Ga. Senate Committee Passes Bill That Would Expand Special Needs Voucher Program

Some parents of students with special needs hope Gov. Brian Kemp will allocate micro-grants for families in the next round of GEER funding.

More students could soon qualify for one of the state’s school voucher programs. A bill that would expand the Georgia Special Needs Scholarship (GSNS) is advancing through the legislature. The program provides state money to families with students who have special needs so they can attend private schools.

To qualify for the scholarship, a student needs to have an Individualized Education Plan—or IEP. That shows the child has a learning disability or an impediment that makes learning harder. IEPs outline strategies teachers should use to help the child. A student also has to have an IEP to receive special education services. They also have to attend a Georgia public school for one year.

Senate Bill 386 would expand  GSNS to include children with another kind of plan called a 504.