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A bill that would expand the state’s Georgia Promise Scholarship Act to include foster care children and adopted children is headed to Senate Rules and could soon be on the Senate floor. Senate Bill 154, by Sen. Greg Dolezal, R-Cuming, received a do-pass from the Senate Education and Youth Committee Tuesday morning.

The initial scholarship legislation became law after the House and Senate approved Senate Bill 233 during the last legislative session and is referred to by many as Georgia’s school voucher law.

“We have a growing population of foster children in Georgia, and there is a shortage of foster families,” said Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, who has identified this as a priority bill. “Senate Bill 152 prioritizes Georgia’s children, families and parents and will hopefully increase the number of families caring for foster children.

“There is nothing wrong with public schools, but not every public school is a perfect fit for a child’s unique learning needs,” Jones added. “Having choices in education is not a bad thing and supporting our foster families and children is a top priority. I look forward to having Senate Bill 152 on the Senate floor soon.”

The Georgia Promise Scholarship Act provides up to $6,500 to children and families at schools with low achievement rates and allows them to either pay for tuition at a private or charter school, as well as cover costs of school supplies. Its supporters say it is a tool to improve educational outcomes in low-performing school zones.

The Scholarship Act also allows the funds to be provided to home-school families for similar purposes.

This new legislation being considered by the Senate would not change the existing program criteria, funding or requirements. It is moving through the Senate even though some lawmakers have called for the current Georgia Promise Scholarship Act to be narrowed or repealed entirely.