Kids at dozens of CSRA schools can seek Ga. tuition vouchers

ATLANTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - Dozens of CSRA schools are on a list allowing their students to apply for vouchers for private tuition.

The Georgia Office of Student Achievement published the list of hundreds of Georgia elementary, middle and high schools identified as low-performing.

For a student to be eligible for the Georgia Promise Scholarship, they must attend one of the low-performing schools on the list.

Among the local schools on the list:

• Emanuel County: Swainsboro elementary and middle schools
• Hancock County: Hancock Central High School, Hancock Central Middle School, Lewis Elementary School
• Jefferson County: Jefferson County High School; Jefferson County Middle School; Carver and Wrens elementary schools; and Lousiville Academy
• Jenkins County: Jenkins County High School
• McDuffie County: Thomson Elementary School
• Richmond County: Barton Chapel, Bayvale, Copeland, Deer Chase, Diamond Lakes, Dorothy Hains, Garrett, Glenn Hills, Goshen, Gracewood, Jamestown, Jenkins-White, Lamar-Milledge, McBean, Meadowbrook, Merry, Monte Sano, Sue Reynolds, Tobacco Road, W.S. Hornsby, Warren Road, Wheeless Road and Wilkinson Gardens elementary schools; Belair and Richmond Hill K-8 schools; Glenn Hills, Hephzibah, Langford, Murphey, Pine Hill, Spirit Creek, Tutt and W.S. Hornsby middle schools; and Academy of Richmond County, Butler, Cross Creek, Glenn Hills, Hephzibah, Laney, Josey and Westside high schools
• Washington County: Ridge Road Elementary School, T.J. Elder Middle School and Washington County High School
• Wilkes County: Washington-Wilkes Primary School

Students are eligible to apply if:

• They are enrolled in Georgia public school for the 2024-25 school year or they are entering kindergarten for the 2025-26 school year.
• They reside in the attendance zone of a public school included on the published list of lower-performing schools.
• Parents have resided in Georgia for more than a year, except for active-duty military.
• They are not recipients of the Georgia Special Needs or the Georgia Student Scholarship Organization scholarships.

The Georgia Promise scholarship will allow families to use funds from a $6,500 voucher to pay for private school tuition and fees, required textbooks, tutoring services, curriculum, physician and therapist services, transportation services and other approved expenses.

Some students may be given priority if funding is limited.

“Students whose family income does not exceed 400% of the federal poverty level will receive priority consideration,” the Georgia Promise scholarship website states. “The federal poverty level used to determine eligibility is defined annually by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Students who receive an initial scholarship will receive priority consideration over new applicants to the program in future years.”

The application portal is expected to open in early 2025. Funding will be available after July 1.

“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 Gov. Brian Kemp of the program. “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 Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, Speaker Jon Burns, Speaker Pro Tempore Jan Jones and Sen. 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, teachers, and secure our classrooms. This could not have been accomplished without their diligent work and the of our additional partners in the General Assembly.”

Copyright 2024 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.