten that extra state money for the past 10 years.
At least five legislators have bills that are designed for parents of private school students to get federal income tax breaks through the federal tax cut endorsed by President Trump. Two senators with bills said their plans hit a snag, and it also involves state money.
Sen. Conrad Appel, R-Metairie, told The Advocate, “We can’t do it now. I cannot pass this bill in its current state.”
Sen. Jack Donahue, R-Mandeville, said there is a state component that creates a fiscal note that causes problems.
Rev. Franklin Foil, R-Baton Rouge, said he is going to redraw his bill in hopes of offering families a federal tax break starting with their 2018 income tax returns.
Unfortunately for parents of private and parochial school students, they are in line behind numerous other demands on state revenues that are in short supply.