---
title: O.C.G.A. § 20-3-499. Selection of REACH scholars.
collection: code
id: 20-3-499
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 20-3-499 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/20-3-499
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/20-3-499.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/20-3-499/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=309
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.
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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. § 20-3-499. Selection of REACH scholars.

(a) REACH participating school systems shall select each student for the program in the spring of the student’s seventh grade year or in the fall of his or her eighth grade year, for participation beginning in the eighth grade year. REACH participating school systems shall develop a rigorous application process to select REACH scholars, including but not limited to:

(1) Identifying all students eligible for federal free or reduced price lunch by:

(A) Completing the Application for Free and Reduced Price School Meals form from the Georgia Department of Education; or

(B) Direct certification by meeting one of the following criteria:

(i) Live in a family unit receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits;

(ii) Live in a family unit receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) benefits;

(iii) Identify as homeless;

(iv) Identify as foster; or

(v) Identify as migrant;

(1.1) Identifying eligible students who are victims of human trafficking;

(2) Nominating qualified students to apply. Nominations can be made by counselors, principals, superintendents, or any individual within the REACH participating school system who is able to identify students most in need of the REACH scholarship;

(3) Requiring nominated students to complete the REACH student application, which includes an academic recommendation and a community recommendation;

(4) Reviewing student packets, including the nomination form, proof of eligibility for federal free or reduced lunch or as a victim of human trafficking, citizenship and residency requirements, and grade, attendance, and discipline reports; and

(5) Interviewing all nominated students by a student selection committee established by the REACH participating school system.

(b) REACH participating school systems shall be eligible to designate REACH scholars each school year, the number of which shall be subject to available appropriations.

## History

Code 1981, § 20-3-499, enacted by Ga. L. 2019, p. 675, § 2/SB 83; Ga. L. 2024, p. 574, § 2/HB 970, effective July 1, 2024; Ga. L. 2025, p. 1029, § 20(47)/SB 153, effective July 1, 2025.

## Amendments

The 2024 amendment, effective July 1, 2024, added paragraph (a)(1.1); inserted “or as a victim of human trafficking” in the middle of paragraph (a)(4); and substituted the current provisions of subsection (b) for the former provisions, which read: “REACH participating school systems shall be eligible to designate the following number of REACH scholars:

“(1) For school systems with five or more high schools, 12 REACH scholars; and

“(2) For school systems with less than five high schools, seven REACH scholars.”

The 2025 amendment, effective July 1, 2025, part of an Act to revise, modernize, and correct the Code, substituted “Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)” for “SNAP (Food Stamp)” in division (a)(1)(B)(i) and substituted “Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)” for “TANF” in division (a)(1)(B)(ii).