Parent's FAQ
How do I know that my child is approved for a scholarship?
If your child meets the eligibility criteria, they will be approved, but any award is based on need and the availability of funds.
Why do parents have to provide financial information?
It's required by law. Specifically, the law stipulates that:
"In awarding scholarships or tuition grants, shall consider financial needs of students based on all sources of income, including the federal adjusted income from the federal income tax return most recently filed by the parent or guardian of such students, as adjusted for family size".
How much are the scholarship awards?
There is no set amount on the value of scholarships as there are a number of variables that play into this figure. The main factors in determining the value of scholarship awards include:
Does my child lose his/her eligibility for the scholarship after one year?
No they do not. Once they fulfill any one of the eligibility requirements and receive a scholarship, they maintain their eligibility so long as they stay in private school.
My child received a Education Tax Credit scholarship at one time, but hasn't recently. Are they still eligible?
As long as they have remained in the private school setting since they last received an Education Tax Credit scholarship, then they are still eligible to receive scholarship assistance again. Once a student receives a scholarship through this program, they maintain their eligibility until they graduate or reach the age of 20; whichever occurs first.
My child transferred from one private school to another. Do they lose their Tax Credit scholarship?
No. As long as they were eligible at their previous GA private school and transferred directly to another GA private school, they will maintain their scholarship eligibility. The award amount may be different (based on availability of funds), but their eligibility remains intact.
My school uses a different SSO or chooses not to participate in the Education Tax Credit program.
That's not a problem. Schools can accept scholarship awards from any GA Dept. of Education approved SSO. Scholarships awarded directly from ASF are outside the scholarship process of your school and, by law, are sent to the school on behalf of the student. The parent/guardian simply endorses the scholarship check over to the school to be deposited in the school's account as a credit towards their child's tuition.
Per the Georgia Department of Education's website:
"...SSO scholarships are provided to parents not to schools. The SSO will determine if the school to which the parent chooses to send the child meets the criteria according to the law."
Is an Education Tax Credit scholarship award considered income?
No. So long as the funds are used for qualified educational expenses (tuition, books, fees, etc) there is no requirement to include an Education Tax Credit scholarship award as income. Since the scholarship is provided by a non-profit organization, it is not subject to be claimed as income on your State or Federal tax return.
As a parent, am I required to participate as a donor in order for my child to receive a scholarship?
No. A student's scholarship eligibility is in no way influenced by whether their parent(s) participate as a donor or not. A student's scholarship eligibility is a completely independent and separate matter from the donation process. Whether a parent donates or does not donate has no bearing on their child's scholarship eligibility.
If your child meets the eligibility criteria, they will be approved, but any award is based on need and the availability of funds.
Why do parents have to provide financial information?
It's required by law. Specifically, the law stipulates that:
"In awarding scholarships or tuition grants, shall consider financial needs of students based on all sources of income, including the federal adjusted income from the federal income tax return most recently filed by the parent or guardian of such students, as adjusted for family size".
How much are the scholarship awards?
There is no set amount on the value of scholarships as there are a number of variables that play into this figure. The main factors in determining the value of scholarship awards include:
- Amount of scholarship money available each year
- Number of eligible students applying
- Financial need of each student
Does my child lose his/her eligibility for the scholarship after one year?
No they do not. Once they fulfill any one of the eligibility requirements and receive a scholarship, they maintain their eligibility so long as they stay in private school.
My child received a Education Tax Credit scholarship at one time, but hasn't recently. Are they still eligible?
As long as they have remained in the private school setting since they last received an Education Tax Credit scholarship, then they are still eligible to receive scholarship assistance again. Once a student receives a scholarship through this program, they maintain their eligibility until they graduate or reach the age of 20; whichever occurs first.
My child transferred from one private school to another. Do they lose their Tax Credit scholarship?
No. As long as they were eligible at their previous GA private school and transferred directly to another GA private school, they will maintain their scholarship eligibility. The award amount may be different (based on availability of funds), but their eligibility remains intact.
My school uses a different SSO or chooses not to participate in the Education Tax Credit program.
That's not a problem. Schools can accept scholarship awards from any GA Dept. of Education approved SSO. Scholarships awarded directly from ASF are outside the scholarship process of your school and, by law, are sent to the school on behalf of the student. The parent/guardian simply endorses the scholarship check over to the school to be deposited in the school's account as a credit towards their child's tuition.
Per the Georgia Department of Education's website:
"...SSO scholarships are provided to parents not to schools. The SSO will determine if the school to which the parent chooses to send the child meets the criteria according to the law."
Is an Education Tax Credit scholarship award considered income?
No. So long as the funds are used for qualified educational expenses (tuition, books, fees, etc) there is no requirement to include an Education Tax Credit scholarship award as income. Since the scholarship is provided by a non-profit organization, it is not subject to be claimed as income on your State or Federal tax return.
As a parent, am I required to participate as a donor in order for my child to receive a scholarship?
No. A student's scholarship eligibility is in no way influenced by whether their parent(s) participate as a donor or not. A student's scholarship eligibility is a completely independent and separate matter from the donation process. Whether a parent donates or does not donate has no bearing on their child's scholarship eligibility.