Public education in Georgia will likely see sweeping changes in 2025, as the Georgia Promise Scholarship, a program that allows families to divert public education funding towards private school tuition and other educational expenses, takes effect. 

However, the pool of eligible students may far exceed what many legislators anticipated when passing the bill, SB 233, during the 2024 legislative session.  

More: Georgia Senate passes school voucher bill promising $6,500 per student for tuition

The Georgia Promise Scholarship, authored by state Sen. Greg Dolezal (R-Cumming), was intended to allow students enrolled in the lowest 25th percentile of Georgia schools (based on the last two school years’ averages of the College and Career Ready Performance Index) to receive up to $6,500 each year to put towards private school tuition, school supplies, tutoring and other educational expenses. However, rules adopted by the Georgia Education Savings Authority on Nov. 18 expanded the eligibility to all those who live in such a school’s attendance zone, even if they do not attend the school. 

Multiple legislators said they didn’t realize how broadly the law could be interpreted, and plan to reign in the eligibility requirement for the Georgia Promise Scholarship during the upcoming session. 

“That wasn’t my understanding,” House Speaker Pro Tem Jan Jones (R-Milton) told the Associated Press. 

Voucher programs have been criticized by public school advocates, who say that voucher programs divert funds from struggling schools. Though the funds would not come out of Quality Basic Education (QBE), the formula that determines how much money public schools across Georgia receive from the state each year, QBE is calculated using full-time equivalent (FTE) student counts, meaning that public schools receive less money when their enrollment drops. 

More: These ‘lower performing’ Savannah schools are eligible for new Promise Scholarship

In Savannah, students enrolled in one of 18 approved schools in the Savannah-Chatham County Public School System (SCCPSS) could soon be eligible to apply for the Georgia Promise Scholarship. The application window is expected to open in January 2025. 

Maya Homan is a 2024 election fellow at USA TODAY who focuses on Georgia politics. She is @MayaHoman on X, formerly Twitter.

Former Georgia and Indianapolis kicker Rodrigo Blankenship recently participated in a UFL tryout event. Approximately 30-35 kickers participated. They divided into three groups of 10 and further split into two heats of five for competition. The tryout began with the kickoff portion, where kickers adjusted to the UFL’s unique rule of kicking off from the 20-yard line instead of the NFL’s 35-yard line.

Blankenship kicked against the wind during his first attempt, reaching the 15-yard line. His second and third kicks landed at the 7-yard and 6-yard lines, respectively.

The field goal portion followed, where he impressed after making all six of his intermediate kicks from 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, and 46 yards. The group then moved to long-distance attempts, where he converted a 53-yarder from the left hash and a 56-yarder from the right hash.

Reflecting on his performance, the kicker said:

“I’m happy with the distance on two of my kickoffs. I’m glad I hit all of my field goals because accuracy is what everyone focuses on.”

As the UFL season doesn’t start until March, he remains hopeful for an opportunity with an NFL team as the regular season enters its final weeks.

Blankenship will always be a fan favorite for Georgia Bulldog fans.

Georgia hosted a transfer quarterback late last week when Charlotte’s Deshawn Purdie came to town and it will host another this week. On3’s Pete Nakos says that Alabama transfer Dylan Lonergan plans to be in town. The news was first reported by Max Olson of The Athletic.

Lonergan, who played his high school about 45 miles away from the UGA campus at Brookwood, signed with the Crimson Tide in the 2023 class. He is in the transfer portal with three years to play three after appearing in three games over the past two seasons. Lonergan has completed seven of eight pass attempts for 35 yards in his career.

Georgia is clearly taking a long look at the quarterback position in the transfer portal, even with it’s likely starter potentially set to take over right now. Gunner Stockton is the odds-on favorite to win the job after three years in the system, but his time is likely now with Carson Beck‘s future in doubt due to an injury ulnar collateral ligament in the SEC Championship win over Texas.

The Bulldogs have Jaden Rashada and Ryan Puglisi in that room but it is unclear whether either will be in position to offer Stockton any competition this spring. Georgia also signed two quarterbacks in the 2025 class — Ryan Montgomery and Hezekiah Millender.

Dylan Lonergan’s On3 Scouting Report (2023)

“Talented passer who doubles as a standout on the gridiron and the baseball diamond. Highly touted baseball prospect who holds multiple Power 5 baseball offers, with the possibility of being a MLB Draft pick. Shows touch and accuracy as a passer at all levels of the field. Lonergan layers the football well, but can turn up the heat if needed on tight window throws. Productive while facing strong competition. Threw for nearly 3,400 yards and 32 touchdowns with just 3 interceptions as a junior.

“Mobile and creative with his legs. Ran for over 600 yards and 7 touchdowns as a junior. Has a stocky build, measuring between 6-foot-1 and 6-foot-2 and around 220 pounds. Lonergan’s mechanics can falter when the pocket collapses. Arm talent combined with his accuracy makes him one of the safer quarterback prospects in the country despite being on the older end for his class. Father was a quarterback at Penn State in the early 1980’s and won a national championship with them in 1982.”