After passing a Special Needs Scholarship law last year, Georgia added two more pieces of school choice legislation this week.

HB 811establishes an alternative authorizer, the Georgia Charter Commission, at the state level and established a mechanism to ensure equitable operational funding for these state-chartered schools.

The Governor also signed a bill creating a charter facility matching grant fund and a bill allowing charter school teachers to participate in the State Health Benefit Plan. Here is a link to theGovernor's press releaseon the charter school legislation.

HB 1333creates a $50 million Personal and Corporate Tax Credit Scholarship.Under thenew law, corporationswill receive a 100 percent tax credit for donations of up to 75 percent of their total state tax liability to organizations that grant scholarships to children who want to attend private schools. Individuals can also donate up to $1,000 per person (or $2,500 per married couple) to these organizations and receive a 100 percent tax credit. Student scholarship organizations must spend at least 90 percent of donations on scholarships.

Quotes:

“The Tax Credit Scholarship will open the doors of opportunity to thousands of Georgia families seeking a private school option for their children.” - Gerard Robinson, President, Black Alliance of Educational Options

“Georgia is now a national leader in the growing movement to expand educational opportunities for low-income parents. At its core, this bill is not about taxes—it’s about providing more than 10,000 low-income children with the opportunity to attend a better school.” - Lori Drummer, Director of State Projects, Alliance for School Choice