Compilation of Rules and Regulations of the State of Georgia › Department 160 - RULES OF GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION › Chapter 160-5 › Subject 160-5-1 - REGIONAL EDUCATIONAL SERVICES › Rule 160-5-1-.34 - Georgia Special Needs Scholarship Program

Current through Rules and Regulations filed through June 27, 2024
(1)
DEFINITIONS.
(a)
Americans with Disabilities Act,
				Amendments Act of 2008
- a federal law, codified at
				42 U.S.C. §
											12101,
et seq
, that was
				enacted to provide a clear and comprehensive national mandate for the
				elimination of discrimination against individuals with disabilities.
(b)
Authorized private school
-
				a private school that has submitted a completed application to the Georgia
				Department of Education, complies with all program requirements, and has been
				authorized by the State Board of Education to enroll students in the Georgia
				Special Needs Scholarship Program per O.C.G.A. §
										20-2-2115(f).
(c)
Full-time Equivalent (FTE)
-
				a student count consisting of six state-funded segments per student authorized
				under O.C.G.A. §
										20-2-161
.
(d)
Georgia Department of Education
				(GaDOE)
- the state agency charged with the fiscal and administrative
				management of certain aspects of K-12 public education, including the
				implementation of federal and state mandates. Such management is subject to
				supervision and oversight by the State Board of Education.
(e)
Georgia Special Needs Scholarship
				(GSNS
) - the Georgia Special Needs Scholarship Program, O.C.G.A. §
										20-2-2110 through O.C.G.A. §
										20-2-2118. The GSNS Program allows
				parents of eligible special needs students to transfer their children to
				another public school, public school system, state school, or authorized
				participating private school within Georgia.
(f)
Individuals with Disabilities
				Education Act (IDEA)
- the federal law, codified at
				20 U.S.C. §
											1400,
et seq
, that was
				enacted to ensure that all students with disabilities have available to them a
				free appropriate public education that emphasizes special education and related
				services designed to meet their unique needs and prepare them for employment
				and independent living; to ensure that the rights of students with disabilities
				and their parents are protected; to assist states, localities, educational
				service agencies, and federal agencies to provide for the education of students
				with disabilities; and to assess and ensure the effectiveness of efforts to
				educate students with disabilities.
(g)
Individualized Education Program
				(IEP)
- a written statement for each student with a disability that is
				developed, reviewed, and revised in accordance with Individuals with
				Disabilities Education Act, 20 U.S.C. §
											1414(d).
(h)
Public School District
- a
				local school system pursuant to local board of education control and
				management. It is also known as a local education agency (LEA).
(i)
Parent(s)
- a biological
				parent, legal guardian, custodian, or other person with legal authority to act
				on behalf of a child.
(j)
Prior school year in attendance
- the reporting of a student as
				enrolled in a public school for funding purposes during the preceding October
				and March full-time equivalent (FTE) program counts in accordance with O.C.G.A.
				§
										20-2-160.
(k)
Private school
- a
				nonpublic, sectarian or nonsectarian school, which is accredited or in the
				process of becoming accredited by one or more of the entities listed:
1. The Georgia Accrediting
				Commission;
2. The Georgia
				Association of Christian Schools;
3. The Georgia Private School Accreditation
				Council;
4. The Association of
				Christian Schools International;
5.
				The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools; and/or
6. The Southern Association of Independent
				Schools.
(l)
Quality Basic Education Formula (QBE Formula)
- the State of
				Georgia funding formula used for determining the amount of state education
				funds a public school district earns annually as described in O.C.G.A. §
										20-2-161.
(m)
Resident school district
-
				the public school district in which the student would be enrolled based on
				his/her residence.
(n)
Scholarship
- a Georgia Special Needs Scholarship awarded pursuant
				to O.C.G.A. §
										20-2-2114 and §
										20-2-2116. A scholarship is
				received when a parent enrolls an eligible student in a private school
				participating in the GSNS Program.
(o)
State Board of Education
				(SBOE)
-the constitutional authority which defines education policy for
				the public K-12 education agencies in Georgia.
(p)
State School
-the Atlanta
				Area School for the Deaf, Georgia Academy for the Blind or the Georgia School
				for the Deaf.