Impending scholarships could help more than 700 Bibb County public school students move to private, home schools

Kellie Divis homeschooled her own kids and now does the same for 25 to 30 Macon families out of her office on Walnut Street. She teaches group classes — sometimes going to the park or Washington Memorial Library— and hosts one-on-one tutoring.

Her company is one of five tutoring services in Macon approved by the Promise Scholarship, which awards public school students in Georgia $6,500 to seek out alternative education options, like private schools or homeschooling.

The scholarship has received 732 applications from Bibb County Schools students, about 3.5% of the district’s student population, according to a Georgia Student Finance Commission spokesperson. 

“I think public school can work for a lot of people, but it’s good to have choices and something else could be a better fit for a lot of kids,” Divis said.

The first round of applications for the Georgia Promise Scholarship closed April 15. Every student attending the Bibb County School District is eligible for the program, as every attendance zone in the district has at least one school in the bottom 20% of Georgia schools based on state testing. 

While scholarships have not been awarded yet, families that applied have been informed about their eligibility. Decisions are to be released “as soon as possible,” according to the scholarship’s website.

Stephanie Hartley, spokesperson for the Bibb County School District, said the district is currently working with limited data on the number of students who may leave the district. The district has its first enrollment count in October.

Bibb County Board of Education member Daryl Morton noted the scholarship of $6,500 barely covers tuition, and students that move lose their individualized education plan.

Families can denote an intended place of study on their application, whether it be a private school or home study. Fourteen private schools in Macon are participating in the Promise Scholarship program.

First Presbyterian Day School has 100 promise applicants who have noted the school as their intended place of study, said Kris Vaughn, FPD’s admissions director. Those applicants still have to make it through the school’s admissions process before being accepted.

A spokesperson for Tattnall Square Academy said the school does not have the number of applicants who have designated Tattnall as their intended choice.

St. Peter Claver has about 13 applicants who listed the school as their choice.

The scholarship’s application window reopens in June and families begin receiving funds, if accepted, starting in July.

The state student finance commission provides a list of educational services that can be paid for using the Promise Scholarship. The list includes in-state and out-of-state tutors, therapists, online schools and curriculum creators, according to the state’s list last updated May 20.

Tutors must be state-certified educators and therapists also have to be licensed by the state.

Kelly Chester owns Sadie Reads, another tutoring service specializing in literacy approved under the Promise Scholarship.

Many people have reached out to her for tutoring through the Promise Scholarship, she said, but many of those families did not know the funds could only be used if their child withdrew from public school.

“I know how to teach people how to read,” Chester said. “I want to make sure we are being good stewards of taxpayer money. I know what people need from all of my training.”

Divis noted that her students opt for home schooling for a number of reasons, including greater flexibility, addressing neurodivergent needs and “support for faith or values.”

Divis said the Promise Scholarship would “more than cover” homeschool tutoring expenses. She charges between $600 and $900 for a year of weekly five-hour group classes.

“Sometimes people think they can’t homeschool because they have to do it all themselves,” she said. “That’s not the case.”