It turns out $6,500 goes a long way — especially when you give it to parents instead of bureaucrats.
Georgia promised families more control over their children’s education – and it delivered. Thousands of families have already signed up for the new program, which gives eligible students $6,500 to use for private school tuition, tutoring, therapy or other education-related needs. And this is just the beginning — with more application windows ahead this year and funding already in place for up to 22,000 students, the interest is undeniable.
This wasn’t supposed to happen, at least not if you believed the critics.
Opponents of the program claimed that $6,500 wouldn’t make a difference – but try telling that to the thousands of Georgia parents who have eagerly applied to pursue better-fitting educational options for their children.
Far from falling flat, the Promise Scholarship launch has already outpaced the first-year results of many other states. In fact, national data show that almost all statewide choice programs begin with less than 1% participation. Georgia has already surpassed that mark, and the program isn’t even fully ramped up yet.
Some critics point out that even 22,000 students would be only a small fraction of the total student population. But they ignore a crucial truth: Slow, steady growth is by design. A phased rollout lets administrators fine-tune the system, support families and ensure every dollar is well spent. Rushing to full capacity on day one may have been irresponsible. Georgia chose the smarter path — and it’s paying off.
That’s not to say there weren’t hiccups. The state’s initial list of eligible “low-performing” public schools had to be pulled back for data verification, leaving parents temporarily confused about their eligibility. But the delay was short-lived — and ultimately meaningless. Parents applied anyway once the confusion was cleared up. The fundamentals of the program held strong. And Georgia’s families made it clear they’re eager for alternatives.
They also don’t have to worry about whether the money would be there. Despite early hesitation from some lawmakers, the General Assembly ultimately approved full funding: $141 million, enough for 22,000 scholarships in the 2025–26 school year.
It’s no coincidence this rollout was so effective. In the last couple months, the Foundation didn’t sit back and hope for the best. We mobilized. We reached out to parents directly, sending over 2 million emails and 150,000 text messages, and our digital campaign reached 465,000 people. This effort translated into applications from families who might never have heard of the program otherwise.
Awareness is the biggest challenge in year one of any new choice program — and we met that challenge head-on.
Still, if Georgia wants to keep building on this success, it needs to focus on three key areas in year two:
Outreach: Despite strong early numbers, many eligible families still haven’t heard about the Promise Scholarship — or don’t know how to apply. That must change. Supporters need to work with schools, churches, community groups, and nonprofits to spread the word and simplify the application process.
Legislation: Lawmakers may need to fine-tune the law. That includes removing unnecessary red tape that makes it harder for private schools and service providers to participate. If eligibility requirements are too narrow, they should be revisited. And if demand continues to rise, the current 1% budget cap may need to be lifted in the future.
Administration: State officials did an admirable job standing up a new program quickly. Now’s the time to build a smoother system: finalize the eligible school list earlier and ensure families get the help they need every step of the way.
These aren’t flashy reforms — but they’re the kind that will keep this program growing year after year.
And let’s not forget the heart of the matter: this program is changing lives. Thousands of Georgia kids — many from underserved communities — are finally getting access to an education that works for them. That means better schools, tutors, therapies or learning environments that were once out of reach.
And if you are an eligible family still seeking to apply for this program for the 2025-26 school year, there will be plenty of room for signups when the next application windows open in June and September.
