Nelson Mullins – Gold Dome Report – Legislative Day 36

by Kimberly Sawatka | Mar 20, 2023

Nelson Mullins – Gold Dome Report – Legislative Day 36

House Education Committee – Policy Subcommittee

The Policy Subcommittee of the House Education Committee, chaired by Representative Scott Hilton (R-Peachtree Corners), met Monday to consider one measure:

SB 233, authored by Senator Greg Dolezal (R-Cumming), is the “Georgia Promise Scholarship Act.” The bill amends Title 20 to provide for the establishment of promise scholarship accounts to be funded by the state in the amount of $6,000.00 per school year for each participating student.

Dolezal presented the bill alongside Jamie Lord, who represents the Georgia Center for Opportunity and is promoting the legislation.

Read the full article here

Arkansas creates educational opportunity. It’s time for Georgia to step up

by David Bass | Mar 17, 2023

Arkansas creates educational opportunity. It’s time for Georgia to step up

Key Points

Arkansas is the fourth state in the U.S. to legislate universal educational opportunity — the others are Arizona, Utah, and Iowa.
Georgia Senate passed the Georgia Promise Scholarship Act (SB 233) in a 33-23 vote. It will go on to the House next, where it has traditionally faced more opposition.
Georgia Senate passed the Georgia Promise Scholarship Act (SB 233) in a 33-23 vote. It will go on to the House next, where it has traditionally faced more opposition.

Arkansas recently joined a growing list of states that have approved Education Scholarship Accounts, empowering parents to make the best decisions for their child’s unique educational needs.

The accounts, called Education Freedom Accounts (EFAs), will contain around $6,600 in funds per student every year. Families can then use the available funds to pay for education-related fees, including tuition, tutoring, textbooks, therapies, and other costs which have been approved by the state.

It will take three years to fully phase in the act. By the end of the third year, all students in Arkansas will be eligible for EFAs.

The creation of these accounts makes Arkansas the fourth state in the U.S. to legislate universal educational opportunity — the others are Arizona, Utah, and Iowa.

Now, Georgia could be next.

Last week, the Georgia Senate passed the Georgia Promise Scholarship Act (SB 233) in a 33-23 vote. It will go on to the House next, where it has traditionally faced more opposition.

If enacted into law, the Georgia Promise Scholarship Act would fund $6,000 per student every school year. Promise Scholarships would give families the financial freedom to select an educational environment that best fits their child’s needs. A wide range of educational expenses would be approved under the act, including tutoring, virtual classes, private school tuition, homeschool curriculum, special needs therapies, technology, college courses, and more.

In the wake of the pandemic, parents nationwide are demanding more options for their children’s education. Learning loss is one of many major crises to arise from nationwide lockdowns. At Georgia Center for Opportunity, we believe it is the state’s responsibility to help reverse that loss.

Families across the state need access to more opportunities now. With Promise Scholarships, Georgia’s children will have more opportunities to excel at school. Every child deserves empowerment through a high-quality education that works best for him or her. We believe that Georgia should lend support to every educational option for its students, including alternatives like homeschooling and virtual learning.

Promise Scholarships would give families the financial freedom to select an educational environment that best fits their child’s needs.

Over the past few years, more and more families have embraced alternatives to public education. While the majority of students across Georgia still attend public schools (and will likely continue to in the future), a growing minority of families are choosing differently. And, as the nation collectively faced an unprecedented pandemic, parents began to realize how many options were available to them outside the traditional school system.

Traditionally, families who select private schools or opt to homeschool receive no financial support to do so. Despite that choice, their tax dollars continue to fund public schools whose services they do not use.

Parents with special needs children struggle to find school systems that will accommodate their children’s needs. Often, they find that one facility lacks all the important resources they need so their children can thrive at school. While they could opt to build a hybrid program for their children, which might include home healthcare or virtual classes, those alternatives are cost-prohibitive.

Ultimately, we believe that tax dollars should follow each child, meeting their unique needs along the way. There is no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to education. Public, private, home, and virtual education are of equal value, and as each family decides what is best for their children, Georgia should be willing to meet them where they are.

As the Georgia Promise Scholarship Act moves to the House, we urge you to contact your local representative to advocate for this bill. Our children can’t wait any longer for educational support that fits their individual needs and allows them to thrive. The future is depending on us.

Let’s transform parenting in Georgia! Recapping the Raising Highly Capable Kids kickoff event

by David Bass | Mar 15, 2023

Let’s transform parenting in Georgia! Recapping the Raising Highly Capable Kids kickoff event

Key Points

Positive relationships impact the opportunities and potential future for every child.
GCO is partnering with RezilientKids to bring the evidence-based program, Raising Highly Capable Kids to the Gwinnett area.
GCO is recruiting partners who are willing to local partners who could hold a class and for adults who might be interested in taking it.

Nothing has more impact on the life of a child than positive relationships.

That basic truth was the cornerstone of a kickoff event March 9 to launch the Raising Highly Capable Kids (RHCK) program across Georgia.

We’re thrilled to report that 43 people representing more than 20 community organizations attended the event at First United Methodist Church of Lawrenceville. The kickoff helped us build an inaugural network of RHCK trainers and liaisons who will help the Georgia Center for Opportunity (GCO) team bring the program to communities.

Attendees at the kickoff event heard from Angela Davis, regional representative for the Southeast region for RezilientKids, the national nonprofit that publishes the RHCK program. She shared how the program will work in Georgia.

Angela Davis of RezilientKids shares the power of Raising Highly Capable Kids with Gwinnett-area leaders.

What is RHCK?

GCO has partnered with RezilientKids to present the program to adults across Georgia. RHCK is a 13-week evidence-based parenting program developed to build stronger families by empowering parents with the confidence, tools, and skills they need to raise healthy, caring, and responsible children.

The program increases parents’ knowledge and skill level of the essential building blocks every child needs — the 40 Development Assets from Search Institute, which are proven to increase childhood resiliency and academic achievement.

The lessons are available to schools, nonprofits, churches, and other organizations focused on helping to build stronger families for Georgia — and ultimately stronger communities. Through a community grant issued by RezilientKidz, GCO is facilitating course offerings for interested parents who want to learn more effective skills and strategies as they raise their children.

What’s next?

We’re still looking for partners across Georgia to bring the RHCK program to parents. We are starting an interest list for local partners who could hold a class and for adults who might be interested in taking it.

If you are interested in referring contacts or getting involved in other ways, contact Joyce Mayberry, JoyceM@foropportunity.org, to start the conversation.

The Georgia Promise Scholarship (SB 233): Questions and Answers

by gaopp | Mar 14, 2023

The Georgia Promise Scholarship (SB 233): Questions and Answers

Key Points

The Georgia Promise Scholarship is the state’s newest program that empowers parents to access the best education for their child. It creates state-funded scholarships that give eligible families $6,500 per student for each school year.
Eligibility is limited to students zoned for low-performing public schools and meet certain other criteria.
Applications will be open for families from March 1 to April 15, 2025. Sign up here to be notified of application deadlines and tips.

Across the country and in Georgia, parents have been calling for more choice and flexibility in K-12 education. In 2024, Georgia took a major step forward by passing the state’s first-ever education savings account program, the Georgia Promise Scholarship.

Starting in the 2025-2026 school year, this program will give eligible families up to $6,500 per year to access the education opportunity best suited to their child’s needs.

What is the Georgia Promise Scholarship?

It’s an education choice program that gives families financial support to access education opportunities outside of the public school system. Families can receive up to $6,500 per year for approved education expenses. This type of program is also known as an education savings account.

The Georgia Promise Scholarship helps students in low-performing public schools access education options for their needs.

Don’t miss an opportunity to get up to $6,500 towards your child’s education.

Applications open March 1. Sign up to be notified!

Sign Up

How will the Georgia Promise Scholarship work?

The state sets aside the scholarship amount into an account that the parent can direct. Parents can use these funds to choose the education environment that supports their child’s unique learning needs.

When does the Promise Scholarship program open?

The first application window for families is March 1 to April 15, 2025. Families accepted into the program will receive funding for the 2025-2026 school year. See more details here.

What can Georgia families use Promise Scholarships for?

Funds can be used for a variety of educational expenses, giving families flexibility to choose the best education for their child’s needs. Approved expenses include:

Private school tuition and fees
Tutoring services
Textbooks and curriculum
Education therapies
Education-related technology
Transportation costs

Who can apply for a Promise Scholarship?

To be eligible, families and students must meet the following criteria:

Parents must have lived in Georgia for at least one year, with exceptions for active-duty military families.
The student must be zoned for an eligible public school. See the list of eligible public schools here.
The student must have been enrolled in a Georgia public school for two consecutive semesters, or is a rising kindergarten student.
The student cannot be enrolled in a local school system, charter school, or state charter school while participating in the scholarship program.

The program prioritizes lower-income Georgia families. If applications exceed available slots, priority goes to families with household incomes below 400% of the Federal Poverty Level (roughly $120,000 for a family of four).

Parents must agree to use the accounts only for qualifying educational expenses. Once eligible, a child remains eligible through 12th grade.

How is the Promise Scholarship amount determined?

Amounts are set at $6,500, which is approximately the average per-pupil amount that the state sends to local school districts, based on Georgia’s current student funding formula.

When it comes to education, parents know best what their children need.

Georgia’s Promise Scholarship can open up a world of opportunity.

Learn More

Why does Georgia need Promise Scholarships?

1. Many parents are frustrated with a one-size-fits-all approach. Parents know better than anyone that children are unique and that a one-size-fits-all education approach doesn’t work for most kids. Parents’ desire for choices and flexibility has only grown since the pandemic. Georgia’s Promise Scholarship gives parents financial support to access other education opportunities when the local public school is not the best fit.

2. Thousands of Georgia students are struggling in low-performing public schools. Around 43% of Georgia public schools receive a D or F grade based on the 2023 College and Career Ready Performance Index. For families seeking alternatives, Promise Scholarships are an opportunity to access other school options, including ones that may not be available or affordable otherwise.

3. Budgets and academic outcomes improve for public schools. States with robust education choice programs see better outcomes for all students, including those in the public school system. Education savings account programs, in particular, have a track record of empowering public schools to improve their budgets and increase student achievement.

Are Promise Scholarships the same thing as school vouchers?

No, they are two different types of programs. School vouchers allow parents to use public education dollars for private school tuition only. The Promise Scholarship can be used for a wider range of education expenses, offering families more flexibility.

Are Promise Scholarships the same thing as 529 plans?

No. With a 529 plan, the parents are responsible for contributing money to the account in order to save for their child’s education expenses. Promise Scholarships would be state-funded and would not require parents to contribute any of their own money. Parents can choose to use a Promise Scholarship Account for education savings, such as saving for college tuition, but the account doesn’t have the same tax benefits that 529 plans do.

Do other states have programs like Georgia’s Promise Scholarship?

Yes, 17 states have adopted some form of an education savings account program, including all of Georgia’s immediate neighbors.

Alabama passed the CHOOSE Act, which gives parents $7,000 per student to use for the education option of their choice.
Florida expanded its program to universal school choice.
In a 2023 bipartisan effort, North Carolina opened its ESA program to all its students, putting it on track to be the nation’s second largest after Florida.
South Carolina has adopted nearly universal education opportunity.
In early 2025, Tennessee expanded its Education Freedom Scholarship program to be open to K-12 student who wants to apply.

All of Georgia’s neighboring states are moving their ESA programs to a universal eligibility set-up, where every kid has access regardless of income, race, zip code, or other circumstance. Georgia will need to be open to this model if we want to keep up and give our kids the best possible opportunities at school and in life.

Will Promise Scholarships take money away from Georgia’s public schools?

No, the Promise Scholarship is funded separately from the money allocated to public schools.

Will Promise Scholarships help low-income families?

Yes. Programs like the Promise Scholarship are one of the most equitable education opportunities out there. They give low-income families more opportunity to access schooling options that are often only available to families with greater financial resources.

Georgia’s Promise Scholarship is set up to give lower-income families priority if applications exceed the number of slots available.

Will the Promise Scholarship Act (SB 233) hurt homeschooling families?

No. There are no provisions in the proposed law that would prevent homeschooling families from continuing down that education path.

In fact, Georgia’s Promise Scholarship could make homeschooling an even more feasible option. Eligible families could use the funds to pay for curriculum, courses, tutoring, or other education resources needed to homeschool.

Georgia school voucher bill stays alive after heated Senate debate

by Kimberly Sawatka | Mar 8, 2023

Georgia school voucher bill stays alive after heated Senate debate

A school voucher bill is one of many that survived Monday’s legislative deadline where pieces of legislation have to pass at least one chamber in order to stay alive for Georgia’ 2023 legislative session. After some intense debate on the Senate floor, Senate Bill 233 sailed through in a 33-23 vote.

School closures during the pandemic added fuel to the school choice movement. In Georgia, enrollment in charter schools and homeschooling have grown since the Covid-19 pandemic. Georgia Center for Opportunity, a nonpartisan policy research organization, said SB 233 will expand school choice options.

“Parents across the country are demanding more educational options in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic,” GCO’s vice president of public policy Buzz Brockway said in a news release. “Now is not the time for more lip-service or half-hearted efforts to help students reverse learning loss.”

Read the full article here