Peach Tree Times

State Representative Floyd Griffin has introduced a new bill, House Bill 436, in the Georgia General Assembly. The legislation aims to repeal Senate Bill 233, known as the Georgia Promise Scholarship Act.

Rep. Griffin explained his reasoning behind this move: “Last year, the Georgia General Assembly barely passed the Georgia Promise Scholarship Act, or the school voucher program bill,” he said. He highlighted that since its implementation, "the voucher bill’s implementation has been fraught with delays and unforeseen challenges, causing further issues for our public education system."

The Georgia Promise Scholarship Act provides $6,500 per student for qualified education-related expenses outside of public schools. These expenses can include tuition at participating schools, tutoring services, curriculum purchases, professional services, transportation costs, and fees related to managing account funds. The law became effective on April 23, 2024.

Rep. Griffin noted that the program particularly impacts rural and urban districts where access to private schools is limited due to cost and logistical barriers. “The voucher program disproportionately affects our state’s rural school districts... We see a similar challenge in urban school districts," he stated.

House Bill 436 seeks to reverse these changes by repealing the current scholarship act. The full text of HB 436 is available for review.