Another Tax Credit for Private School Scholarships

Georgia lawmakers are considering legislation to create a new tax credit for individuals and corporations that donate to organizations that provide scholarships to K-12 students from low-income families to attend private schools. The proposal, House Bill 865, would establish the Building Educational Success Together (BEST) program, which allows for $25 million in total new tax credits for donations to a student scholarship organization. The proposed new program would add to an existing $58 million tax credit scholarship program. While the new program could provide greater transparency and accountability than the existing one, it falls short of what is needed to determine if students’ learning needs are met and hold participating schools accountable for doing so.

Read the bill analysis.