Georgia: The Georgia Promise Scholarship Act

Student education savings accounts will be initially funded with an annual maximum of $6,500 in 2025, disbursed in quarterly payments. This amount may be adjusted in the future based upon changes to the funding formula base or upon adjustments to the annual appropriation.

• Income Limit: 400% x Poverty for Priority
• Prior Year Public School Requirement Yes, 2 Consecutive Enrollment Counts
• Testing Mandates: State or national
• Special Needs Pathway: None

To qualify, the student must live in Georgia within the attendance zone of a public school rated D or F by the Georgia Department of Education (bottom 25% of public schools). A student’s parents must reside in Georgia for a minimum of one year, excluding parents on active-duty military service stationed in Georgia within the previous year. The student must be currently enrolled in a Georgia public school and have been continuously enrolled for two consecutive enrollment counts. The student must be eligible to enroll in a qualified public kindergarten program based on residency, if other program requirements are met. Once eligible, a student remains eligible through 12th grade graduation, regardless of whether they enroll in a nonpublic school. The student cannot be enrolled in a local public school, local charter school, state charter school, or a school operated by the Department of Juvenile Justice while participating in the program.

1. The scholarship has specific application periods set by the Georgia Education Savings Authority each year.

1. These dates are published by December 15 for the following year.
2. Visit here to view all the application windows and access other important family resources.
3. Be sure to apply within the designated window to be considered. You may apply at any point during the window; priority is not given based on when you apply.

2. Complete the application: Visit here to find the official application portal during the application period.

1. During the 2025/26 academic year the Georgia Promise Scholarship student application window opened on March 1st and closed on April 15, 2025.
2. Fill out all required fields, providing accurate information about the student and parent/guardian

3. Submit Required Documents: To provide eligibility you may be asked to provide the following

1. Proof of Georgia Residency

1. If you are Active Duty Military transferring into the state of Georgia you will be required to upload a copy of your active duty orders placing you within the state of Georgia in the past year

2. Proof of Income
3. School Enrollment Records

Families are able to expend funds on one or more qualified education expenses including:

• Tuition, fees, and required textbooks for eligible courses
• Career, technical, and agricultural education courses at a participating school, accredited community college, postsecondary school, or nonpublic online program
• Tutoring from a certified educator
• Curriculum and required supplemental materials
• Certain therapies form a physician or license therapist (including occupational, behavioral, physical, or speech-language therapies)
• Up to $500 annually on fee-for-service transportation for travel to or from a participating school or service provider
• Other authorized expenses approved by the State Board of Education or the Georgia education savings authority
• Individual education expenses authorized by a majority of the parent review committee

The program may allow for reimbursement or preapproval of some out-of-pocket expenses.

Unused funds, up to 50% of the total deposited for the current school year, shall roll over to the following school year; however, after two years of inactivity, an account’s funds will return to the state general fund, and the account will be closed. A P

Additional Program Guidelines

• Enrollment Cap: By Appropriation, $141M Provides Approximately 21,692 Scholarships
• Account Cap: $6,500
• Budget Cap: $141 million

Participant and Family Guidelines

• Education Requirements: Sign an agreement to provide an education in at least reading, grammar, mathematics, social studies, and science
• Parent Supplemented Funds/Scholarships: Allowed
• Disbursement/Payment Frequency: Quarterly
• Reimbursement: Conditional
• Miscellaneous:

• Submit an application by the deadline
• Only use funds for qualified expenses under statute
• United States citizen or legal resident
• Not to enroll the student in a local school system school, local charter school, state charter school, or completion special school while participating in the program
• Accept full financial responsibility for the education of the participating student
• Comply fully with the participating school or service provider’s rules and policies

Education Provider Guidelines

• Accreditation/Approval: Be accredited or in the process of becoming accredited by a recognized state or regional accrediting agency
• Employment Standards: Comply with state laws
• Nondiscrimination: Comply with anti-discrimination provisions of 42 U.S.C. Section 2000d
• Calendar/Curriculum/Attendance: Submit annual reports of attendance rates, course completion rates, dates of enrollment, and amount of account funds
• Financial: Demonstrate fiscal soundness by either having been in operation for at least one school year or submitting a financial information report, including information on whether the school is insured and has sufficient capital or credit to operate
• Miscellaneous:

• Beginning the fourth year, submit on-time graduation rates
• Annual administer a nationally norm-referenced test or a state-wide assessment to participating students. Comply with all health and safety laws or codes that apply to private schools
• Be located in Georgia
• Apply to the education savings authority to participate and accept funds
• Comply with all provisions of Georgia Code Section 20-2-690 and other state laws applicable to private schools

Scholarship Organization Guidelines

• Scholarship to Contribution Ratio: N/A
• State Reporting: Annually complete state authority’s compliance form
• Financial: Shall not refund, rebate, or share funds with participating families
• Priority: Low- and middle-income families
• Miscellaneous: Cannot be a family member of participating family providing therapies

(Last updated December 4, 2024)

O.C.G.A. §§ 20-2B-1 through 31

(Last updated April 21, 2025)