State Senator Rick Edmonds says a website launched by the State Treasury today increases the transparency of school finances for parents and policymakers across the state, and he’s encouraging everyone to check it out. The School Transparency Project Portal (www.treasury.la.gov) was created by Act 370 sponsored by Senator Edmonds during the 2023 Regular Legislative Session.
The law requires schools to provide financial information to the Louisiana’s Treasurer’s Office, which oversees the transparency portal on their website. Information collected includes expenditure data on the purchase of goods and services for instruction, instructional support, legal services, audit services, general administration costs, construction, maintenance, transportation, information technology, professional services, technical services, land acquisition, supplies and other costs.
“This school transparency portal marks the beginning of a new chapter in Louisiana state government and public education,” said Senator Edmonds. “Transparency and efficiency are essential to providing the best educational environment for the teachers and children of this state and I’m proud to have been a part of its development. This will give Louisiana taxpayers the tools they need to make the best decisions for their children and let them know where their tax dollars are being spent.”
In addition to expenditures, the portal also collects information on school contracts including the vendor, purpose, cost, incentives, award notices, memoranda of understanding and cooperative endeavor agreements. Parents also have the ability to review School Performance Scores on the website which are based on student achievement data. All Louisiana’s public and charter school are participating in the portal allowing citizens to compare educational budgets and have easy access regarding how public schools are spending taxpayer dollars.
The School Transparency Project Portal requires reporting, twice a year, on March 31st and September 30th.