Compare Program Policies

Key Learning

See How the Policies Stack Up

This user-friendly platform is designed to help you navigate the diverse landscape of Education Savings Accounts across different states. This tool offers a comprehensive comparison of ESA policies.

Directions

First choose the specific policy you want to compare. Then from the list of state, you can choose the specific state policies you would like to compare. The results will show you the bill language of the particular policy feature included in the the program.

With this tool, you can compare state programs, analyze program features, and make informed decisions.

Image

GEORGIA: Promise Scholarship Act

ESA comparison by Policy Hits: 138
  • Fund Administrator:
    • Synopsis:

      Georgia Education Savings Authority

      , Statute Language:

      Georgia Education Savings Authority for administrative purposes; to provide for promise 7
  • Funding Mechanism:
    • Synopsis:

      Direct

      , Statute Language:

       provided, however, that the education savings authority shall provide quarterly 394
       application periods and deadlines that correspond with quarterly funding dates pursuant 395
  • Program Administrator (Gov't):
    • Synopsis:

      Georgia Education Savings Authority

      , Statute Language:

       provide for the establishment of promise scholarship accounts and related matters; to provide 2
       for the creation of the Georgia Education Savings Authority as a state-wide authority; to 3
       provide for definitions; to provide for its membership, manner of appointment, terms of 4
  • Third Party Administrator:
    • Synopsis:

      TBD
  • Role of DOE:
    • Synopsis:

      Gather and Report Certain Data

      , Statute Language:

       Georgia Student Finance Commission for administrative purposes; to provide for promise 7
       scholarship accounts to be funded by the state in the amount of $6,500.00 per school year for 8
       each participating student, subject to certain adjustments; to provide for such adjustments; 9
       to provide for a short title; to provide for definitions; to provide for qualified education 10
       expenses; to provide for qualifications for students to participate in the promise scholarship 11
       account program; to provide for requirements for participating schools and service providers; 12
       to provide for accounts and account funds; to establish a parent review committee to review 13
       expenditures upon request; to provide for statutory construction; to authorize the Georgia 14
       Student Finance Commission to participate in the promise scholarship account program and 15
       to promulgate rules and regulations; to provide for annual report on the program by the 16
       commission; to provide for annual testing of participating students; to provide for audits by 17
       the Department of Audits and Accounts; to provide for an annual report by the Office of 18
  • Application Window/Dates:
    • Synopsis:

      Quarterly; TBD

      , Statute Language:

       education savings authority shall make quarterly payments to the account of a 509
       participating student, beginning with the first quarterly payment that corresponds with the 510
       enrollment period in which the student's application was received.  As nearly as practical, 511
       such quarterly payments shall be equal.  The state auditor shall cite as an audit exception 512
  • Fund Disbursement Frequency:
    • Synopsis:

      Quarterly

      , Statute Language:

       education savings authority shall make quarterly payments to the account of a 509
       participating student, beginning with the first quarterly payment that corresponds with the 510
       enrollment period in which the student's application was received.  As nearly as practical, 511
       such quarterly payments shall be equal.  The state auditor shall cite as an audit exception 512
  • Average Per-Pupil Funding:
    • Synopsis:

      $6,500

      , Statute Language:

       scholarship accounts to be funded by the state in the amount of $6,500.00 per school year for 8
       each participating student, subject to certain adjustments; to provide for such adjustments; 9
  • Income Limit:
    • Synopsis:

      Priority < 400% x FPL

      , Statute Language:

       (5)(A)  Except as provided in subparagraph (B) of this paragraph, the student's family 358
       income does not exceed 400 percent of the federal poverty level as defined annually by 359
  • Prior Year Public School Requirement:
    • Synopsis:

      Yes

      , Statute Language:

       (1)  The student's parent resides within Georgia and has been a Georgia resident for at 344
       least one year; provided, however, that such one-year residency requirement shall not 345
       apply if the student's parent is an active duty military service member stationed in 346
       Georgia within the previous year; 347
       (2)  The student is currently enrolled and has been continuously enrolled in a Georgia 348
       public school for a period of time that includes at least two consecutive enrollment counts 349
       conducted pursuant to Code Section 20-2-160; provided, however, that such enrollment 350
       requirement shall not apply to a child who meets all other qualifications provided for in 351
       this subsection and is eligible to enroll in a qualified kindergarten program of the public 352
       school in which such child would be enrolled based on his or her residence; 353
       (3)  The student resides in the attendance zone of a public school that is included on the 354
       list of public schools provided for in Code Section 20-2B-29; 355
  • Geographic Limit:
    • Synopsis:

      Statewide

      , Statute Language:

       (1)  The student's parent resides within Georgia and has been a Georgia resident for at 344
       least one year; provided, however, that such one-year residency requirement shall not 345
       apply if the student's parent is an active duty military service member stationed in 346
       Georgia within the previous year; 347
  • Additional Eligibility Check:
    • Synopsis:

      Residency in public school attendance zone of bottom 25% academic performing schools. Resident in state for at least one year if parent not military.

      , Statute Language:

       (1)  The student's parent resides within Georgia and has been a Georgia resident for at 344
       least one year; provided, however, that such one-year residency requirement shall not 345
       apply if the student's parent is an active duty military service member stationed in 346
       Georgia within the previous year; 347
       (2)  The student is currently enrolled and has been continuously enrolled in a Georgia 348
       public school for a period of time that includes at least two consecutive enrollment counts 349
       conducted pursuant to Code Section 20-2-160; provided, however, that such enrollment 350
       requirement shall not apply to a child who meets all other qualifications provided for in 351
       this subsection and is eligible to enroll in a qualified kindergarten program of the public 352
       school in which such child would be enrolled based on his or her residence; 353
       (3)  The student resides in the attendance zone of a public school that is included on the 354
       list of public schools provided for in Code Section 20-2B-29; 355
       (4)  The student does not meet any of the ineligibility criteria provided for in subsection 356
       (b) of Code Section 20-3-519.1; 357
       (5)(A)  Except as provided in subparagraph (B) of this paragraph, the student's family 358
       income does not exceed 400 percent of the federal poverty level as defined annually by 359
       the federal Office of Management and Budget. 360
       (B)  In the event that the amount of funds appropriated for the program exceeds the 361
       amount of funds necessary to include all students who meet the family income 362
       requirement provided for in subparagraph (A) of this paragraph and the student: 363
       (i)  Is already a participating student; or 364
       (ii)  Timely submitted an application for an account to the education savings authority 365
       by either of the two quarterly application deadlines immediately preceding July 1 as 366
       provided for in paragraph (9) of this subsection, 367
       the student's family income exceeds 400 percent of the federal poverty level as defined 368
       annually by the federal Office of Management and Budget; provided, however, that 369
  • Homeschool Compatible:
    • Synopsis:

      Yes

      , Statute Language:

       The provisions of this article shall not apply or be construed to apply to any student in a 677
       home study program provided for in Code Section 20-2-690 unless such student is a 678
       participating student as such term is defined in Code Section 20-2B-21. 679
  • Enrollment Cap:
    • Synopsis:

      By Appropriation

      , Statute Language:

       (a)(1)  The total amount of state funds allotted to the program each fiscal year shall not 480
       exceed 1 percent of the total appropriation for the Quality Basic Education Program in 481
       the General Appropriations Act from the previous fiscal year. 482
  • Lottery:
    • Synopsis:

      None

      , Statute Language:

      No language available.
  • Testing:
    • Synopsis:

      National/State

      , Statute Language:

       (g)  The education savings authority shall provide parents of participating students with an 606
       explanation of the allowable uses of account funds, the responsibilities of parents, and the 607
       duties of the education savings authority. 608
       20-2B-27. 609
       (a)(1)  In order to allow parents and taxpayers to measure the achievements of the 610
       program, the education savings authority shall annually approve no fewer than three 611
       nationally norm-referenced tests that measure student academic progress in math and 612
       language arts. 613
       (2)  Private schools enrolling participating students shall ensure that at least one of the 614
       following is administered each school year to each participating student: 615
       (A)  A nationally norm-referenced test approved by the education savings authority, as 616
       provided in paragraph (1) of this subsection; or 617
       (B)  A state-wide assessment administered pursuant to Code Section 20-2-281, if such 618
       participating student is enrolled in a grade for which such state-wide assessment is 619
       administered.  Such state-wide assessment shall be made available to such participating 620
       student by his or her resident school system. 621
       (3)  The education savings authority shall develop a process for the annual administration 622
       of the nationally norm-referenced tests and the state-wide assessments provided for in 623
       paragraph (2) of this subsection and for the collection of results for participating students 624
       not enrolled full time in a private school. 625
       (b)  The results of such norm-referenced tests and state-wide assessments shall be provided 626
       to and collected by the education savings authority or an organization chosen by the 627
       education savings authority on an annual basis. 628
       (c)  Student information shall be reported and collected in a manner that allows the state 629
       to aggregate data by grade level, gender, race, socioeconomic status, and English language 630
  • Authorized Use of Funds:
    • Synopsis:

      Private School Tuition
      Online Education
      Education Therapies
      Private Tutoring
      Public School Services (Classes and/or Extracurricular)
      Transportation
      Textbooks
      Curricula and Supplementary Materials
      Computers/Technology
      Testing Fees
      Summer/Afterschool learning (not daycare)
      College Tuition/Fees
      College Textbooks
      CTE / Industry Credentials
      Other Approved by Admin

      , Statute Language:

       (10)  'Qualified education expenses' means any one or more of the following: 318
       (A)  Tuition, fees, and required textbooks for eligible core courses and eligible CTAE 319
       courses, as such terms are defined in Code Section 20-2-161.3, at a participating school, 320
       accredited community college or postsecondary education institution, or nonpublic 321
       online learning program or course; 322
       (B)  Tutoring services provided by an educator certified by the Professional Standards 323
       Commission; 324
       (C)  Payment for the purchase of a curriculum, including any supplemental materials 325
       required by the curriculum; 326
       (D)  Services from a physician or therapist licensed pursuant to Chapter 10A, 28, 33, 327
       34, or 44 of Title 43, including, but not limited to, for occupational, behavioral, 328
       physical, or speech-language therapies; 329
       (E)  No more than $500.00 per year to a fee-for-service transportation provider for 330
       transportation to or from a participating school or service provider; 331
       (F)  Fees for the management of account funds in accordance with subsection (e) of 332
       Code Section 20-2B-26; 333
       (G)  Other expenses authorized by the State Board of Education or the education 334
       savings authority; or 335
       (H)  Individual education expenses authorized by a majority of the parent review 336
       committee as provided for in Code Section 20-2B-25. 337