School choice advocates in Georgia scored a huge victory Wednesday when the Georgia General Assembly passed a new school choice measure. The state Senate approved SB 233, dubbed “The Georgia Promise Scholarship Act”, which will provide greater flexibility for families to find alternatives to public schooling. Under SB 233, students will receive a voucher for $6,500 per school year that can be applied toward tuition at a private school or used to cover expenses for homeschooling.
The Senate voted 33-21 in favor of the bill following an endorsement by the House, voting 91-82. Brian Kemp, then governor of Georgia and a school choice proponent, heralded the bill, praising the General Assembly for providing families with meaningful options to choose their educational path. Lt. Gov. Burt Jones hailed the measure as a significant step towards empowering parents in shaping their children’s educational journey.
I firmly believe we can take an all-of-the-above approach to education options.
I’m thankful to the General Assembly for giving final passage to SB 233 today to give students and families greater choice.— Governor Brian P. Kemp (@GovKemp) March 20, 2024
“This victory is a shared one, made possible by each of you who raised your voices, took action, and stood firm in the belief that every child deserves access to the best education possible regardless of their zip code,” remarked Cole Muzio of Frontline Policy.
While supporters argue that the vouchers will empower families and improve educational outcomes, critics raise issues regarding potential discrimination in private schools and constitutional concerns. State Rep. Miriam Paris criticized the effort, stating, “Vouchers don’t work… They only work for a certain few, and generally those few don’t need the help.”
While supporters argue that the vouchers will empower families and improve educational outcomes, critics raise issues regarding potential discrimination in private schools and constitutional concerns.
The voucher program is targeted at students attending the lowest performing 25% of public schools in Georgia. The money allocated to these scholarships, totaling $141 million, will be disbursed to families who opt to provide a non-public education for their children. The scholarships will go first to households eligible with incomes less than four times the federal poverty level.
The voucher program offers relief for families currently languishing in underperforming public schools, putting funds in the hands of students and their parents, SB 233 will allow parents to make educational choices that best fit their children’s individual needs.
Despite concerns brought forward by critics, the supporters of the bill are enthusiastic about the possibilities it provides and that the educational landscape can indeed change for the better. State Sen. Greg Dolezal, a Republican who sponsored the bill, expressed his admiration for the law for its potential to provide better opportunities for families in the state of Georgia. “When I cheer today, I’m going to be cheering because more parents and more families will have more opportunities,” said Dolezal.
