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ATLANTA — The state is releasing new numbers that show how many people have applied for the Georgia Promise Scholarship.
The scholarship provides up to $6,500 in education savings accounts to students who would otherwise attend a Georgia public school in the bottom 25% for academic achievement. The money can be used on private school tuition, home-schooling and more.
The Georgia Student Finance Commission says, between March 1 and June 30, nearly 15,300 families applied for the scholarship.
Nearly 8,600 of those applicants met the eligibility requirements. That is far fewer than the total number of students who would be able to receive the scholarship under state funding. Lawmakers agreed to spend up to $141 million on the program, meaning that roughly 21,000 families could receive the scholarship.
Republican lawmakers in Georgia passed the Promise Scholarship last year as part of a national GOP push for school choice. Supporters say parents should decide how their children learn, but opponents worry that voucher programs like the Promise Scholarship will take resources away from public schools.
The program started accepting applicants earlier this year, and the first payments went out this month. They will be released in four deposits of $1,625, with future payments set for October, January 2026, and April 2026.
The Georgia Student Finance Commission says 64% of the students who are eligible for the program this year plan to spend the money at an approved private school, 16% plan to pursue a home study program, 14% plan to use the money on tutors or speech therapists, and 6% have not yet made a selection.
Families interested in the scholarship may apply in September and December to participate in Spring 2026. Head to mygeorgiapromise.org to see eligibility requirements.
The state has also posted an updated list of public schools that fall under the Georgia Promise Scholarship.
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