A 15-member task force created by the Louisiana Legislature began meeting on August 14, 2025, to conduct a "top-to-bottom review" of the state's Minimum Foundation Program, the roughly $4 billion formula that distributes state funding to public schools. The group, composed of 10 lawmakers, a representative of the governor's office, and four education group representatives, must recommend a revised or replacement formula by January 1, 2026, according to the resolution that established it.
Formula's age and structure
The MFP has been in operation since 1992. It uses a four-level structure. Level 1 calculates cost allocation using a base per-pupil amount of $4,015 and weighted student counts for categories including low-income and English language learners (22 percent weight), special education (150 percent weight), and gifted and talented (60 percent weight). Level 2 provides an incentive for local tax effort. Level 3 includes specific legislative allocations for items such as continuation of past pay raises and mandated operating costs. Level 4 provides supplementary funding for differentiated compensation, tutoring, and other programs.
The formula's operational expense provision, set at $122 per student as of 2024-25, recognizes only half of that inflationary increase, according to BESE.
Teacher pay and political backdrop
The task force was created in June 2025 after voters rejected a proposal to use education trust funds to increase teacher pay. In response, Governor Jeff Landry directed the state to pull approximately $168 million from school district budgets to fund one-time stipends of $2,000 for certificated K-12 personnel and $1,000 for support staff.
The MFP formula distributes about $4 billion annually, roughly 40 percent of total school funding. The FY 2025-26 formula adopted by BESE totals $4,066,221,408.
Constitutional authority and timeline
Under the Louisiana constitution, BESE has the authority to develop and submit the MFP formula. The Legislature may approve or reject the formula but cannot amend it. The task force can consider changes to any aspect of the formula, as the constitution does not require specific components, only that the formula equitably allocate state funding and that every parish contribute local funding.
BESE President Simone Champagne, who serves on the task force, indicated openness to updating the formula but did not advocate for a full overhaul. BESE member Kevin Berken, who chairs the board's education finance committee, noted that two independent studies of the MFP had already been conducted in 2025 and cautioned about the short timeline for proposing an overhaul.