Promise Scholarships will empower families to succeed
Promise scholarships are an effective method of implementing school choice, but will they work in Georgia?
Critics say these will only help the rich, hurt public schools, and leave rural students with no choices.
But these claims simply aren’t true.
Let’s look at a similar existing program in Georgia.
The tax-credit scholarship program began in 2008 and allows students from any income to attend private schools using state tax credits.
Most recipients are from families earning under 2.5 times the federal poverty level — that’s far from wealthy.
It also didn’t hurt public school funding. when the scholarship cap doubled in 2018, public school funding per student went up for the next four years.
In 2022, tax-credit scholarships reached students in 151 of Georgia's 159 counties, proving rural students have options.
While this current program works, the funding is too limited to be the sole solution.
Not only should Georgia increase the funding of this program and it should also add Promise Scholarship programs.
This will empower families to succeed.