Georgia Governor Signs School-Choice Bill

From Family News in Focus

About 10,000 students could benefit from landmark legislation.

Thanks to a $50 million school-choice bill signed into law last week by Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue, students stuck in failing public schools will be able to transfer to private schools.

The Scholarship Tax Credit program allows corporations and individuals to grant private-school scholarships in exchange for a tax credit.

Jamie Self, vice president of public policy at the Georgia Family Policy Council, said about 10,000 children could receive assistance.

“We’re looking forward to helping organizations start scholarship funds so students can get the education that their parents feel is best for them," she said.

The law puts Georgia among the leaders in school-choice legislation, with two programs in play. The state’s Special Needs Scholarship has been helping kids for the past year.

“Across the country, we are seeing more and more states adopting programs," said Andrew Campanella, spokesman for the Alliance for School Choice. “School choice provides a competitive marketplace. It gives parents options that they desperately need, and it revitalizes communities.”

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Most states have policies and programs that increase education options for families.