Hundreds of New Orleans families showed up Monday to fill out applications in hopes of getting one of 1,500 coveted vouchers to pay for private school tuition for their children.

State lawmakers approved the $10 million program last month, which will pay for select students entering grades K-3.

“We had folks here early this morning, well before we started,” said David Grubb, a spokesman for the Louisiana Department of Education. “Four or five hours before we opened our doors, we had some here. People are interested and will take a chance and take the opportunity to get a better education for their child.”

Proponents of the vouchers say they’ve worked in other places and give children who are in failing schools another option.

Parents in New Orleans like Monica Simms envision those same results here.

Simms says her daughter already performs well, but she believes a private school setting will take that to a higher level.

"Well my daughter is a 4.0 student in school, so I thought she deserved the opportunity to go to a private school, and this was one way for me to get it done... I don't really have the funds to pay for it by myself," Simms said.

However, Simms may need a little luck on her side as officials expect more applications than available scholarships. Eligible students will be selected from a computerized, lottery-style drawing.

Parents can apply each day this week from 9:00 AM through 6:00 PM at the Dryades YMCA on Oretha Castle Haley Blvd.

The application center will close Saturday at 1:00 PM.