Georgia State Rep. Wes Cantrell (R-Woodstock) has introduced a bill that, if enacted into law, would offer greater school choice for parents through Educational Scholarship Accounts.
Parents could take these ESA’s and use them for private educational opportunities instead of public education funds.
Members of the public may view this bill, the Georgia Educational Scholarship Act, on the Georgia General Assembly’s website.
“As a former Georgia public school teacher and a proud product of a long line of Georgia public educators, I believe in and fully support Georgia Public Schools,” Cantrell said in a press release.
“However, I know that even the best public or private schools in our state cannot meet the needs of every student. Just as every child is unique, so are their educational needs. The Georgia Educational Scholarship Act will address those needs by bringing a more personalized and flexible education plan to parents and students throughout the state of Georgia.”
Under this bill, members of the Governor’s Office of Student Achievement would administer and oversee the Educational Scholarship Accounts.
“The annual contribution to this account will be 100 percent of the state portion designated toward that student’s education. Funding for qualifying students would be transmitted directly from the state to the approved vendor, allowing for funds to go directly to educational needs,” the press release said.
To uphold accountability within the program, students would test to measure the program’s effectiveness. The bill includes financial controls and audits, and it also generates an annual report of the program, the press release said.
“Educational Scholarship Accounts would give parents the widest number of choices to address the specific needs of their children,” Cantrell said in the press release.
“Georgia parents need a diverse portfolio of options to choose from when deciding the best educational path for their child. This is especially true for low income families, foster care families, military families, students with special needs, students who are being bullied and students who do not have access to in-person instruction.”
Cantrell’s bill also outlines which Georgia students would qualify for an ESA, such as students with a family income 200 percent below the federal poverty level, students adopted from foster care or students with a disability and an individualized education plan.
“ESAs would also be eligible to students with a documented case of being bullied and students who attend school in a district which does not offer the option of 100 percent in-person instruction,” according to the press release.
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Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star. Follow Chris on Facebook. Email tips to [email protected].
