Oconee County Schools has received approval of its application to the Georgia Foundation for Public Education (GFPE) allowing it to raise money through the PEACH Education Tax Credit program for upgrades to its Career, Technical, and Agricultural Education (CTAE) programs.
The money Oconee County Schools is able to raise from donors will be used for development of “innovative 21st-century learning environments across Oconee County Schools' CTAE labs and specialized spaces,” according to the application submitted by Oconee County Schools to the Foundation.
The goal is to raise $1 million for the classroom spaces and industry-aligned equipment for CTAE programs, according to the application.
Oconee County Schools is asking local businesses and individual taxpayers to direct a part of their state income tax obligation to GFPE for use by Oconee County Schools for updates to its facilities.
Donors wishing to participate in the program must apply to the Georgia Department of Revenue for a Qualified Education Donation (QED) Tax Credit, indicating the amount of the donation to be made. The individual contribution is capped at $2,500, but an LLC can contributed up to $25,000 and corporations more.
If the application is approved, the donor sends the contribution to GFPE by check or credit card. Total contributions across the state are capped at $25 million.
The donor then files documentation of the contribution with the year’s tax returns, reducing the amount of taxes to be paid by the amount of the donation. The returns must be file electronically for the donor to receive the QED Tax Credit.
Oconee County Schools made application with the Georgia Foundation for Public Education on July 7, received approval on July 17, and announced that approval in a news release a month later. The Board of Education will be updated on the program at its meeting at 6 p.m. on Sept. 14.
OCS Application
In the application to be a School Fundraising Plan Partner with GFPE submitted by Oconee County Schools on July 7, Oconee County Schools Chief Academic Officer Jennifer Whitaker stated that “The need for this project is driven by the growing demand for student-centered learning environments that foster collaboration, critical thinking, and the real-world application of skills.”
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| Whitaker OCS Photo |
“Many existing classrooms and lab spaces are designed for traditional instruction and lack the flexibility and resources needed to fully implement modern instructional practices and career pathway experiences,”she wrote.
“Peach Tax Credit funds will be used to directly support the purchase and installation of flexible seating, modular furniture, and upgraded equipment for CTAE labs,” according to the application.
“These funds will allow the district to accelerate the transformation of learning spaces to better align with workforce expectations and instructional best practices,” the application continues.
“This project will benefit all students in grades 6–12 across the district, as well as the teachers who will use these enhanced learning environments to deliver high-quality instruction,” according to Whitaker’s application.
“Students enrolled in CTAE programs will gain valuable hands-on experience in modernized spaces equipped with industry-standard tools and technology, helping them develop the skills and knowledge needed for success in college, careers, and the workforce,” the application states.
The news release sent out by Oconee County Schools on Aug. 17 stated that the funds will be used to strengthen (CTAE) programs “by upgrading existing lab spaces and exploring additional career pathways based on the needs of students, the community, and the regional workforce.”
Fundraising Plan
Oconee County Schools told GFPE that, to raise money for its goals, it “will launch a coordinated social media campaign across district and school platforms to build awareness, highlight the impact of innovative 21st-century classrooms and CTAE spaces, and share compelling stories of student learning and workforce readiness.”
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| Moore OCS Photo |
“At the school level, we will meet directly with all faculties, School Councils, PTO boards, and CTAE Advisory Committees to ensure stakeholders understand the initiative's purpose, need, and impact,” the application states. “These meetings will equip our internal advocates, staff, families, and community leaders with clear messaging and tools to extend outreach within their networks.”
“We will expand our reach through established community partnerships by presenting at Oconee County Chamber of Commerce events and engaging local leaders through the Rotary Club,” the document continues. “These venues provide access to business and civic leaders who are deeply invested in the success of our schools and local workforce pipeline.”
“Using a curated list of Chamber (of Commerce) partners, we will deploy a dedicated campaign team to conduct personalized, one-on-one meetings with selected businesses, community leaders, and potential high-impact donors,” Whitaker wrote.
“This approach allows us to align giving opportunities with donor interests, particularly in supporting CTAE labs and career pathway development,” she said.
Donors must receive the QED Tax Credit before the end of the calendar year in order to be able to use the credit with the 2026 filing of income tax returns.
Once the cap of $25 million is reached, the state Department of Revenue, will grant no more QED Tax Credits. Historically, PEACH participation has remained well below the available statewide cap, according to Callen Moore, Executive Director of Communications for Oconee County Schools.
Use Of Monies
Whitaker told the Foundation in the application that “Once funds begin rolling in, the project will be implemented immediately through a readiness plan that includes pre-identified vendors, established purchasing processes, and prioritized school site plans.”
“The district has already conducted needs assessments and developed design specifications for CTAE spaces, enabling orders to be placed and timelines to be initiated upon award notification,” she wrote.
“We will embed ongoing costs into the district’s annual budget and capital planning process to support phased expansion of flexible classroom spaces and CTAE labs,” Whitaker said.
Executive Director of Communications Moore said in an email message today (9/10/2026) that Oconee County Schools is opting to use Peach Education Tax Credit funds for the renovations rather than Education Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (ESPLOST) or general operating fund monies.
The donations to the PEACH Education Tax Credit program provide “an additional funding source to support improvements to our CTAE programs without drawing from the district’s general operating budget or redirecting E-SPLOST funds already committed to voter-approved projects,” she wrote.
“This provides our team with the opportunity to begin addressing CTAE facility and equipment needs sooner while preserving existing local resources for their intended purposes,” she wrote.
Moore, in an email on Sept. 3, said the $1 million used in the application “is simply the maximum initial campaign threshold available to OCS through the PEACH Education Tax Credit program.”
Oconee County Schools “will receive and use whatever amount is contributed and designated to the district to support approved CTAE development projects,” she said.
Other Partners
GFPE currently lists 91 partners from which donors across the state can select, including Oconee County Schools.
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| Butler 6/15/2026 |
Athens Community Career Academy in Clarke County Schools has set a fundraising goal of $250,000, Barrow County Schools has set a goal of $75,000, Clarke County Schools is seeking $560,000, and Oglethorpe County Schools is seeking $54,000.
Whitaker wrote in the application that the Oconee County Schools request fits with the GFPE “priority area of preparing students for local workforce opportunities by creating modern learning environments that equip students with the knowledge and skills needed for success in high-demand careers.”
Upgraded CTAE “classrooms and industry-aligned equipment will provide hands-on learning experiences that mirror real workplace settings, allowing students to develop technical competencies, problem-solving abilities, collaboration, and communication skills valued by local employers,” she stated.
“Flexible, technology-rich classrooms will also strengthen literacy, numeracy, and critical thinking across all content areas, ensuring students graduate with both the academic foundation and employability skills needed for postsecondary education and the workforce,” Whitaker wrote.
By expanding equitable access to innovative instructional spaces and career-focused learning experiences, the project will prepare students to meet the evolving needs of the local economy and support long-term economic growth in the community,” according to the application.
“We are excited about the continued growth of CTAE in Oconee County Schools and the opportunities these programs provide our students,” Superintendent Melissa Butler is quoted as saying in the Aug. 17 news release.
“Strong CTAE programs benefit all students, whether they plan to attend a four-year university or technical college, enter the workforce, join the military, or complete an apprenticeship,” the quote continued.
2 comments:
For crying out loud - just how much money does this school system need?
Why did we vote for ESPLOST if now they are not going to use that money?
And “ redirecting E-SPLOST funds already committed to voter-approved projects” - when exactly did voters approve ANY projects at OCS??
Remarkable tone deafness.
Ian Taylor
Spot on Ian. OCS did lay out the projects to be funded if EPLOST was extended. The captial projects funded by ESPLOST ultimately become part of recurring operating expense for the school system, which goes into our property tax bills. I wonder how many voters pick up on that when they vote for extra 1% sales tax.
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