Promise Scholarships pass in the Senate and head to the House

by Buzz Brockway | Mar 6, 2023

Promise Scholarships pass in the Senate and head to the House

🚨Breaking News: Promise Scholarships pass in the Senate and head to the House

Promise Scholarships would give parents $6,000 per student per year to find the right education option for their kids.

Georgia Center for Opportunity’s (GCO) take: “Parents across the country are demanding more educational options in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Now is not the time for more lip-service or half-hearted efforts to help students reverse learning loss,” said Buzz Brockway, vice president of public policy for GCO. “Georgia families need more opportunities and they need them now. Promise Scholarships would empower students to excel in their education. With S.B. 233 now headed to the House, we encourage lawmakers in that chamber to do right by Georgia families and make Promise Scholarships a reality. It’s well past time and we can’t afford to delay any longer.”

Learn more about education in Georgia for Every Kid. Click here.

Senate Bill 233, The Georgia Promise Scholarship Act, passed the Senate Education Committee

by Buzz Brockway | Mar 1, 2023

Senate Bill 233, The Georgia Promise Scholarship Act, passed the Senate Education Committee

Senate Bill 233, The Georgia Promise Scholarship Act, passed the Senate Education Committee today in a 6-5 vote. Funded by the state in the amount of $6,000 per student for each school year, Promise Scholarships would allow families to find the right fit for their students’ education. Scholarships could be used on any approved education expense, such as private school tuition, tutoring, homeschool curriculum, virtual classes, college classes, therapies (for kids with special needs), technology, and more.

Georgia Center for Opportunity’s (GCO) take: “Too many times, education access in Georgia is limited to families of means, but every child deserves access to a quality education. Promise Scholarships would help create this opportunity,” said Buzz Brockway, vice president of public policy for GCO. “Public education is the right choice for most families, but for a growing minority of students, an alternative is what’s best. We can, and should, support all options.”

March 2023 Update on SB 233, The Georgia Promise Scholarship Act:

Georgia Senators passed Senate Bill 233 after a floor vote on February 26, 2023. The bill must pass the House of Representatives before the end of March 2023 to receive the Governor’s signature and become law.
The bill was amended by the Senate to limit eligibility to students in the bottom-performing quartile of public schools (F-graded schools and some D-graded schools), based on the Georgia Department of Education’s evaluation.
Funded by the state in the amount of $6,000 per student for each school year, Promise Scholarships would allow parents of students in failing schools to seek out a better education option for their kids.
While the most effective education savings account programs are universal (open to every public school student), the Promise Scholarship Act is an important and positive step toward shaping an education system that gives every Georgia kid better access to quality education.

Have more questions about SB 233? Check out our full explainer on The Georgia Promise Scholarship Act.

“Public education is the right choice for most families, but for a growing minority of students, an alternative is what’s best. We can, and should, support all options.”

First House bill related to juvenile justice reform advances from committee

by Buzz Brockway | Feb 15, 2023

First House bill related to juvenile justice reform advances from committee

Kentucky’s juvenile justice system is likely to undergo some major changes before the end of the 2023 legislative session.

Josh Crawford, a Louisville resident and director of criminal justice initiatives for the Georgia Center for Opportunity, said that portion of the bill only applies to children convicted of serious felony offenses and the information would be relevant when it comes to employment opportunities and firearm purchases.

Read the full article here

Georgia is leading the charge on expanding educational opportunity for every child

by Buzz Brockway | Jan 17, 2023

Georgia is leading the charge on expanding educational opportunity for every child

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp has issued a proclamation declaring January 22-28 as National School Choice Week.

The Georgia Center for Opportunity’s (GCO) take: “Parents are demanding more options in education, spurred on by the seismic changes we’ve seen in K-12 schools during the pandemic,” said Buzz Brockway, executive vice president of public policy for GCO. “On this front, we’re proud that Georgia is leading the charge on expanding educational opportunity for every child, not just for those from families with the right income or who live in the right zip code. This legislative session, Georgia lawmakers must build on the progress we’ve made in recent years by approving Education Scholarship Accounts to ensure educational access for all.”

Welcome lawmakers to Atlanta for the opening of the 2023 session

by Buzz Brockway | Jan 9, 2023

Welcome lawmakers to Atlanta for the opening of the 2023 session

The Georgia Center for Opportunity issued the following media statement welcoming lawmakers to Atlanta for the opening of the 2023 session of the Legislature on Jan. 9.”We’re excited to see what the new session holds for our state, and we stand ready to assist lawmakers in passing an agenda that serves all Georgians,” said Buzz Brockway, executive vice president of public policy for GCO. “GCO has served our state for nearly 25 years, and has dedicated itself to expanding opportunity by helping increase access to quality education, fulfilling work, and healthy family life. We know that by addressing these critical barriers we can help pull communities out of poverty and expand opportunity to every community in our state.”As an organization, GCO stands ready to provide resources and education to lawmakers on the impact policies have on underserved communities and the opportunities available (and not available) to all Georgians. Here are three key area:

Eliminating benefits cliffs

- Some workers find themselves torn between taking steps toward a more secure future, but ultimately forced into making decisions that traps them into long-term dependence on government benefits. These are known as benefits cliffs. We’ll be working to educate lawmakers on this reality and propose reforms to ensure all workers have the opportunity to climb the economic ladder. Learn more

Expanding educational freedom

- We are still uncovering the extent of learning loss experienced by kids during the pandemic. We know that expansion of educational opportunityis a key solution to this problem. Passing Education Scholarship Accounts, or ESAs, will be a big step forward in helping all Georgia students achieve their full potential.

Promoting an anti-poverty agenda

- GCO is part of the Alliance for Opportunity, a three state network of policy organizations built around furthering an anti-poverty agenda. We will be working with lawmakers to promote solutions to poverty that lift Georgians up into the middle class.