>>CLICK HERE for RCPS SB-10 Application
April 24, 2023
Rockdale County Public Schools
Office of Learning Support
960 Pine Street
Conyers, Georgia 30012
770-860-4231
RE: Georgia Special Needs Scholarship
Dear Parents:
As the parent of a student who receives special education in the Rockdale County Public School System, we wanted to let you know about your options to exercise public and private school choice. This information was recently posted on our system website at https://www.rockdaleschools.org/learningsupport . From the website click on the link "RCPS SB-10 Application" to complete and submit an application. The Georgia Special Needs Scholarship, parents of students who receive special education, may choose to transfer their child to another public school or private school in Georgia. If the student meets the eligibility criteria outlined on the Georgia Depart of Education website
http://www.gadoe.org/External-Affairs-and –Policy/Policy/Pages/Special-Needs-Scholarship-Program.aspx the following options are available.
Public School Choice Options
A parent may request a transfer to another public school within their school system as long as there is capacity at the school and a program available which is aligned with the student’s IEP. Capacity is based on established health and safety provisions and class-size by grade and subject. If this option is chosen and approved, the parent will be responsible for transportation to and from the school. Scholarship applications should be submitted to the Director of Learning Support no later than Monday, June 12, 2023 at 4:00 p.m. Parents will receive notification, by letter, of the district’s decision regarding your request for the 2023-24 school year by Friday, July 7, 2023.
The parent may request a transfer to a school in another school system if there is capacity at the school and a program available which is aligned with the student’s IEP. A school system considering a request for a transfer to its school system from another school system can deny a request, it can charge a parent/guardian for the costs of educating a student during the first school year of the transfer. If this option is chosen and approved by the system, the parent will be responsible for transportation to and from 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 depend on whether that setting is appropriate for the student’s needs. If the parent chooses this option, the parent will be responsible for transportation to and from 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 visit the Georgia Department of Education’s website at
http://www.gadoe.org/External-Affairs-and-Policy/Policy/Pages/Special-Needs-Scholarship-Program.aspx. There is no formal application process for the Georgia Special Needs Scholarship Program. Parent/guardian will determine a student’s potential scholarship award using the scholarship calculator on the web page. The calculator for the 2023-2024 school year will be available on the Georgia Department of Education website.
You may also contact the Director of Learning Support, Marva Howard at 770-860-4231 if you have questions.
Sincerely,
Marva Howard
Director of Learning Support
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