Start Here: Get to Know the Georgia Special Needs Scholarship
What is the Georgia Special Needs Scholarship?
Students who qualify are able to take the state portion of the education funding formula and use it at a K-12 private school approved by the GA Department of Education. Scholarship funds are only available for private school tuition and fees (e.g., they cannot be used for homeschool expenses or tutoring for students who are enrolled in the public school).
How much will my child receive under the Georgia Special Needs Scholarship?
The scholarship amount that each student generates is specific to the student and depends on a lot of factors including, among others, the grade of the student, and what services they receive in the public school. Check out this document for more information.*
* The average scholarship amount for the 2019-2020 school year was $6734. At that time, the scholarship was limited to students with IEPs. Students who now qualify for the Scholarship with a 504 plan will likely receive closer to $3000-$4000 per year depending on the grade of their student and any services their student received in the public school. Note that the scholarship total is student-specific so will vary up or down from these estimated averages depending on the student.
How do I qualify?
- You must be a Georgia resident for at least a year; AND
- Your student must have spent the prior school year in public school or receiving public special needs preschool services; AND
- Your student must have an IEP, or a 504 plan for the following disabilities:
(i) ADHD;
(ii) Autism spectrum disorder;
(iii) Bipolar disorder;
(iv) Cancer;
(v) Cerebral palsy;
(vi) Cystic fibrosis;
(vii) Deafness;
(viii) Down syndrome;
(ix) Drug or alcohol abuse;
(x) Dual sensory impairment;
(xi) Dyslexia;
(xii) Emotional or behavioral disorder;
xiii) Epilepsy;
(xiv) Hearing impairment;
(xv) Intellectual disability;
(xvi) Muscular dystrophy;
(xvii) Specific learning disability;
(xviii) Spina bifida;
(xix) Traumatic brain injury;
(xx) Visual impairment; or
(xxi) Any rare disease identified by the NIH Genetic and
Rare Diseases Information Center's list of rare disease disorders; and
(xxii) Any other eligible condition as determined by the State Board of Education.
What if I was not in public school last year or are not currently in public school?
Students with special needs who are not currently in the public school but who are military dependents, were adopted from foster care or who have special medical or behavioral needs that limit their ability to attend the public school might still be eligible through one of the waivers. Find out more at the Department of Education website.
So how do I make this happen?
Check out the resources on this website to find out more about selecting a school from the DOE list of approved schools. You can determine what your child qualifies for in the DOE calculator.
