Georgia Special Needs Scholarship (Senate Bill 10)
2009-2010
The Georgia Special Needs Scholarship (Senate Bill 10), 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 Individualized Education Program (IEP) the opportunity to transfer their children to another public school or to a state-approved participating private school in Georgia.
2009-2010 Special Needs Scholarship Student Eligibility Criteria:
In order to qualify for the Georgia Special Needs Scholarship a child must meet the following requirements:
1. The student’s parent currently resides within Georgia and has been a Georgia resident for at least one year; and
2. The student has spent the prior school year (2008-2009) in attendance at a Georgia public school in grades K-12 and was in attendance on both the October 2008 and March 2009 FTE counts; and
3. The student was served under an Individualized Education Program (IEP) written by the school at any point during the 2008-2009 school year.
There are no exceptions to the eligibility criteria.
Re-Enrollment Information
If your child participated in the program during the 2008-2009 school year, refer to the 2009-2010 Re-Enrollment Instructions document in the For Parents box at www.public.doe.k12.ga.us/sb10.aspx.
Private School Choice
The scholarship provides funding that can be used to offset tuition costs at state-approved participating private schools in Georgia.
If the private school choice option is used, the student must meet the eligibility criteria for the Georgia Special Needs Scholarship and apply and be enrolled in a state-approved private school in Georgia prior to September 11, 2009. A list of participating schools will be posted on the Georgia Department of Education’s website beginning May 1, 2009 and will be updated regularly through July 2009. To apply for the scholarship online, parents need to visit the state DOE website at www.public.doe.k12.ga.us/sb10.aspx. If this option is chosen, the parent is responsible for providing transportation.
Public School Choice
Parents can request for their child to transfer to another public school within their 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. If the public school option is used, the student must meet the eligibility criteria for the Georgia Special Needs Scholarship and apply for this option prior to September 11, 2009. If this option is chosen, then the parent is responsible for providing transportation.
To request a transfer to a different public school within our school system, complete the “Georgia Public School to Public School Transfer Request” form (available at www.public.doe.k12.ga.us/sb10.aspx) and either mail, fax or deliver the completed form to:
Dr. Mikki Garcia, Senior Director
Department for Exceptional Children
208 Bull Street, Room 204
Savannah, GA 31401
Phone: 912-395-5877
Facsimile: 912-201-7692
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.
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 chooses 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.
For more information, contact Dr. Mikki Garcia, Senior Director, Department for Exceptional Children at 912-395-5877 or Cecelia Wright, Program Manager, Department for Exceptional Children at 912-395-5583. You may also visit our website at www.sccpss.com and follow the link to the Georgia Special Needs Scholarship.
