For families of children with dyslexia and other learning differences, finding the right educational environment can feel like navigating uncharted waters. For Lauren Yaffe and her daughters, that journey led them to Roberts Academy.
“Rebekah is a premature twin whose kindergarten experience was interrupted by COVID. She struggled at school, but was often compared to her twin, who struggled ‘more,’ needed more help, and got more intervention more urgently,” Yaffe said.
While her other daughter quickly found a supportive learning environment at Roberts Academy after their move to Middle Georgia, Rebekah remained in public school and continued to face challenges despite some accommodations.
The turning point came when the family discovered the Georgia GOAL Scholarship, a program designed to help students access private education through tax-credit contributions from donors.
“Rebekah’s sibling qualified for the Georgia Special Needs Scholarship, which helped offset the expense of a Roberts Academy education quite a lot,” Yaffe explained. “Over the summer, we enrolled both of them in tutoring at Roberts Academy, where we learned about the Georgia GOAL Scholarship and how it could help Rebekah also receive the quality education Roberts Academy provides, even though she does not qualify for the Georgia Special Needs program.”
With the scholarship, both daughters are thriving.
“With two children needing extra help at school, there’s no way we could have met their needs without the Georgia GOAL Scholarship,” Yaffe said. “Choosing to provide one child with the enrichment available at Roberts Academy but denying that to her sister wasn’t a decision we would have been able to make. Both students are thriving, making gains, and they love school! Specifically, they love their school, a place where they belong and can succeed.”
The impact goes beyond academics. Yaffe described a dramatic shift in family life: “Instead of crying over spelling lists, we are going to boxing practice. Instead of writing and rewriting essays on weekends, we get to travel and experience things together. We spend much less time worrying about staying afloat at school, meeting standards, and trying to blend in as average students. Now, we get to focus on methods that work, celebrate areas of achievement, and look forward to what’s next!”
The scholarship also nurtures confidence and self-discovery.
“One of the things we have learned at Roberts Academy is that dyslexia is not a disability – it’s a superpower!,” she said. “Students whose brains work differently can achieve great things, and can do exceedingly well at things that might be more challenging for others. Seeing the confidence my children have now that reading isn’t so scary, and being ready to identify their greatest talents, like creativity, logical thinking, and even math, has changed our world,” Yaffe said.
Looking ahead, she hopes her daughter will carry the skills and self-assurance she has gained into the future. “My daughter has confidence that she has never had before. She knows she can do anything, even if she approaches it differently than most. While I know this confidence will serve her well into the future, I also know the importance of a strong foundational education, and a love for reading, things she wouldn’t have gotten anywhere but Roberts Academy,” Yaffe said.
The Georgia GOAL Scholarship not only changes the trajectory for individual students but also strengthens families and communities. For donors, the program offers a unique opportunity to make a lasting impact.
Contributions are made through the Georgia GOAL tax-credit program, which means giving to students like Rebekah can also reduce state tax liability.The deadline to apply for the 2026 Georgia GOAL Scholarship is December 31.
Every contribution helps ensure that students who learn differently have access to schools that celebrate their strengths and provide the support they need to succeed.
Roberts Academy is Georgia’s only school for dyslexic students outside of Metro Atlanta; it’s also the most affordable school of its kind in the state. Serving students in grades 2-6, the Academy uses the Orton-Gillingham Approach – an evidence-based way of teaching designed specifically for students with dyslexia.Want to learn more? Visit our website or schedule a tour.
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