The State of Louisiana Tuition Donation Credit Program was established by the Louisiana State Legislature in 2012 to provide scholarships for qualified low to moderate income families to attend private schools (K-12). Act 377 of the Louisiana Legislature changed the program to a nonrefundable income tax credit effective January 1, 2018.
The Tuition Donation Credit Program empowers Louisiana families to select the school of their choice that will best prepare their children for college, careers and life.
Students who are awarded must meet the following criteria:
Household income that does not exceed 250% of the federal poverty guidelines.(See attached chart)
Must be a resident of Louisiana
Have attended a public school in Louisiana from October 1st - February 1st of the most recent school year; or
Entering kindergarten for the first time; or
Have participated in the Louisiana Scholarship Program (voucher) or Tuition Donation Credit Program for the previous school year. Priority is given to these students.
Aspiring Scholars receives and approves applications, recruits participating schools, raise funds, and pay tuitions.
Students apply to Aspiring Scholars for a scholarship, and schoalrships are awarded on a first-come, first-servedbasis. Priority is given to students who participated in the Tuition Donation Credit or Louisiana Scholarship Programin the previous year.
Receiving a scholarship from a School Tuition Organization does not guarantee enrollment in a specific school. Students must apply directly to their school of choice for enrollment. Schools may use their own selective admissions criteria to decide which students they enroll.
The value of the scholarship varies at the secondary and elementary levels. High school students receive $4,730. Elementary school students receive $4,205. Families may be asked to pay any additional tuition and fees not covered by the scholarship.
Families with TDC scholars are eligible for additional financial aid from the school of choice or the Archdiocese of New Orleans if available.
By statute, donors may designate individual students to receive scholarships, which can help underwrite St. Michael Special School, St. Therese Academy, and exceptional student programs scattered across Archdiocese of New Orleans.
Donations are made to Aspiring Scholars- a 501(c)3 organization of the Archdiocese of New Orleans approved by the state as a school tuition organization (STO) to administer the program.The donor will receive a 95% tax credit, which is earned when the donation is made.If the credit exceeds the tax liability for the first year, it can carry over the unused portion for no more than the three following years.The Louisiana Department of Education will issue a receipt for claiming the credit.The remaining 5% of the donation qualifies for a federal charitable contribution deduction.