Landry’s Gamble: Behind his push to expand school vouchers

Published: February 10, 2026

By: AnnMarie Bedard, LSU Manship School News Service

BATON ROUGE–After running into resistance from lawmakers last year, Gov. Jeff Landry is once again asking the Legislature to double the size of a program to let parents use state funding to send their children to private schools.

Landry sought $93.5 million last year for the LA Gator voucher program but received only $43.5 million. He is asking the Legislature to add $44.2 million to that amount in this spring’s session.

But key lawmakers, including State Senate President Cameron Henry, R-Metairie, remain skeptical about committing additional funds. And teachers’ unions oppose the plan out of fear that it will lead to cutbacks in public school funding around the state.

With the budget expected to be tight in the upcoming session, LA GATOR will serve as an important measure of Landry’s influence over the Legislature, where his fellow Republicans hold more than two-thirds of the seats.

Read more at KATC.