The Georgia Promise Scholarship application period starts on March 1st, offering $6,500 to eligible K-12 students for private school tuition or home-schooling costs. This scholarship aims to give educational opportunities to students from the lowest performing 25% of schools in Georgia.

However, there is concern among families as the Governor’s Office of Student Achievement has not released the official list of qualifying schools, which affects student eligibility. This delay complicates planning for the 2025-2026 academic year. The program, created by Senate Bill 233, limits funds to 1% of the K-12 school funding budget, totaling $141 million, and is expected to support about 20,000 scholarships.

To be eligible, students must have attended a public school for two semesters or be kindergartners ready to enroll. Parents must be Georgia residents for at least a year unless they are active military members. The main requirement is that students attend a school in the lowest performing 25%.

The scholarship has caused debate, with some saying lawmakers should focus on improving public schools. Kyle Wingfield, President of the Georgia Public Policy Foundation, argues that the priority should be finding the best educational fit for each child.

Families should note the application windows: March 1 – April 15, June 1 – June 30, September 1 – September 30, and December 1 – January 31. They are encouraged to check the Georgia Promise Scholarship website for updates and prepare necessary documentation once the eligible school list is available.