The Georgia Legislature is considering multiple bills to expand school choice for students and parents across the state. There are currently five different pieces of legislation affecting school choice options which have been filed and are now making their way through the lawmaking process. 

The House Ways & Means Committee with overwhelming support voted to pass a bill that would increase the cap to Georgia’s tax credit scholarship program. Since the program started in 2008, it has enjoyed incredible popularity and for consecutive years has reached its total cap of $58 million in a matter of hours. 

“We are excited to see the that Georgia lawmakers are putting such a strong focus on education, and improving it for all Georgia students,” said Eric Cochling, executive vice president and general counsel at Georgia Center for Opportunity. “As parents and teachers across our state can tell you, when it comes to the education of our children, there is no time to lose. The most compelling benefit of expanding choice is that academic alternatives for children open up immediately. In many cases, these are children who will have the opportunity to attend a school that better fits their learning needs.”

The passing of HB 217 will allow the overall cap to increase from $58 million dollars to $65 million, and for every year the cap is reached, allows for an additional 10 percent increase up to $100 million.

HB 217 will make its way to the House floor for a full vote.