School List Available for Georgia Promise Scholarship Eligibility

by David Bass | Feb 25, 2025

Students zoned for 512 public schools may be eligible to receive the Georgia Promise Scholarship.

School List Available for Georgia Promise Scholarship Eligibility

Key Points

The Georgia Promise Scholarship school list is now available. Families zoned for one of 512 elementary, middle, and high schools across Georgia will eligible to apply for the new Promise Scholarship program.
Starting in the 2025-2026 school year, the Georgia Promise Scholarship will give families up to $6,500 per student to choose the learning environment that’s best for their child.
Families can apply for the Georgia Promise Scholarship between March 1 and April 15, 2025. Sign up here for application tips and updates.

There’s exciting news for Georgia families and students:

Students zoned for one of 512 elementary, middle, and high schools across Georgia will be able to apply for Georgia’s new Promise Scholarship program to attend an educational alternative. That’s according to a list released by the Georgia Education Savings Authority (GESA), the state government entity responsible for overseeing the new program.

This program offers students a chance to access education opportunities best suited to their needs. The funds can be used for private school tuition, homeschooling expenses, tutoring, or other approved education expenses. The total amount of scholarships is capped at $141 million for the upcoming school year. That amount is estimated to cover around 22,000 students.

The first application period is now open and will run through April 15, 2025. Families can learn more at mygeorgiapromise.org.

If your student is zoned for a school on the Georgia Promise Scholarship School List, your family meets the attendance zone requirement to apply.

See the List of Eligible Schools

If your student is zoned for a school on the Georgia Promise Scholarship School List, your family meets the attendance zone requirement to apply.

See the List of Eligible Schools

Does your family quality for the Georgia Promise Scholarship?

Parents can quickly determine their child’s eligibility by taking a 45-second quiz available on the GESA website.

Eligibility criteria:

To apply, students must meet the following requirements:

Be zoned for at least one of the 512 eligible public schools.
Have been enrolled in a Georgia public school for two consecutive semesters, or is a rising kindergarten student.
Parents must have lived in Georgia for at least one year, with exceptions for active-duty military families.

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).

Are Promise Scholarships a stable option for the future?

Promise Scholarships are off to a strong start. Governor Brian Kemp has allocated full funding for the program in his new proposed budget, which is pending approval by the state legislature. A bill has also been introduced, sponsored by Sen. Greg Dolezal, that would broaden eligibility for Promise Scholarships, including provisions for foster families.

Opportunities like the Promise Scholarship give families a brighter future

The creation of Promise Scholarships has been a crucial step forward for Georgia families. Education is the foundation for a thriving life. For families feeling limited by their current school options, Promise Scholarships provide the hope of access to a better fit for their child’s unique needs. Whether it’s finding the right private school, funding homeschooling expenses, or other learning resources, this program empowers parents to make the best decision possible for their children.

A Path from Welfare to Self-Sufficiency

by Rebecca Primis | Feb 19, 2025

Georgia news, in the news, current events, Georgia happenings, GA happenings

A Path from Welfare to Self-Sufficiency

By Randy Hicks and Eric Cochling
Originally published on February 19, 2025, in Governing

Most state legislatures are in session right now. And while AI, education, housing and taxes will dominate headlines, policymakers should not overlook the importance of welfare reform. In particular, they should look for ways to help recipients move out of poverty so they can thrive on their own.

Accomplishing that would go a long way toward getting the costs of welfare under control. Social services programs, including Medicaid, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, are a primary driver of expanding state budgets. Welfare accounts for 45 percent of states’ direct general expenditures, the largest share of direct state spending.

In addition to the costs, the U.S. safety net system has grown increasingly complex. What started as just a handful of initiatives has evolved into a system of more than 80 programs, each with different goals, eligibility requirements and rules — a maze that is incredibly difficult for a policy wonk to navigate, let alone a recipient.

Costs and complexity are one thing if the system is truly helping people. But welfare does not well serve the low-income and marginalized communities it’s intended to help. While the safety net supports individuals so they can survive on a basic level, it does not move them out of poverty so they can flourish, thrive and reach their true potential. States should consider how to design their safety net systems so that they actually help Americans become permanently self-sufficient — and gain hope and dignity along the way.

Read the full article here.

Randy Hicks is president and CEO and Eric Cochling is chief program officer and general counsel of the Georgia Center for Opportunity.

Promise Scholarships become a reality in 2025. Here’s what families and communities need to know.

by David Bass | Feb 6, 2025

Promise Scholarships will open for eligible Georgia families in 2025.

Promise Scholarships become a reality in 2025. Here’s what families and communities need to know.

Key Points

Students from hundreds of public schools across Georgia will soon be able to apply for up to $6,500 per year to cover approved educational expenses, including private school tuition, tutoring, and more, starting in the 2025-2026 school year.
The program is available to students in the bottom 25% of Georgia’s public schools, enrolled during the 2024-2025 school year or entering kindergarten, with lower-income families favored first.
Applications open in early 2025. Sign up here to be notified when the program opens.

Big changes are on the horizon for education in Georgia. Starting in the 2025-2026 school year, thousands of families will have greater access to flexible education options through the new Promise Scholarship.

Education is a vital pathway to opportunity, and every child deserves the chance to succeed. Unfortunately, many Georgia students remain stuck in underperforming schools without access to better alternatives. The Promise Scholarship aims to change that by expanding access to diverse, high-quality education opportunities.

With applications opening soon, now is the perfect time for parents, communities, and educators to prepare for what’s to come.

Promise Scholarship applications open soon and will only be available for a short time. Sign up to be notified when parent applications launch.

Get on the List

What are Promise Scholarships?

The Georgia Promise Scholarship is a state-funded initiative designed to give families more control over their children’s education. Through this program, qualifying students will receive up to $6,500 annually to cover a range of education-related expenses. Unlike traditional vouchers, which are limited to school tuition, Promise Scholarships provide greater flexibility.

Funds can be used for approved expenses such as:

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

With this comprehensive approach, Promise Scholarships aim to help families create a personalized education path that meets their unique needs.

Who can apply?

Promise Scholarships are targeted to empower families with the fewest resources and the greatest need. There are specific eligibility criteria to qualify for the program, including:

Enrolled in eligible public schools: Students must be attending one of the bottom 25% of Georgia’s public schools (as ranked by the Governor’s Office of Student Achievement) during the 2024-2025 school year or be entering kindergarten.
Residency requirement: Parents must have lived in Georgia for at least one year, with exceptions for active-duty military personnel.
Income priority: If the number of applicants exceeds available funding, families with household incomes below 400% of the Federal Poverty Level (around $130,000 for a family of four) will be prioritized.

These scholarships are expected to impact up to 22,000 students in the first year, creating access to resources and opportunities they wouldn’t otherwise have.

Key dates to remember

Applications will open on March 1, 2025, and close on April 15, 2025. This application window is limited, so parents are encouraged to start preparing now by gathering necessary documentation and confirming eligibility.

The scholarships will provide funding for the 2025-2026 school year, so families who qualify can plan ahead and explore education options well in advance.

What can parents do now?

Parents can take steps today to prepare for the launch of Promise Scholarships. Here’s how you can get started:

Check for eligibility: Ensure your child qualifies by reviewing the criteria. This includes confirming their enrollment in a qualifying school or kindergarten for the 2024-2025 school year. See eligibility details here.

Prepare documentation: Gather residency proof and any other information that may be required for the application.

Start exploring education options: While the list of eligible schools hasn’t been released yet, it’s a good idea to consider the types of educational settings or services that could best meet your child’s needs. A list of participating private schools is available here.

Learn more about education choices: For additional guidance, consult the Parents’ Guide to Education in Georgia to better understand the options available to you and your family.

Food stamps program a top opportunity for increasing access to work and savings for taxpayers

by David Bass | Feb 4, 2025

Reforming the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program can help families get short-term help without discouraging long-term goals for work and financial independence.

Food stamps program a top opportunity for increasing access to work and savings for taxpayers

Key Points

SNAP’s benefit cliffs discourage work and career growth by abruptly cutting off assistance when recipients earn even modest income increases, trapping families in financial instability and reducing workforce participation.
Proposed reforms aim to eliminate benefit cliffs through gradual benefit reductions, clear exit points, and adjusted benefit levels, encouraging financial independence without penalizing career advancement.
Comprehensive SNAP reform benefits all stakeholders, empowering workers, stabilizing families, addressing labor shortages for businesses, and potentially reducing program costs by $30 billion annually.

Benefit cliffs discourage work and trap families in long-term financial struggles. A new policy solution offers a way out.

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is one of the largest anti-poverty programs in the U.S., providing over 41 million Americans with critical food assistance in 2024. But for many recipients, a system designed to support often ends up trapping—with significant barriers known as benefit cliffs.

These cliffs occur when small increases in income result in recipients suddenly losing their SNAP assistance, leaving them in a worse financial position for working more hours or earning an income boost. For example, a single parent’s modest hourly raise might lead to a benefit cut that completely offsets their increased take-home pay.

The negative ripple effects extend far beyond individuals and households. Benefit cliffs reduce workforce participation and make it harder for plenty of small businesses and industries to find the workers they need to grow and serve customers.

A new proposal for reform, developed with research by Erik Randolph at the Georgia Center for Opportunity in collaboration with Angela Rachidi of the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), offers a way to dismantle SNAP benefit cliffs and restore the program’s original mission—helping families achieve financial independence and stability.

A new SNAP reform report from American Enterprise Institute and Georgia Center for Opportunity shows how improve access to work and reduce costs to taxpayers.

SNAP’s design discourages career growth among recipients

SNAP is meant to help low-income families put food on the table. But the system unintentionally penalizes those who pursue better wages or career opportunities.

For many recipients, earning extra income—not just large raises but even modest increases as one gains skills or works more hours—means abruptly losing SNAP benefits altogether. Instead of slowly tapering down, benefits “fall off a cliff” as income rises.

This financial disincentive creates a dilemma for households relying on SNAP. While accepting additional shifts or applying for a higher-paying position could signify career growth, it may financially set them back without SNAP assistance offsetting basic expenses.

The economic impact is widespread. With fewer prime-age workers, employers encounter labor shortages, and their ability to operate efficiently is compromised. Workforce productivity also declines when workers are stuck in part-time, lower-skilled jobs rather than advancing to higher economic opportunities. The result is a cycle that makes it harder for families to break free from reliance on public assistance programs.

New SNAP reform proposals offer a way forward

Research by AEI and GCO outlines actionable steps to eliminate benefit cliffs while maintaining SNAP costs close to historical levels. These recommendations include changes to critical factors within the program’s structure to allow for a smoother, gradual reduction in benefits as income rises.

Key reforms involve adjusting the following elements of SNAP’s benefit system:

Adjust participants’ cost-sharing responsibilities. The proposed plan would reduce the benefit reduction rate from 30% to 18%, making it easier for families to transition off benefits.
Cost-sharing should begin as soon as income increases. Right now, deductions delay cost-sharing, which creates benefits cliffs when income limits run out. The new plan is a middle ground, starting benefit reductions earlier but at a lower rate. While it might lower benefits for many families, benefit cliffs are eliminated or reduced.

These structural adjustments effectively close the gap between earned income and benefit loss, removing financial penalties for participants who work more hours or accept higher-paying opportunities.

A win for workers, families, small businesses, and taxpayers

Simplifying and improving SNAP’s benefit structure solves major labor market challenges. For recipients, reforms encourage workforce participation and career advancement, empowering them to climb the economic ladder without fear of a financial setback.

For employers, these changes help restore a steady supply of available workers, addressing hiring difficulties in industries that rely on hourly, shift-based, or entry-level staff. Additionally, SNAP reform creates fiscal balance while allowing the government to save money long term—potentially reducing program expenses by 27% or $30 billion annually.

GCO continues to investigate ways to improve safety-net programs to help families escape poverty, and these recommendations for SNAP are an important piece of those efforts. Employment is one of the most reliable ways to break cycles of poverty, yet benefit cliffs trap too many families in stagnant economic conditions. Eliminating these barriers will strengthen the workforce, stabilize families, and create economic momentum that benefits us all.

Download the full report from American Enterprise Institute and Georgia Center for Opportunity here.

Strengthening Welfare: How DOGE Can Help Open Doors to Work and Opportunity

by Rebecca Primis | Feb 3, 2025

Strengthening Welfare: How DOGE Can Help Open Doors to Work and Opportunity

By Randy Hicks
Originally published on February 3, 2025, in The Well News

As Department of Government Efficiency representatives make their rounds in federal agencies, one of their first priorities should be looking into the U.S. welfare system, which costs taxpayers $1.6 trillion per year.

DOGE representatives will likely have a hard time navigating what program or agency they should start with. As millions of welfare recipients know firsthand, DOGE can’t simply head to the Department of Health and Human Services to solve the problem — the safety net system is not stationed under one agency but rather spans numerous departments that have interrelated purposes but separate and often conflicting operational structures.

Since the adoption of the first federal welfare program in 1935, the safety net has grown into a convoluted maze of more than 80 programs, including 20 that provide education assistance, 17 that provide housing and 16 that offer various social services.

Millions of Americans navigate this complex web each day. They devote hours to calling or visiting multiple departments and sorting through overlapping or duplicate requirements and paperwork — all to make ends meet.

This fragmented setup could be left alone if we think the best we can do for people in poverty is to give them only enough to survive. But if there’s any reverberating takeaway from the last election, it’s that Americans expect their leaders to do everything in their power to tear down barriers to opportunity.

Read the full article here.

Randy Hicks is the president and chief executive officer of the Georgia Center for Opportunity.