The American "school district" — zoning and assignment by residence — does not exist in the Georgian system. Access to school in Georgia is arranged differently: the Law on General Education defines the state guarantee of accessibility close to the place of residence (Article 7), the freedom of school choice and the pupil's mobility (Article 9), and the procedure for reorganizing the school network (Article 34). The US concept is named here only as a contrast; the page is carried by the Georgian norms.
The guarantee of accessibility — Article 7
The state ensures the right of every pupil — including a pupil with special educational needs — to receive general education as close as possible to the place of residence, in the state or native language. Where this right cannot be exercised through the standard voucher, the state provides such pupils with an increased voucher and/or additional financing under a targeted programme approved by the Ministry. The increased voucher and additional financing also secure the openness of the public school to everyone throughout life, inclusive and multilingual education, the improvement of resources and a safe environment.
Freedom of choice and mobility — Article 9
Everyone has an equal right to complete general education; primary and basic education are compulsory. The state protects the freedom of educational choice of the pupil and the parent — a choice that implies neither avoidance of compulsory education nor education that hinders the law's aims. A pupil has the right to move from one school to another at the same level; even an expelled pupil continues studies at another school.
General education may also be received in the form of external studies — upon attaining the level defined by the national curriculum — and through alternative forms, taking into account age peculiarities and family conditions. Together these norms create the frame that elsewhere is called "zoning": the Georgian system does not link the right of enrollment to residence. The state also ensures general education in penitentiary institutions, and the accessibility of the public school for every pupil throughout life means that the right to education does not expire with age.