Georgia's school voucher program hits snags as eligibility confusion looms

ATLANTA - Georgia’s new school voucher program, the Georgia Promise Scholarship, is off to a rocky start, leaving parents uncertain about their children's eligibility for thousands of dollars in scholarships to attend private schools.

The program, designed to provide up to $6,500 to eligible public school students in lower-performing schools, also offers funding for tutoring services, speech therapy, and other educational needs. However, a critical piece of the rollout—identifying the eligible schools—has encountered significant delays.

The Georgia Promise Scholarship website outlines the program’s framework for parents and schools. Yet, a list of eligible schools, initially released on Dec. 1, was quickly withdrawn. The Governor’s Office of Student Achievement (GOSA) cited the need for "validating additional data to ensure accuracy" as the reason for the retraction. GOSA has not responded to further requests for comment.

Lisa Morgan, president of the Georgia Association of Educators, criticized the program's reliance on standardized test scores to determine school eligibility. "It is problematic because we are, once again, using standardized test scores to rank schools. They were not designed to rank schools," she said.

The program's rollout has been closely monitored by teachers' unions, many of which have long opposed school choice initiatives. Verdaillia Turner, president of the Georgia Federation of Teachers, expressed skepticism about the program's implementation. Although students are expected to begin applying for vouchers early next year, Turner is doubtful the process will unfold smoothly.

"You are dealing with a symptom," Turner said, emphasizing her broader concerns with the initiative. She referred to the program as a "false promise," adding, "Parents are going to feel like they have something now. I have money to send my child to private school. $6,500 is not going to send my child to private school."

As the program faces mounting criticism and logistical hurdles, parents and educators alike are left in limbo, awaiting clarity on how—or if—the Georgia Promise Scholarship will deliver on its commitments.