---
title: O.C.G.A. § 20-3-497. Establishment of REACH scholarship; student requirements.
collection: code
id: 20-3-497
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 20-3-497 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/20-3-497
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/20-3-497.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/20-3-497/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/joint-features-document-library/t20-ch3-18-(v17a)-2025-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=10d12596_0#page=308
date: 2025
status: active
corpus_version: 2025-supplement-89aa39ab3c68
license: CC0-1.0
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
up: https://georgiacommons.org/code/20-3.md
previous: https://georgiacommons.org/code/20-3-496.md
next: https://georgiacommons.org/code/20-3-498.md
index: https://georgiacommons.org/code/index.md
version: the only printed version
in_force: true
current_through: Including Acts of the 2025 Session of the General Assembly of Georgia
heading_path: EDUCATION / POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION / SCHOLARSHIPS, LOANS, AND GRANTS / REALIZING EDUCATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT CAN HAPPEN (REACH) SCHOLARSHIP
---

# O.C.G.A. § 20-3-497. Establishment of REACH scholarship; student requirements.

The Realizing Educational Achievement Can Happen (REACH) Scholarship Program is hereby established. The scholarship program shall provide scholarships and support to eligible students who meet the following requirements:

(1) Be a United States citizen or an eligible noncitizen for 12 consecutive months prior to the first day of classes of the spring term of the student’s seventh grade school year;

(2) Be enrolled in a REACH participating school system;

(3) Qualify for the federal free or reduced lunch program or be a victim of human trafficking;

(4) Not have had more than two in-school suspensions during the two semesters or four quarters immediately preceding the spring term of the student’s seventh grade year;

(5) Not have any criminal or drug-related convictions;

(6) Not have more than five days of unexcused absences during any of the student’s middle school calendar years;

(7) Have his or her parents or guardians complete and submit a release of information form, as part of the application process, authorizing the school to provide the authority information related to the student’s participation in the program; and

(8) Demonstrate academic promise, as defined by the authority, taking into consideration grades, attendance, and behavior.

## History

Code 1981, § 20-3-497, enacted by Ga. L. 2019, p. 675, § 2/SB 83; Ga. L. 2024, p. 574, § 1/HB 970, effective July 1, 2024.

## Amendments

The 2024 amendment, effective July 1, 2024, added “or be a victim of human trafficking” at the end of paragraph (3).