Georgia governor signs school voucher law

Gov. Brian Kemp on Tuesday signed a law increasing education options for children in Georgia. The legislation provides $6,500 to each qualifying student to use on tuition, textbooks, tutoring, and other things that could allow them to attend a better school, according to Kemp’s office.

What sort of students qualify for this? Students must meet several criteria to receive the scholarship. Their home addresses must zone them into schools that academically perform in bottom 25 percent of schools in the state. They also must have spent at least two enrollment periods at the underperforming school—unless they’re headed into kindergarten. Priority will be given to students from lower-income households, according to Kemp’s office.

Does anyone oppose this? Critics have argued that the program will take funding away from public schools and transfer it to private schools. The Georgia Association of Educators has for years opposed school vouchers such as those provided by the law Kemp signed Tuesday.

Dig deeper: Read Lael Weinberger’s column in WORLD Opinions about a recent debate regarding school funding in Maine.