To qualify for the Georgia Special Needs Scholarship Program (GSNS), a student must meet all four of the requirements listed below. There are no exceptions to the Georgia Department of Education (GaDOE) eligibility criteria.  

• Student Eligibility Criteria 1- A student have must a parent/guardian who currently lives in Georgia and has been a resident for at least one calendar year.

• Student Eligibility Criteria 2- A student was enrolled and completed the entire previous school year in a Georgia Public School (grades K-12).

• Student Eligibility Criteria 3- A student was reported as attending a Georgia public school by a school district(s) during mandatory student counts conducted in October and March.

• Student Eligibility Criteria 4 - A student does not need to have an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) for the entire school year to qualify for the GSNS Program. A student must be reported by a school district in either the October OR March student-counts, or in student record as a student receiving special education services by the end of the school year.

The GSNS allows eligible special education students to request a transfer to:

• Another public school within their district of residence; or

• Another public school district outside their district of residence; or

• One of the three state schools for the blind or deaf; or

• A private school authorized to participate in the GSNS Program.

Funds received through the GSNS Program can only be used to offset tuition and fees at a private school authorized by the State Board of Education. However, the scholarship may not cover the total cost of tuition and fees.

Funds cannot be used for out-of-district tuition, charter schools, or other options available under public school choice. Also, GSNS funds cannot be used to pay for:

• Transportation

• Before or after-school care

• Meals

• Tutoring

• Field trip fees

• Athletic fees

• School supplies

• Summer school/camp programs

• Other fees (determined by GaDOE)

Students who do not meet the eligibility requirements will not receive a scholarship-no exceptions.

• The student must have attended public school in Georgia in grades kindergarten through 12. Toddlers and state pre-kindergarten programs for 4-year-olds, are not eligible.

• A home-school operating under O.G.C.A. §20-2-690, is not eligible to enroll scholarship students.

• Residential Treatment Facilities are not eligible to enroll scholarship students.

• Department of Juvenile Justice Schools and students are not eligible to receive the scholarship.

Out-of-district students are required to pay non-resident student tuition. Funds received through the GSNS Program cannot be used for out-of-district tuition, charter schools, or other options available under public school choice.

GSNS transfers are granted based upon space availability. If the number of applications for a school exceed the number of classroom spaces, a random lottery will be conducted to provide each student with an equal opportunity for admission.

Transportation is the responsibility of the parent. You must provide on-time, daily transportation, to and from the school.

No. There must be appropriate special education services and space available at the requested school. The school is not required to add more services for transfer students.

Private schools have no obligation to provide special education or related services. If you accept the scholarship, you must waive your child’s federal rights under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Special education assistance or related services will not be provided from the public school.