(The Center Square) â Foster children and students who are identified as homeless will be able to attend Georgia public universities and technical colleges for free, starting July 1.
Senate Bill 107 was part of a legislation package signed Monday by Gov. Brian Kemp aimed at improving the state s foster care system. Today, I am proud to sign legislation that will make it easier and more affordable to adopt children in the Peach State, allow grant tuition and fee waivers for eligible foster and adopted students at Georgia s postsecondary institutions, and remove procedural hurdles for adoptive parents, Kemp said.
Eligible students under the measure can take courses at University System of Georgia and Technical College System of Georgia schools tuition-free for 10 years or until they obtain a bachelor s degree. All of their required fees, including rooming and board fees, also will be waived at Technical College System of Georgia schools, and the student also can obtain a GED
by Nyamekye Daniel, The Center Square | March 04, 2021 09:30 AM Print this article
A bill that would expand the state s special needs scholarship program was approved Wednesday by the Georgia Senate.
The Georgia Special Needs Scholarship program offers scholarships to students with individualized education plans to attend a private school or a public school of their choice. Senate Bill 47 would make the 58,000 public school students with 504 plans eligible to apply for the program.
Individualized education plans provide special education learning environments for children with certain disabilities, while 504 plans require schools to make accommodations for students while they learn alongside their peers. A 504 plan could provide students with extra time for assessments, breakout instruction or modified assignments, among other things.
(The Center Square) â A measure that would increase foster care adoption tax credits could result in a state revenue loss of $4.8 million over the next five years, according to fiscal researchers.
House Bill 114, introduced by Rep. Bert Reeves, R-Marietta, would increase the annual tax incentive for adopting a foster child from $2,000 to $6,000. According to a fiscal note from the Department of Audits and Accounts, the proposal could decrease state tax revenues by $400,000 in fiscal year 2022 and grow to up to $1.5 million by fiscal year 2026.
Reeves and supporters of the bill said it s meant to promote more adoptions in the state. According to Reeves, the average foster care adoption tax credit issued is $1,945, below the current threshold. He hopes the legislation would entice Georgians in higher income brackets to adopt foster children.
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