New partnership offers tuition-free virtual private education across Georgia – Atlanta News First
ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – More Georgia families are using state-funded Promise Scholarships to move away from traditional classrooms, and a Griffin school is among the first to build a fully virtual option for Georgia students.
New Horizons New Directions Preparatory Academy, a private school headquartered in Griffin, has partnered with K-12 Private Academy — a national online provider — to offer tuition-free virtual instruction for kindergarten through eighth-grade students statewide.
Under the partnership, students log in from home for daily lessons. All instructional materials and live classes are covered by the Georgia Promise Scholarship, which provides up to $6,500 per student for those zoned to the state’s lowest-performing public schools.
“They’re able to mirror our model of instruction, the same way we teach here in the building,” said Jamie Mann, founder of New Horizons New Directions.
The Promise Scholarship program launched in 2024. State officials say more than 15,000 students applied for funds. Participation is expected to grow as more schools are approved to receive scholarship dollars.
Supporters argue that online options can provide relief for rural students who live far from school buildings or for families managing health complications or nontraditional work schedules. But critics say public funding should remain within public school systems, especially as districts struggle with transportation and staffing shortages.
“I truly think this is the best option,” she said. “I believe parents should decide how their child is educated. Non-traditional school works better for some students.”
New Horizons New Directions says it already has students enrolled in the virtual program, with classes beginning Monday.
The state accepts Promise Scholarship applications in waves, and the next round opens next month.
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