News 12 This Morning / Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2012

AUGUSTA, Ga. -- In an effort to empower more parents on where they send their child off to school, the state is giving them a chance to choose under the Quality Basic Education Act.

"If you have schools that are under capacity, under enrolled, you have to open those schools up," explained Louis Svehla, with the Richmond County School District.

This year in Richmond County, more schools are on the list, providing more options throughout the district for parents.

"They can get multiple choices," Svehla said. "This is choice No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3."

The deadline to make a choice is March 9 for Richmond County parents, but if you live in Columbia County that deadline is Jan. 31.

Before you consider a new start at the beginning of next school year, there are a few things to consider.

"If that school doesn't have the same classes to continue on that track, then that can be an issue at the high school level," Svehla explained. "Sometimes moving them from one school to another can be more disruptive than keeping them at the school they are at."

So before you fill out the form, research the school online and look at the location because the transportation becomes your responsibility, not the district's.

"If you have a certain way you take your child to school, but it's the opposite way of where you work, those things can happen," Svehla said.

Also, make sure you put down more than one school because your first choice may not always be available. If there are more applications than spots open, then the district will hold a lottery.

You should have already received a letter from you child's school about this legislation, along with a list of schools that have open spots.

You can also find the application and the list for Richmond County by clicking here.

For parents in Columbia County you can click here for more information.

Remember the rules and deadlines surrounding school transfers differ slightly in each district so check with the school board before turning in your application.