Can a Georgia Promise account pay for private school tuition & fees?
Yes. Tuition and fees at a participating private school, an accredited college or a nonpublic online program; the parent starts each tuition payment in Odyssey.
Do GSNS or SSO scholarships cover private school tuition & fees?
For GSNS: Tuition and fees at a school on GaDOE's authorized list, paid by quarterly check to the school. For SSO scholarships: Tuition at a qualified (accredited or accrediting) Georgia private school; the SSO sets the amount.
Which rules and exclusions apply?
| What's allowed | What isn't |
|---|---|
| A Promise school must be on GESA's participating list and may enroll Promise students only in grades its accreditation covers. | Tuition at a school that hasn't joined the program you hold |
| Promise can reserve a seat: up to $1,000 may be paid before the school year to hold a place at a nonpublic school. | Church dues or donations billed as fees |
| Promise fees exclude religious fees and donations. |
What does this look like for an Atlanta family?
120 directory schools are on the Promise list and 153 on the GSNS list for 2026-27. Filter the directory by community to see which nearby schools take which.
How do you buy it?
Through the Odyssey marketplace. Promise purchases are made from the approved products and providers listed there; tuition payments to a participating school are started by the parent in the portal. Transportation is the only expense GESA reimburses.
Rules are summarized from GESA's Georgia Promise Scholarship Eligible Expenses list (dated May 8, 2025, still the list posted on mygeorgiapromise.org on October 28, 2026), the Promise family timeline and Testing 101 sheet (July 23, 2026), GaDOE's GSNS documents and the SSO statute (O.C.G.A. 20-2A). Only items offered in the Odyssey marketplace can be bought, so check there before you pay. A summary, not legal advice; GESA's current rules control.