“To fund an adequate supply of teachers by providing scholarships or stipends to prospective teachers in academic or vocational-technical areas where there is a critical teacher shortage.”

Appropriations from the Support Fund are made pursuant to a program and budget submitted by BESE to the legislature. La. Const. art. VII § 10.1(C). BESE's program and budget includes block grants to local school systems. Local school systems submit proposals to BESE for the expenditure of the block grant funds allocated to their respective system. Amounts are distributed to school systems by BESE on a reimbursement basis after the expenditure of such funds pursuant to an approved proposal.

Whether school administrators or 12 month employees are eligible for the stipend pay will depend on several factors, including the grant proposal submitted by the local school system to BESE and the policy the local school system has in place.

Generally, a public entity may, absent law specifically prohibiting or otherwise restricting salaries of a public servant, adopt a policy to provide compensation, including stipends, to its employees which will be earned under the terms of the policy. Any policy adopted shall be prospective in nature and should be in writing.