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Information for Parents

Navigating eligibility, funding, and how to apply.

Choosing the right school for your child is an important decision that can shape their future. When that choice is a private education, the Alyn Scholarship Fund assists families of eligible students offset the cost of tuition.

There's 2 ways to obtain a scholarship for your child.

Through School Financial Aid
If your child is going to attend a private school with a working agreement with ASF, you can obtain a scholarship through the school's financial aid process.
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Directly Through Alyn Fund
If your child is going to attend a private school that does not have a working agreement with ASF, you can apply for a scholarship directly from ASF.
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Please Keep In Mind

For students in 2nd through 12th grade, the law requires a student be deemed eligible and awarded a scholarship prior to enrolling in a private school. 

It's imperative that you complete the scholarship process for this program first, and then, enroll your child in the private school of your choice.

two young students looking at book from teacher

Eligibility Requirements

Scholarship applicants must meet one of the following requirements:
  • Georgia resident eligible to enroll in Pre-K, Kindergarten or First grade.
  • Georgia resident transferring from a Georgia public school to a Georgia private school (*minimum of six weeks attended at public school prior to transferring).
  • Georgia resident transferring to a Georgia private school from a home school (must have been homeschooled for a minimum of one year).
  • Georgia resident currently receiving or has previously received an Education Tax Credit scholarship.

The requirement to attend a public school for at least six weeks can be waived in the following instances:

  • A student is or would be assigned to a public school that the Office of Student Achievement determines to be a low-performing school (CCRPI score) based on the school attendance zone of his or her primary residence.
  • A student is the subject of officially documented cases of school based physical violence or student related verbal abuse threatening physical harm.

How It Works

As a part of the scholarship process, parents must provide a copy of their most recently filed Federal tax return to evaluate the level of need.  Further documentation such as recent pay stubs, unemployment or worker's compensation receipts, social security benefits letter, and child support documents may be necessary to complete the scholarship process.  

high school student studying in library

Scholarship Application

To apply for a scholarship directly from the Alyn Fund, please fill out the form below.

Scholarship Application Request

Support the Program

Leverage Your Tax Dollars

Parents are not required to contribute to the Alyn Fund in order to receive a scholarship.  But, it's in their best interest to do so.

         The More We Have - The More We Give

By contributing their state taxes to the Alyn Fund, parents can help increase the amount of available scholarship funds which allows us to provide more assistance to eligible students.

victoria

Request to Contribute

To request to contribute your state taxes, use the form below.
 

Education Tax Credit Form - Married

Complete this form to allow ASF to submit your application to the GA Dept. of Revenue for a tax credit.

Taxpayer Information
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Contribution Information
Designated to a particular school or schools.
Undesignated (The ASF Board of Directors will select deserving school(s) or student(s).
Yes
 

FAQS

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:
  • Amount of scholarship money available each year
  • Number of eligible students applying
  • Financial need of each student
Does my child lose their 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 an 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. Is my child still be eligible?
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 contributor 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 contributor or not.  A student's scholarship eligibility is a completely independent and separate matter from the contribution process.  Whether a parent contributes or does not contribute has no bearing on their child's scholarship eligibility.