The Georgia General Assembly has given final approval to one of the most significant pieces of school choice legislation in the country this year--a bill that Georgia Family Council's policy team has been working diligently to get approved before lawmakers adjourn this year's session at the end of the week. On Tuesday, the Senate passed HB 1133, which allows individuals and corporations to receive dollar-for-dollar tax credits for donations made to fund private school tuition scholarships. Parents may then apply for these funds to help cover the cost of private school tuition for their children.
The policy is a major win for parents and school choice in Georgia.
It is also a win for the public school system. A study released by GFC and other groups found that local school systems in Georgia could save as much as $94 million and the state could save $6 million from the reduction in expenses gained when students leave public schools for private ones.
The bill must now be signed by the Governor before becoming law.
"Passage of this bill continues the historic reform to education in Georgia that began with last year's special needs scholarships," said GFC's director of government affairs, Jamie Self. "Our state is at the forefront of offering meaningful school choice nationwide, but more importantly, Georgia's parents have more options in choosing the best education for their children."