It's Easy To Apply
It's Easy To Apply
The 2026 application will open no later than May 1, 2025
Deadline to apply is December 31, 2025
You must upload your most recently filed tax return
Every student needs their own application
Each year, you will need to submit an updated application
Apply for the 2026 Pay it Forward Scholarship
Eligibility Requirements*
In order to be approved to receive a Pay it Forward Scholarship, a student must meet the eligibility requirements as set forth in the law which governs our program and by which we operate. Once a student qualifies in any category for a scholarship, they remain qualified for their entire school career, however parents must submit an updated scholarship application each year.
All students must be Georgia Residents
Students in PreK, Kindergarten, and 1st grade are automatically eligible
Students in 2nd grade and older are eligible if they meet 1 of the 5 following criteria:
Received a PIFS (or other SSO) scholarship previously
Attended public school for six weeks (last year) prior to enrolling in private school (this year)
Homeschooled for one year (last year) prior to enrolling in private school (this year)
Zoned to attend a low-performing public school as designated by the Governor’s Office of Student Achievement.
Documented case of bullying in a Georgia public school
*Documentation may be required in order to verify eligibility.
Scholarship Amounts
Your student will receive an equal share of the scholarship funds donated to your school in a given year. For example, if we have $10,000 in scholarship funds for your school and there are 10 approved students, then each student receives a $1,000 scholarship.
Examples: Click here for a visual
Income Limitations
Scholarships have caps based on the maximum amount published annually by the Georgia Department of Education ($13,959 for 2025) as well as a household's net taxable income.
Under $30,000
maximum of 100% of tuition and fees
$30,000-$60,000
maximum of 90% of tuition and fees
Over $60,000
maximum of 80% of tuition and fees
No distribution shall exceed the maximum amount per year as established by the GA DOE.
Can I apply for the scholarship if I am not required to file a tax return?
Yes, please contact our office for alternate instructions if you do not have a tax return to upload to the scholarship application.
Can I submit more than one application if I am undecided on what school my child will attend?
Please only submit one application per child. You may select “I don’t see my school” if you are undecided. PLEASE NOTE: You must update Pay it Forward Scholarships with the selected school’s name prior to the December 31st deadline. If no school is selected by this date, your child will not be included in the upcoming distribution.
Click the tile below for more FAQs.
When will I know if my child is approved for a Pay it Forward Scholarship?
Your child is automatically approved once you complete the online application process, as long as the information provided is accurate. Pay it Forward Scholarships will review and audit applications and contact parents if we have a question regarding your child’s eligibility or if information is missing from the application. Parents should receive a confirmation email for each child for whom they submit a scholarship application. Prior to scholarship distribution, Pay it Forward Scholarships completes an enrollment and eligibility verification process where applicant information is reviewed. Additional documentation may be requested from the parent or school during this process.
Is my child guaranteed to receive a scholarship if we submit an application?
Unfortunately, there is no guarantee. The scholarships are funded by Georgia’s QEE Tax Credit program and scholarship distributions are entirely dependent on Pay it Forward Scholarships receiving designated funds for your school AND being able to verify your child’s enrollment and eligibility.