State lawmakers will travel to Macon on Thursday to continue a series of town hall meetings designed to encourage parents to take advantage of a program designed to help special needs students.
Earlier this year, the state legislature enacted the Georgia Special Needs Scholarship Act. Under the program, public school students with disabilities can get up to fifteen thousand dollars a year to attend private school. But, lawmakers say too few families know about the voucher program.
Republican state representative David Casas teaches in Cobb County and is one of those who will be in Macon. He says the meetings are about letting parents know they have choices.
“When we give people the freedom to seek education elsewhere, I think that it motivates the schools to provide the services that the child needs. And, I think that it empowers the parent to take control, take further control, of their child's education.”According to the Georgia Department of Education, nearly two hundred thousand students are eligible for the scholarships. But, less than one thousand families have asked for and received the vouchers.
Educators say part of the reason may be the cost of private school tuition. Parents must pay out of pocket the difference between what they state will pay and the school’s tuition.
For more information, visit http://www.doe.k12.ga.us/sb10.aspx.
