SUMMARY: LC 33 6928ER   LC 33 7253S

The "Georgia Educational Scholarship Act". Would provide for the establishment of educational scholarship accounts in which state funds would be deposited on behalf of a participating student to be used for qualified education expenses at a participating school or for a qualifying service. 

The payment for a student with an IEP would be the "amount equivalent to the costs of the educational program that would have been provided for the student," excluding federal funds.  Other students would be funded at an amount equal to 100% of the system-wide average per student amount of state funds for the student's resident system.

Participating students are counted in the enrollment of their resident school system for purposes of determining the funding.  School districts would be required to submit quarterly reports to the State Treasurer. 

Up to 50% of the funds could be rolled over annually and used up to the age of 22. Postsecondary expenses are included in the allowable uses of the funding.

REQUIREMENTS: 

To qualify for this act:  

• Parent must currently reside within Georgia
• Family income must be below 200% of the federal poverty level 
• Student has been adopted from foster care
• Student has a parent that is an active duty military service members stationed in Georgia with the previous year
• Has one or more of the following disabilities and has an Individualized Education Program (IEP): autism, deaf/blind, deaf/hard of hearing, emotional and behavioral disorders, intellectual disability, orthopedic impairment,other health impairment, or  specific learning disability, speech-language impairment; traumatic brain injury, visual impairment
• Has documented case of having been bullied or 
• Student has spent the prior year in attendance at a Georgia public school
 

 Qualified education expenses means one or more of the following:

• Tuition, fees, and required textbooks at a participating school
• Tuition, fees, and required textbooks at a community college or accredited postsecondary institution
• Tutoring services provided by an educator certified by the Professional Standards Commission
• Payment for the purchase of curriculum, including any supplemental materials required by the curriculum
• Tuition and fees for a nonpublic online learning program or course
• Services from a physician or therapist licensed pursuant to Chapter 10A, 28, 33, 34, or 44 of Title 43 including but not limited to, occupational, behavioral, physical, or speech-language therapies
• No more than $500 per year to a fee-for-service transportation provider for transportation to or from a participating school or service provider
• Fees for the management of account funds in accordance with 20-2B-7(e)
• Computer hardware or other technological devices approved by the Office of the State Treasurer or a physician if the computer hardware or other technological device is used to meet the student's educational needs 

EFFECTIVE DATE: July,

2018 if passed