Georgia Student Scholarship Organization (GaSSO)

Mountain Laurel Academy partners with GaSSO, a state designated Student Scholarship Organization to provide needs-based scholarships for our students.

What is GaSSO? 

GaSSO is the most important fund-raising vehicle we use to support scholarships, operating expenses, keeping tuition costs low, and many of the other costs associated with operating a school.

 The Georgia Student Scholarship Organization is a non-profit “Student Scholarship Organization”, established by the state of Georgia, which administers the “Qualified Educational Expense Credit Program” (QEE). This program, established by GA House Bill 1133 in 2008, provides a $100,000,000 fund to provide school choice options by directing funds to private schools in the form of scholarships for qualified students. This legislation allows individuals and corporations to redirect a portion of their Georgia state tax liability into this fund and provides a 100% tax credit when you file your taxes. There is also a federal tax deduction for this donation.

This program directly impacts how many, and the size of, scholarships we can offer!

All funding for our financial assistance to families is through this program and all families requesting scholarships must be signed up with GaSSO. We also strongly encourage all of our families to participate in the QEE program through GaSSO. The program costs nothing, provides a federal tax deduction, funds all of our financial aid (scholarships), and is instrumental in allowing MLA to keep tuition costs low

How does it work?

Qualified individual or corporate GA taxpayers sign up with GaSSO and pledge to redirect a portion of their tax liability into a fund which has been established to benefit private school education. This tax money, which would normally be paid into the Georgia general fund, is now earmarked for use by the private school designated by the taxpayer providing the donation. The school uses this money to provide financial assistance through scholarships to qualified students to help offset a portion of their tuition costs.

In return for this donation, the taxpayer receives a 100% tax credit (100% return on the donation) when they file their state taxes. In addition to helping benefit deserving students, providing educational options for their community, and receiving a tax credit…all at no cost…the taxpayer also receives a tax deduction on their federal taxes. Any individual or corporate GA taxpayer has the opportunity to donate to this program.

Any family can then simply register with GaSSO to request a scholarship for their student, whether they have donated to the program or not.

Who should register with GaSSO?

All of our families register with GaSSO each year, whether or not they donate and whether or not they are requesting a scholarship. While we strongly encourage all families to donate to whatever extent they are able, we require all to register with the program. This allows us access to the funding for scholarships and gives us the flexibility to continue to hold tuition costs as low as possible.

How do I donate to GaSSO?

How to contribute and take the tax credit:

 1. Pledge: Go to https://www.georgiasso.com and sign up (a five-minute process)

2. GaSSO will submit your info for a match with GA Department of Revenue January 1

3. Receive an approval letter by February/March

4. Fund your donation within 60 days of approval.

5. Receive a GA Tax Credit in January prior to tax filing

  Donation Limits:                                                     

  Donation Amount                    GA Tax Credit

• Individuals $2,500 max $2,500

• Married/Joint $5,000 max $5,000

•  S-Corporations & LLC $25,000 max $25,000

•  C-Corporations 75% of GA Tax Liability 75% of GA Tax Liability

How do I register with GaSSO and request a scholarship?

Requesting a scholarship from GaSSO: This application simply makes you eligible to receive any scholarship or financial aid considerations and ALL FAMILIES should apply each year whether they require assistance or not.

 Complete application @ https://go.georgiasso.com/applications/new?school_id=484 (This application only takes a few minutes to complete.)

1. Be sure to name Mountain Laurel Academy as the school your student is attending.

2. Be sure your child meets Georgia eligibility requirements.

3. Inform MLA that you have requested a scholarship and are entered into the system.

4. If you are applying for financial aid, complete the FACTS Management application (see below).

   
   

 How do I know if I qualify?

Student eligibility requirements: 

• Must be a Georgia resident and be 4 years old by September 1st

•  Qualified to enroll in Pre-K, Kindergarten, or first grade - automatically eligible

•  Was enrolled in public school last year- automatically eligible

• If never attended public school, second grade and up must attend a Georgia public school for at least six weeks

 The six-week public school attendance requirements shall be waived in the case of a student who:

•   Based on residence, would be assigned to a low performing school

•   Documented cases of physical violence or verbal abuse threatening physical harm

•   Homeschooled year prior

•   Previously eligible

  
  

Additional Information on GaSSO: