$3.4 billion school funding plan gets final passage in Legislature

Other critics complained that they just learned one of the schools approved for the voucher program was an Islamic school. Still others objected to the spending plans as part of their continued opposition to the voucher program and the other education changes pressed by Jindal.


Rep. John Bel Edwards, D-Amite, head of the House Democratic caucus, said it was erroneous to declare the legislation could pass without 53 votes. And he said claims were false by the Jindal administration and BESE that rejection of the plans would require a special session.


"The games that we play in this body with the rules and the law need to come to an end. Either you have the votes to pass it or you don't," he said.


Rep. Kenneth Havard, R-Jackson, objected to including the Islamic School of Greater New Orleans in a list of schools approved by the education department to accept as many as 38 voucher students. Havard said he wouldn't support any spending plan that "will fund Islamic teaching."


"I won't go back home and explain to my people that I supported this," he said.


"It'll be the Church of Scientology next year," said Rep. Sam Jones, D-Franklin.


Carter, R-Baton Rouge, said the Islamic school withdrew its request to participate in the voucher program.


"They're not interested. The system works," he said.


The House previously voted to make changes to the formula. However, the state constitution limits the Legislature's ability to tweak the spending plans, and BESE President Penny Dastugue suggested any change from lawmakers would have the education board calling on Jindal for a special legislative session.


The formula divvies up dollars to districts based on the number and type of students they have and the individual districts' wealth. The proposal would keep the per-student cost flat for a fourth straight year, at $3,855.