The State of Louisiana offers a savings program known as the Student Tuition Assistance and Revenue Trust Program, commonly referred to as the "START Saving program." It is a "529 Qualified Tuition Plan" under the Internal Revenue Code. Highlights of this program are listed below:
- Created to help residents save for their children's postsecondary education.
- As an incentive to save, the State of Louisiana will allocate funds to an employee's account at a variable rate, depending upon the amount employees deposit and their adjusted gross income.
- The open enrollment period is July 1 through November 1 of each year.
- Applications for children over the age of one are only accepted during the open enrollment period.
- Applications for children under the age of one are accepted at any time during the year.
This program is administered by the Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance (LOFSA), under the direction of the Louisiana Tuition Trust Authority, or LATTA. The LATTA is a public body composed of representatives from all of the state's education governing boards, and includes the State Treasurer and one member from each house of the Louisiana Legislature.