As the parent of a student who receives special education service in our school system, we are informing you of your options to exercise public and private school choice. Under a new state law passed by the Georgia State Legislature in 2007, parents of students who receive special education may choose to transfer their child to another public school or private school in Georgia.

Public School Choice Options

The parent may request a transfer to a school in another school system if there is available space and if the system and school have a program with the services agreed to in the student’s existing individualized education program. However, a school system must agree to accept the student. If the parent chooses this option and the school system accepts the child, then the parent shall be responsible for transportation to and from the school in that system.

The parent may also request a transfer to one of the state schools for the deaf and/or blind operated by the State Board of Education. Acceptance into a state school will be dependent upon determining if that setting is appropriate for the student’s needs. If the parent chooses this option, then the parent shall be responsible for transportation to and from the state school. Please contact the Georgia Department of Education for more information about transferring to a state school.

Private School Choice Option

If you are interested in transferring your child to a private school in Georgia, you may be able to take advantage of a Georgia Special Needs Scholarship. These scholarships provide funding that can be used to offset tuition costs at participating private schools in the state of Georgia. For more information on the Georgia Special Needs Scholarships and the parent application process, please visit the Georgia Department of Education’s website at http://www.gadoe.org/External-Affairs-and -Policy/Policy/Pages/Special-Needs-Scholarship-Program.aspx.