Georgia Special Needs Scholarship (Senate Bill 10)
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 a public or participating private school in Georgia.
2008-2009 Special Needs Scholarship Student Eligibility Criteria:
- The student’s parent currently lives in Georgia and has been a Georgia resident for at least one year; and
- The student has spent the prior school year (2007-2008) in attendance at a Georgia public school in grades K-12; and
- The student was served under an Individualized Education Program (IEP) written by the school at any point during the 2007-2008 school year; and
- The student is accepted and enrolled at one of the state’s approved participating private schools by Friday, September 5, 2008 – no exceptions.
Private School Choice
The scholarship provides funding that can be used to offset tuition costs at state approved participating private schools in Georgia. A list of participating schools is posted on the Georgia Department of Education’s website. To apply for the scholarship online, parents need to visit the state DOE website at http://public.doe.k12.ga.us/sb10.aspx
Public School Choice
To request a transfer to a different public school within our school system, complete the “Georgia Public School to Public School Transfer Request” form 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
The transfer request form is available at the Georgia Department of Education’s website at http:// public.doe.k12.ga.us/sb10.aspx or from the Savannah-Chatham County Public School System’s website at www.sccpss.com.
Transportation
For any option chosen, parents are responsible for providing transportation.
For more information, contact Cecelia Wright, Program Manager, Department for Exceptional Children at 912-395-5583 or visit our website at www.sccpss.com and follow the link to the Georgia Special Needs Scholarship.
