TL;DR: Georgia's final Promise Scholarship window for 2026-27 runs November 1-30 and funds spring 2027 enrollment. Only households at or below 400% of the federal poverty level, $132,000 for a family of four under the 2026 guidelines, are considered. Keep your child in public school through December and gather the documents now.
Who can apply in the November 2026 Promise window?
Families whose household income is at or below 400% of the federal poverty level and whose child meets the zoning, public school and residency rules. Families above that line are considered only in the March and May windows. GESA's program timeline spells that out, and the family FAQ on mygeorgiapromise.org cites the Promise Scholarship Act as the reason.
The other tests don't change by window. Your child must be zoned to a school on the 2026-27 list, must have been enrolled in a Georgia public school for the two consecutive semesters before the one you're applying for, and a parent must have lived in Georgia for at least a year, with an exception for active-duty military who moved here within the past twelve months.
What is 400% of the poverty level for an Atlanta household?
Using the 2026 HHS poverty guidelines, 400% is $132,000 for a household of four. GESA verifies income from your most recent federal Form 1040, and it confirms which guideline year it applies when you apply.
| Household size | 400% of 2026 federal poverty guideline |
|---|---|
| 2 | $86,560 |
| 3 | $109,280 |
| 4 | $132,000 |
| 5 | $154,720 |
| 6 | $177,440 |
| 7 | $200,160 |
Families receiving SNAP, Medicaid, TANF, LIHEAP, SSDI or SSI can submit those records as alternative proof of income. If your income sits just above the line, the March and May 2027 windows are your route; in fall windows income only matters if applicants outnumber the money.
What documents does the Promise application ask for?
A Georgia driver's license plus a utility bill, mortgage statement, deed, closing disclosure or lease; your most recent federal Form 1040 or an approved benefits record; and report cards or attendance records for the last two public school semesters. Active-duty families who transferred to Georgia in the past year upload their orders in place of the residency document, and rising kindergartners don't need school records.
- Confirm your zoned schools on the Promise zone lookup and run GESA's pre-screen tool.
- Gather the license, the residency document and the 1040 now, while the window is open.
- Download two semesters of report cards or an attendance report from your district's parent portal.
- Apply through mygeorgiapromise.org between November 1 and 30. Applying on day one gives no advantage over applying on day thirty.
- Add every eligible child on the same application before you submit.
Upload clear copies. Odyssey reviews files after the window closes, and an account moves from Eligible, pending document checks, to Approved - Awaiting Opt-In before any money is released. An ineligible decision can be appealed within 30 days of the notice.
What the November window isn't
It isn't a fall 2027 application, and it isn't open to every income. Approval in November funds spring 2027 only, and the family recertifies each year after that. It also isn't a decision about the school: you choose a participating private school, a non-participating school (which Promise can't pay), or home study after approval, when you opt in.
If your top choice isn't yet participating, ask whether it applied in the October 1-31 school window. GESA decides school applications within 60 days, so a school that applied in October may appear on the list before spring tuition is due. 120 schools in our directory were already participating as of the April 2026 list.
Does my child have to stay in public school while we apply?
Yes, through the end of the semester in which you apply. A November applicant keeps the child enrolled through December and withdraws before the spring semester begins. The family information sheet gives the same example: a September applicant stays enrolled through December. Withdrawing early can cost the public school semester the application depends on.
When would a November applicant's money arrive?
In January 2027, if approved. Each window feeds the next semester, and 2026-27 deposits are $1,625 each, with the third one scheduled for January. Odyssey emails families when funds are released. Parents start tuition payments to a participating school in the portal, and everything else is bought through the marketplace, with transportation the only reimbursed expense, capped at $500 a year.
Two more dates follow. The annual test is due by June 30, 2027, and up to 50% of an unused balance can roll into 2027-28. Our Promise spending guide covers the categories one by one.
Frequently asked questions
Who can apply in the November 2026 Promise window?
Families whose household income is at or below 400% of the federal poverty level and whose child meets the zoning, public school and residency rules. Families above that line are considered only in the March and May windows.
What documents does the Promise application ask for?
A Georgia driver's license plus a utility bill, mortgage statement, deed, closing disclosure or lease; your most recent federal Form 1040 or an approved benefits record; and report cards or attendance records for the last two public school semesters.
When would a November applicant's money arrive?
In January 2027, if approved. Each window feeds the next semester, and 2026-27 deposits are $1,625 each, with the third one scheduled for January.
Does my child have to stay in public school while we apply?
Yes, through the end of the semester in which you apply. A November applicant keeps the child enrolled through December and withdraws before the spring semester begins.
Related questions
- Is my zoned school on the list?
- Promise eligibility in full
- What a Promise account can pay for
- Every 2026-27 date
Sources
- Georgia Promise Scholarship: 2026 application periods and family FAQ (GESA)
- Promise Program Timeline (GESA)
- Odyssey: Georgia Promise Scholarship 2026-27 disbursements
- HHS: 2026 poverty guidelines (detailed)
- Odyssey: Will I be eligible if my AGI is above 400% of the Federal Poverty Line?
See what your family qualifies for →
