More schools planned for Louisiana voucher program

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - More schools are on the list for Louisiana's voucher program next year, so the number of students using taxpayer dollars to go to private schools is expected to grow.

The Department of Education says 134 schools have been approved to take voucher students in the 2013-14 school year. That's up from 118 schools this year.

The application for students was released Wednesday. The deadline to complete the application is March 15.

The taxpayer-financed tuition at private and parochial schools is available to students from low- to moderate-income families who otherwise would attend public schools graded with a C, D or F by the state. Priority is given to students in D- and F-rated schools.

If more students apply than slots are available, the seats are awarded through a lottery process.

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