The Academy, a Marietta-based school for students with dyslexia, was notified last week by Georgia Department of Education that it was approved to participate in the 2020-2021 Georgia Special Needs Scholarship (GSNS) Program. GSNS is a school choice program available for special needs students attending Georgia public schools who are served under an Individualized Education Plan (IEP).
The Academy’s Founder, Jimmy Arispe, says the recent approval is the latest successful step in the school’s journey to serve student with disabilities in the northwest portion of Atlanta. “First we received our provisional accreditation from the Georgia Accrediting Commission a few months ago. That was the first necessary step for our SB10 approval. We intend to use this GSNS approval to help more students access the dyslexic services they so desperately need. We are very grateful to the Ga Department of Education.”
Senate Bill 10 (SB10) was signed into law on May 18, 2007, which created the GSNS. Under this 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 can only be used to pay for tuition and fees at a private school authorized by the State Board of Education to participate in the program.
The Academy is accepting 2nd – 6th grade student for the upcoming 2020-2021 school year. It is located at 461 Magnet Street in Marietta and will utilize the Girls Inc facility during the school day while following the Cobb County School District’s calendar. For additional admissions information, you can go to the school’s website at www.theAcademyAtlanta.org, call 678-243-0232 or send an email to Admissions@theAcademyAtlanta.org.
For more specific information about the GSNS Program, you can visit the state’s website at www.gadoe.org.
