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Special Needs Scholarship (SB10)

*****The 2024-2025 Application is closed.

Dear Parents:
If you are the parent of a Rockdale County Public Schools' student who is eligible for accommodations or services under Section 504 of the Federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973, this notification is to inform you of your options to exercise public and private school choice under Senate Bill 47. Under the Georgia Special Needs Scholarship Act, parents of students who are eligible for accommodations or services under Section 504 may choose to transfer their child to another public school or private school in Georgia. If the student meets the eligibility criteria outlined on the Georgia Depart of Education website Special Needs Scholarship Program (gadoe.org), the following options are available:

Public School Choice Options
A parent may request a transfer to another public school within their school system as long as there is capacity at the school and a there is a program available which is aligned with the student’s Section 504 Plan. Capacity is based on established health and safety provisions and class-size by grade and subject. If this option is chosen and approved, the parent will be responsible for transportation to and from the school. The link to the Section 504 Scholarship application can be found below. Please contact the RCPS Section 504 Coordinator, TaShauna Marion, at 678-413-6962, if you have questions.

A parent may request a transfer to a school in another school system if there is capacity at the school and a program available which is aligned with the student’s Section 504 Plan. A school system considering a request for a transfer to its school system from another school system can deny a request, and it can charge a parent/guardian for the costs of educating a student during the first school year of the transfer. If this option is chosen and approved by the system, the parent will be responsible for transportation to and from the school in that system. The parent may also request a transfer to one of the state schools for the deaf and/or blind operated by the State Board of Education. Acceptance into a state school will depend on whether that setting is appropriate for the student’s needs. If the parent chooses this option, the parent will be responsible for transportation to and from the state school. Please contact the Georgia Department of Education for more information about transferring to a state school.

Private School Choice Option
If you are interested in transferring your child to a private school in Georgia, you may visit the Georgia Department of Education’s website at Special Needs Scholarship Program (gadoe.org). There is no formal application process for the Georgia Special Needs Scholarship Program. The parent/guardian will determine a student’s potential scholarship award using the scholarship calculator on the web page. The calculator for the 2024-2025 school year will be available on the Georgia Department of Education website. 


Please 
contact the RCPS Section 504 Coordinator, TaShauna Marion, at 678-413-6962, if you have questions.

Section 504

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, is designed to eliminate discrimination based on disability in any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance. This act requires that no qualified student who demonstrates (1) a physical or mental impairment, (2) that substantially limits, (3) one or more major life activities, (i.e. self-care, performing manual tasks, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, working, learning, eating, sleeping, standing, lifting, bending, reading, concentrating, thinking, operation of a major bodily function, and communicating) shall be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefit of, or be subject to discrimination in any program or activity offered by Rockdale County Public Schools (“District”).
  The District shall offer a free appropriate public education (FAPE) to each qualified student with a disability.  A student is entitled to regular and special education and related services designed to meet that student’s educational needs as adequately as the needs of non-handicapped, non-disabled students are met.  If it is determined that a student is eligible for special education, special educational services will be provided under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) through an Individualized Education Plan (IEP).  While services provided to qualified students are not required to produce identical results or levels of achievement with nondisabled peers, services must be designed to offer an equal opportunity to gain the same benefit within the least restrictive environment with non-disabled peers to the maximum extent appropriate.
Please see the Notice of Parent and Student Rights for more information.

504 Directory


Full Name Job Title Business Phone
TaShauna Marion Section 504 Coordinator 678-413-6962
     

Section 504 Documents

Notice of Parent and Student Rights     

Complaint Resolution Procedures