On Tuesday, Republican Georgia Governor Brian Kemp signed legislation that will provide Georgia students in underperforming schools with greater freedom and choice in their education.
The legislation, SB 233, creates a promise scholarship of $6,500 for each participating student that can be used for certain education expenses including tuition, fees, textbooks, and tutoring.
Students qualify for the scholarship if they meet requirements including having been enrolled in a public school for two consecutive enrollment counts (unless they would be entering kindergarten), being zoned for a school in the lowest 25 percent of all public schools. Priority for participation in the program will be given to economically disadvantaged students and students who were previous participants.
“There is nothing more important to the continued success of our state than safeguarding and strengthening the lives, education and future of our students, and that can only be accomplished by ensuring Georgia students have access to as many opportunities and choices as possible that will set them up for success,” said Kemp. “As I stated in my State of the State address, we can and must take an all-of-the-above approach to K-12 education, and thanks to Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones, Speaker Jon Burns, Speaker Pro Tempore Jan Jones and Senator Greg Dolezal keeping this issue a priority, Georgia is affording greater choice to families as to how and where they receive their education, while also continuing our efforts to strengthen public schools, support teachers, and secure our classrooms. This could not have been accomplished without their diligent work and the support of our additional partners in the General Assembly.”
SB 233 will also allow students to attend a public school outside of their resident system without needing the approval of that system and it increases the tax credit for donations to the Georgia Foundation for Public Education. The maximum amount of tax credits allowed has been raised by $10 million with the requirement that all the additional funds go to the schools who have performed in the lowest 25 percent.