As the parent of a student who receives special education services in our school system, we wanted to let you know about your options regarding 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 services may choose to transfer their child to another public school or private school in Georgia.

Public School Choice Options

A parent can request a transfer to another public school within their school system as long as there is available space at that school and the school has a program available which is aligned with the student's existing Individualized Education Program (IEP). If the parent chooses this option, then the parent shall be responsible for transportation to the school.

The parent may request a transfer to a school in another school system. A school district considering a request for a transfer to its system from another system has the authority to approve or deny a public school transfer request. A school district considering a transfer request from another system can deny that request even if there is capacity and a program available that is aligned to the student's Individualized Education Program (IEP) within its system. If a request is approved, a school district can charge parent(s)/guardian(s) for the costs of educating a student during the first school year of the transfer. If the parent chooses this option and the school system accepts the child, then the parent shall be responsible for transportation to 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 whether that setting is appropriate for the student's needs. If the parent chooses this option, then the parent shall be responsible for transportation to 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 financial assistance as provided through the Georgia Special Needs Scholarship Program. This bill provides funding to offset tuition costs at participating private schools in Georgia.

For more information on the Georgia Special Needs Scholarship Program, 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-NeedsScholarship-Program.aspx . Parent information is available on both public school choice option and private school choice option.

IMPORTANT

Please note: the "deadline" for parents to submit public school choice requests, for Floyd County Schools, will be WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2012.