State officials have approved the initial components of a program that would let qualifying families use up to $6,500 of public money for education expenses, including private school tuition.

The program is part of Senate Bill 233, known as the Georgia Promise Scholarship Act, approved by state lawmakers earlier this year. The Georgia Education Savings Authority Board, which oversees the scholarship program, approved the guidelines in November.

To qualify, students would need to be zoned to attend a public school where test scores are in the bottom 25% of the state.

Locally – that would include Jones Elementary School in the Bremen City Schools District; along with Bowdon High School, Mt. Zion Middle School, Sharp Creek Elementary School, Temple Middle School and Villa Rica Middle School in the Carroll County District.

In addition to residency requirements, families will have to qualify based on need. Those earning less than 400% of the federal poverty level, or about $124,000 for a family of four, will receive priority. If spaces are left, families earning above that level can qualify.

Students are eligible to apply if:

• They are enrolled in a 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.”