Georgia Special Needs Scholarship (Senate Bill 10)

The Georgia Special Needs Scholarship (GSNS), which was signed into law in May 2007, provides parents of students with disabilities who are enrolled in Georgia public schools and have an active IEP, with the opportunity to receive funding to offset tuition costs at state-approved participating private schools in Georgia.

Georgia Special Needs Student Scholarship Eligibility Criteria:

In order to qualify for the GSNS program, a child must meet the following requirements:

The student’s parents currently reside within Georgia and has been a Georgia resident for at least one calendar year.
The student has spent the entire immediate prior school year in attendance at a Georgia public school in grades K-12.
The student was enrolled and reported by a public school district for funding purposes during the preceding October AND March full-time equivalent (FTE) program counts.
The student was serviced at some point during the immediate prior school year under an IEP and was reported by a school district in either the October OR March FTE program counts OR in student record as a student receiving special education services.

Private School Choice

If the private school choice option is used, the student must meet the eligibility criteria AND apply AND be enrolled in a state approved private school in Georgia. A list of participating schools will be posted on the Georgia Department of Education’s website beginning in May and will be updated regularly through July. For more information and to apply for the scholarship (private school choice) online, visit the state DOE website at http://www.doe.k12.ga.us/External-Affairs-and-Policy/Policy/Pages/Special-Needs-Scholarship-Program.aspx .If this option is chosen, the parent is responsible for providing transportation.

If a parent decides to place their child in private school, they must inform school officials at the last IEP Team meeting of their intent and explain their concerns about the public program. The school district is not required to pay for the private school if the school district is offered a free appropriate public education to meet a child’s educational needs that have been identified through the educational evaluation and are included in the IEP.

Public School Choice

Parents can request their child to transfer to another public school within the school district as long as there is available space at that school and the school has a program with the services in the student’s existing IEP. In addition, the specific program within the school must also have available space. Parents who select this option should complete the process for “Out of Zone” requests on the district website during the annual window of opportunity. If approved, the parent is responsible for providing transportation unless special transportation is required and indicated in the student’s IEP.

Other Public School Districts Option

Parents may request a transfer to a school in another school district if there is available space and the system/school has the program with the services in the student’s existing IEP. However, the school district must agree to accept the student. If the parent chooses this option and the school district accepts the child, then the parent is responsible for transportation to a school in that district. If you are interested in your child attending a school in another system, please contact that system directly. Out of district fees may apply and may be the responsibility of the parent. Contact the Director of Special Education for additional information.

State Schools Option

A parent may also request a transfer to one of the state schools for the deaf and/or blind operated by the State Board of Education. Acceptance into a state school will depend on whether the setting is appropriate for the student’s needs. If the parent selects this option, then the parent shall be responsible for transportation to the state school. Please contact the Georgia Department of Education for more information about transferring to a State School.https://www.gadoe.org/External-Affairs-and-Policy/Policy/Pages/Special-Needs-Scholarship-Program.aspx

Ware County Schools

Ware County Schools Special Education Department

Contact Information

District Level Personnel

Ensuring Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) for Every Student

System-level Goals

Parent Engagement and Students with Disabilities

Meet our Parent Mentor

Do You Know a Child With Special Needs?

Georgia Special Needs Scholarship Act