Georgia’s newly unveiled list of low-performing schools makes over 400,000 students eligible for $6,500 vouchers. The initiative, which is part of Georgia’s expanded school choice program, aims to provide financial support to families seeking private school tuition or homeschooling expenses. The Governor’s Office of Student Achievement released the revised list after months of recalculating and revising earlier versions.
The new list includes schools ranked in the lowest 25% of Georgia’s academic performance ratings, opening up opportunities for students in these areas to apply for “promise scholarships.” These scholarships are designed to cover private school tuition, tutoring, home-schooling materials, and even transportation costs. With over 400,000 students eligible, the program could significantly impact the state’s education landscape.
Voucher eligibility and areas impacted
According to an Associated Press analysis, the voucher program’s scope is extensive, with every student in 65 of Georgia’s 180 school districts now eligible to apply. Notably, all students in Augusta’s Richmond County and Macon’s Bibb County districts will qualify. While the majority of eligible students are located in smaller, rural districts, significant portions of larger districts, such as DeKalb County, Clayton County, and Atlanta, will also see a majority of students able to access the program.
The voucher is available to students zoned for low-performing schools, regardless of whether they attend those schools. For example, if a middle school is on the list, even students attending elementary or high schools in the same attendance zone can apply. As reported by the Associated Press, this broad eligibility has led to criticism from some lawmakers, including House Education Committee Chair Chris Erwin, who argues that the program may be overextended beyond the original intent.
Funding and application process
The Georgia Education Savings Authority, which oversees the voucher program, will allocate funds separately from the state’s public school budget. With a $141 million spending cap set by the law, the program is expected to provide up to 22,000 vouchers. However, there are concerns that demand may exceed available funds. In the event of oversubscription, priority will be given to students from families with incomes below four times the federal poverty level—roughly $100,000 for a family of three.
The first application period for the vouchers runs from March 1 to April 15, 2025. Additional application periods are scheduled for June and September, but many private schools have already closed their application windows for the 2025-2026 academic year, potentially limiting the pool of available schools for students to attend, as noted by the Associated Press.
Ongoing debates and future considerations
As Georgia’s voucher program grows, debates surrounding its future continue. While supporters argue that the program provides families with more educational choices, critics, including some state lawmakers, fear that the broad eligibility may dilute its original purpose of aiding students in the most underperforming schools. “There are concerns about whether this voucher system is serving the intended purpose of helping students at low-performing schools,” Erwin said, as quoted by the Associated Press.
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