Overview
- Gov. Jeff Landry joined legislative leaders in forming a multi‑stakeholder task force to review the Minimum Foundation Program and recommend a permanent way to fund teacher and support‑staff raises.
- The panel will include appointees from legislative leaders, the chairs or designees of House and Senate finance and education committees, the state superintendent or designee, BESE and local school board and superintendent representatives.
- It remains unclear whether the recent $2,000 annual stipend for educators will continue while lawmakers seek a permanent solution, and any task force proposals must be approved by BESE and the Legislature before becoming policy.
- Officials say constitutional rules limit use of the Revenue Stabilization Trust Fund to capital outlay or transportation, which they argue prevents an $800 million drawdown from funding recurring stipends; total public education funding is cited at roughly $13 billion and recent stipends have cost about $200 million.
- Leaders say the review responds to long‑term enrollment declines and rising per‑pupil spending and could change how education dollars are allocated, with potential effects on pay stability for teachers and support staff and a separate review planned for higher education funding.