GA Special Needs Scholarship Program

The Georgia Special Needs Scholarship (GSNS) Program is a school-choice program available to special-needs students attending Georgia public schools who are served under an Individualized Education Program (IEP). Please visit the following website for full information regarding the Georgia Special Needs Scholarship: 

GADOE Georgia GSNS

Please review the IEP, 504 Plan, and Kindergarten Qualification Information to ensure your child meets the eligibility criteria for the Georgia Special Needs Scholarship: 

GSNS Qualifications

If a student meets the eligibility criteria for the GSNS Program, a parent/guardian has the right to request a transfer from a student’s current public school to:

• Another public school within their district of residence; or
• Another public school district outside their district of residence; or
• One of the three state schools for the blind or deaf, or
• A private school authorized to participate in the GSNS Program. Funds received through the GSNS Program may be used only to pay tuition and fees at a private school authorized by the State Board of Education to participate in the program.  Transfer requests to private schools participating in the program are managed by the Georgia Department of Education.  

Walton County School District locally processes transfers from public schools within the district of residence.  

Public School transfers within Walton County School District

Guidelines:

1. A parent/guardian can choose to send a child to another public school in the same school district as long as there is classroom space available at the school.
2. If a parent requests a transfer, the parent assumes all costs associated with transporting the child to and from the selected school.
3. Students with attendance or discipline issues at their home school from the previous school year will not be eligible to apply for permissive transfer for the next school year.  
4. A student who transfers to another school may continue to attend the choice school until the student completes all grades offered at the selected school. After that time, the student must return to their home school and/or apply for a new transfer to the next school.
5. If at any time attendance or behavior becomes an issue, the school district may require the student to return to the home school.

Procedures:

1. Parents must submit an application between April 1, 2026, and May 20, 2026. No applications are received after this date.
2. All applications must be submitted through the online application process. If you are unable to do so, please contact the Special Education Department at (770) 266-4502. Please make sure your email and phone number are correct on your application before submitting it. Once the application is approved, you will be contacted by email to confirm your selection. If the school is unable to make contact, you risk losing the transfer approval.  
3. If your application is approved, current proof of residency that matches the address on the application will be required by the school of choice.
4. If there are not enough openings to accommodate all requests, then the openings will be filled by a random lottery drawing. Parents/guardians are encouraged to select more than one school in the event that their first school choice is unavailable. Having more than one option selected will increase the odds of the transfer request being approved. 
5. Students not selected for a permissive transfer opening for the current school year may reapply the next school year.
6. Openings will be determined based on the capacity of the buildings, class size, grade, and subject.  This means some schools may have limited spots available in one grade level.

Additional information:

• Children must be five years old by September 1st to be eligible for enrollment. 
• If a parent requests a transfer to a school that does not have the services required by the current Individualized Education Plan (IEP) or Individualized Accommodation Plan (IAP), or English Limited Language (ELL), the school is not required to develop those services as long as they are available within the local school district.
• Any student transferring under Public School Choice shall be subject to the eligibility requirement of the Georgia High School Association and the policy of Walton County School District. It is the parents' responsibility to verify GHSA eligibility.
• This process does not apply to newly opened schools for a period of four years from the date the school opens.
• Schools are not required to create space by using existing portable classrooms or locating additional portable classrooms on school property.  
• Please note that permissive transfer does not apply to Pre-K. 
• Openings are based on current enrollment, and admission will be determined by available space within the grade levels requested. 

If you have questions or need assistance regarding a public school transfer within Walton County through GSNS, please call 770-266-4502, or you may request assistance in person at the Walton County Board of Education, 200 Double Springs Church Road, Monroe, GA 30656.   

Georgia Special Needs Scholarship Outside of Walton County School District

Please review the GADOE website for information on GSNS Transfers to Private Schools, Another Public School System, and State Schools

GADOE GSNS Information

GSNS TRANSFERS TO PRIVATE SCHOOLS

Please review information on the GADOE website regarding private school GSNS Transfers.  These are handled through the private schools and the GADOE, and NOT by the Walton County School District. 

GSNS TRANSFERS OUTSIDE OF THE WALTON COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT

(e.g. transfer from a public school in Cobb County to a public school in Cherokee County)

A school system reviewing a transfer request to its school system from another school system can deny a request for any reason, even if there is space and the availability of a special education program at a requested public school. Note: It is allowable for a school system to have a policy not to accept students who reside outside of the school system.  

If a school system approves an out-of-system transfer request, it can charge a parent/guardian for the costs of educating a student, also known as out-of-district tuition.  Funds received through the GSNS Program cannot be used to offset the costs of out-of-district tuition.

GSNS TRANSFERS TO STATE SCHOOLS

There are three state schools for the blind or deaf (Only students with the primary exceptionality of visual and/or individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing may request a transfer to a State School).