Georgia Special Needs Scholarship Program
Dear Parents or Guardians:
Under the State law passed by the Georgia State Legislature in 2007, parents of students who receive special education may choose to transfer their child to another public school or private school in Georgia. As the parent of a student who receives special education in the McDuffie County school system, this letter is to inform you of your option to exercise public and private school choice. Please note that this is a separate program from the Majority-Minority transfer options outlined on the District’s webpage, though in some cases that Court Order may impact the public school choice options discussed below.
Under the State law passed by the Georgia State Legislature in 2007, parents of students who receive special education may choose to transfer their child to another public school or private school in Georgia. As the parent of a student who receives special education in the McDuffie County school system, this letter is to inform you of your option to exercise public and private school choice. Please note that this is a separate program from the Majority-Minority transfer options outlined on the District’s webpage, though in some cases that Court Order may impact the public school choice options discussed below.
Public School Choice Options
Under State law, a parent may request a transfer to another public school within their school system as long as there is available space at that school and the school has a program with the services agreed to in the student’s existing individualized education program (Grades 1-12). If the parent chooses this option, then the parent shall be responsible for transportation to the school.
A parent may also request a transfer to a school in another school system, if there is available space in the system and the school has a program with the services agreed to in the student’s existing individualized education program. However, a school system must first agree to accept the student. If the parent chooses this option and the school system accepts the child, then the parent shall be responsible for transportation to a school in that system.
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 if that 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 visit the Georgia Department of Education’s website at http://www.gadoe.org/External-Affairs-and-Policy/Policy?Pages/Special-Needs-Scholarship-Ptrogram.aspx for more information about transferring to a State school.
A parent may also request a transfer to a school in another school system, if there is available space in the system and the school has a program with the services agreed to in the student’s existing individualized education program. However, a school system must first agree to accept the student. If the parent chooses this option and the school system accepts the child, then the parent shall be responsible for transportation to a school in that system.
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 if that 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 visit the Georgia Department of Education’s website at http://www.gadoe.org/External-Affairs-and-Policy/Policy?Pages/Special-Needs-Scholarship-Ptrogram.aspx for more information about transferring to a State school.
Private School Option
If you are interested in transferring your child to a private school in Georgia, you may be able to take advantage of a Georgia Special Needs Scholarship. The scholarships provide funding that can be used to offset tuition costs at participating private schools in the State of Georgia. For more information on the Georgia Special Needs Scholarship and the parent application process, please visit the Georgia Department of Education’s website at http://www.gadoe.org/External-Affairs-and-Policy/Policy?Pages/Special-Needs-Scholarship-Ptrogram.aspx