5 Issues That Will Impact Opportunities and Hope for Georgians in 2025

by gaopp | Jan 27, 2025

5 Issues That Will Impact Opportunities and Hope for Georgians in 2025

Key Points

In 2025, Georgia and many other states have opportunities to address barriers to economic and social mobility.
Key areas include reforming the safety net to encourage work, expanding education opportunity, and adopting policies that lead to safer communities.
These efforts emphasize empowering families, incentivizing work, and fostering safer neighborhoods, demonstrating the crucial role of community-driven solutions in breaking cycles of poverty.

Crime, social and family instability, lack of quality education, and disengagement from work have all contributed to the sense that better futures are slipping out of reach for everyday Americans.

As these challenges persist, leaders and communities are taking notice of how typical government interventions fall short of meeting communities’ long-term needs.

Georgia and many other states have incredible opportunities in 2025 to pursue better solutions that tear down social and economic barriers. Looking to the year ahead, here are a few key opportunities for supporting vibrant communities and flourishing lives in Georgia and beyond.

Elected leaders are looking more closely at barriers to work in the welfare system

With the incoming presidential administration, there’s renewed interest in improving government efficiency. GCO has recommended that addressing the barriers to work in our safety net would be one of the best places to start.

Congress began considering major safety net reforms in 2024 but ran out of time to pass any meaningful policy changes before the end of the year. In 2025, incoming officials have a fresh opportunity to pursue One Door reforms that would allow states to streamline their safety net and work programs. With these reforms, states could reduce systemic barriers that discourage individuals from growing careers and families.

GCO and several of our partner organizations are continuing to educate federal lawmakers on how work-focused reforms can support social and economic mobility for safety net recipients.

But states don’t have to wait solely on federal action to start improving their welfare programs. In 2025, GCO is working alongside several states to help them pursue safety net audits. This process is a first step to identifying inefficiencies and incentives that discourage people from work. It also helps states see where recipients face benefits cliffs—the sudden and often unexpected loss of assistance that occurs with slight increases in wages and leaves recipients financially worse off despite earning more.

In Louisiana, for example, the collaborative efforts of GCO and our partners have guided the state government in identifying ways to enhance their social safety net system. Similarly, our initiatives have inspired lawmakers in Arkansas to push for legislation aimed at evaluating and strengthening the state’s workforce and social services infrastructure.

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BETTER WORK is empowering community-based pathways to employment

While we work to remove policy barriers to employment, our BETTER WORK program is harnessing the power of community to help Georgians connect to immediate job opportunities in their own neighborhoods.

The program’s success in Gwinnett and Columbus counties has shown how employment not only provides income but also restores dignity and purpose. BETTER WORK is set to grow in Gwinnett and Columbus in 2025, and we have begun to collaborate with partners in additional communities that want to use our BETTER WORK model to build their own local efforts to support economic and social mobility.

“Everyone wants to feel that their life matters to someone, that there’s a reason for their existence beyond just getting through each day. Work provides that sense of purpose. It offers us an opportunity to contribute to something bigger than ourselves, connecting us with others who share our values and goals. Through our work, we become part of a collective effort, united in a common purpose.”

— Kristin Barker, Vice President of Workforce Solutions at GCO

Families are getting a new education option with the Promise Scholarship

The Promise Scholarship Program is launching this year, offering families in underperforming school districts the chance to access quality education. Families can use $6,500 scholarships to pursue alternative education options, unlocking opportunities for thousands of Georgia children.

Gov. Brian Kemp’s new budget includes full funding for the program. Once appropriated by the Georgia General Assembly, this funding could help an estimated 22,000 kids who meet the eligibility criteria.

We’re also encouraging lawmakers to adopt better funding formulas to ensure Georgia’s public charter schools can access high-quality facilities. Charter schools have an essential role in addressing diverse educational needs, and improving their infrastructure will ensure more students can thrive.

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

“Adding Promise Scholarships to the menu of Georgia’s schooling options is a positive step toward an education system that honors every child’s unique situation and prevents a lack of quality education from limiting children’s futures. We look forward to working with the Governor and Legislature to see the program fully funded and implemented.”

— Buzz Brockway, Vice President of Policy for GCO

Legislative sessions hold opportunities for policymakers to strengthen public safety

Public safety is the first step to stability and prosperity in our communities. In the 2024 election, voters made it clear that they want elected leaders to take public safety seriously.

The 2025 legislative sessions offer elected officials the opportunity to focus on ensuring police departments are properly funded, sentences for violent offenders are sufficiently severe, and programming in prisons focuses on helping offenders become productive members of society upon release.

GCO is working with Georgia lawmakers to advance a crime reduction package based on our recommendations for restoring community safety in Atlanta. Our public safety expertise is also aiding leaders in Kentucky as they consider a bill to improve data reporting and reduce recidivism in their criminal justice system.

Voting preferences in the 2024 election confirm that better public safety is a priority for Americans.

“In the 2024 election cycle, voters once again affirmed they want safe communities, less crime, and criminals held accountable. Though rates of certain violent crimes have fallen in recent years, it’s important to think about this decline as a response to positive policy change. Policymakers cannot take their eye off the ball now.”

— Josh Crawford, Director of Criminal Justice Initiatives

Communities are getting support to empower strong families

Empowering parents is at the core of our mission. The Raising Highly Capable Kids (RHCK) program equips parents with tools to nurture strong family connections, fostering children’s academic and personal success.

With expansion plans for 2025, we’re excited to bring this life-changing program to even more parents across Georgia, ensuring future generations thrive in stable and supportive environments.

“Empowering parents strengthens the bond between parent and child,” noted Joyce Mayberry, GCO’s Vice President of Family. “When parents feel confident and equipped, they can create a stable and nurturing home environment. This type of environment not only supports children’s well-being but also fosters academic success. Together, these efforts can transform the trajectory of a family’s future. Strong parenting within the home radiates outward, positively impacting neighborhoods, schools, and ultimately building stronger, more resilient communities.”

Two-parent households Income inequality Social mobility Poverty reduction Marriage Economic well-being Single mothers Single fathers Education outcomes Behavioral tendencies American Dream Economic security Social challenges Family structure Economic performance Government intervention Grassroots change Cultural change Fathers' role Labor force participation Marriage penalties School choice Social agnosticism

“When parents feel confident and equipped, they can create a stable and nurturing home environment. This type of environment not only supports children’s well-being but also fosters academic success. Strong parenting within the home radiates outward, positively impacting neighborhoods, schools, and ultimately building stronger, more resilient communities.”

— Joyce Mayberry, Vice President of Family

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.

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.

A Photo Journey through Breakthrough

by gaopp | Dec 12, 2018

On December 5th, some of the nation’s most innovative researchers, policy experts, and community-based practitioners lead a series of discussions at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on solutions that are unlocking human potential in Georgia and around the country, enabling individuals and families to flourish.

Georgia is at a crossroads. We are enjoying the rewards of a growing economy and vibrant communities that make Georgia one of the country’s most popular places to do business and raise a family. However, hundreds of thousands of seemingly invisible men, women, and children are facing barriers that prevent them from achieving their dreams and reaching their potential, including the stain of a criminal record, being trapped in a welfare system that discourages work and family formation, and being ill-prepared for work or college as a student. The challenges are multi-dimensional and pose threats not just to individual well-being, but also to continued economic growth, opportunity, and mobility.

GCO takes over the Mercedes-Benz Stadium with Breakthrough!

Dr. Robert Lerman, Institute Fellow in the Center on Labor, Human Services, and Population at the Urban Institute discusses innovative measures to educate today’s students and the positive results they garner.

Jamie Lord leads the conversation about Education to What Degree: The Promise of Education Innovation with special guest interview Jack Harris, President of Junior Achievement, and panelists Ben Scafidi, Director of the Education Economics Center; Tyler Thigpen, Co-Founder and Head of School at the Forest School; Anthony Flynn, Executive Director and COO of 100 Black Men of Atlanta; Dr. Robert Lerman, Institute Fellow in the Center on Labor, Human Services, and Population at the Urban Institute.

Randy Hicks and Bellhops CEO Luke Marklin talk about the importance of dedicated employees and creating an atmosphere of loyalty.

GCO’s Joyce Whitted leads the panel discussion on Healthy Families: Incubators of the Next Generation, with Brian Amero, Henry County Superior Court Judge; Julie Baumgardner, President and CEO of First Things First; Brad Wilcox, Director of the National Marriage Project at the University of Virginia; and Erin Norman, Senior Solutions Consultant at Heart+Mind Strategies

The Delta SkyClub at Mercedes-Benz Stadium never looked so good.

Anthony Flynn, Executive Director and COO of 100 Black Men of Atlanta chats about the importance of educational choice for students to have every opportunity to succeed.

It was wonderful to have such a great group of sponsors in attendance at Breakthrough. We really enjoyed the time with our friends and the opportunity to make new ones.

GCO’s Bill Rogers leads the panelist in the conversation about “Business! Mankind was my Business.”: How Some Georgia Companies are Bringing Solutions and Hope to Disadvantaged Communities with panelists Greg Beadles, COO, AMB Sports and Entertainment; Chris Clark, President and CEO of Georgia Chamber of Commerce; Rodney Bullard, Vice President of Corporate Social Responsibility at Chick-Fil-A and Executive Director of the Chick-Fil-A Foundation.

Eric Cochling and panelists Dave Derocher, Managing Director of The Other Side Academy; Stacey Howell, Executive Director of Every Woman Works; Phillip Hunter, Executive Director of Georgia Works!; and Lloyd Martin, VP of Manufacturing and IT for CKS Packaging, Inc., discuss A Bolder Bottom Line: Work as the Most Effective Antipoverty Intervention and exactly what that looks like for their businesses.

Savannah Morning News: What real education reform looks like

by gaopp | Apr 11, 2018

This op-ed was originally published in the Savannah Morning News on March 26th. Check out the original post here.

By Randy Hicks

Once again, it’s an election year. And as in the past, we’ll probably hear a lot of talk about the state of education in Georgia. But what does it really mean to have an excellent education for K-12 students? What constitutes real education reform that will prepare Georgia’s children for the jobs of the future and bring the benefits of competition to education?

Most basically, it’s a mistake to measure the quality of education by the amount spent on education. Instead, the quality of education must be measured by results. And that starts with two goals: First, finding the right school setting for each child. Two, ensuring that parents can take advantage of choice and place their child in that setting.

Every child is different. That’s why families should have a variety of educational options for their child. The goal of real education reform—of enhancing choice in education—is to ensure that families have high-quality options. Of course, this includes traditional public schools, but it also includes public charter schools (where Georgia’s programs are growing in popularity); private schools (including for children with special needs and those who benefit from the Georgia Tax Credit Scholarship program); online education, homeschooling, and hybrid education options. Parents can then select the option or options that help their child learn and grow the best.

Fortunately, Georgians already favor choice in education. Now, as the campaign season is intensifying, the Legislature can prove their dedication to our kids by taking real steps towards education reform this year. For instance, lawmakers can raise the arbitrary cap on the tax credit scholarship program, as two bills propose to do. More parents want these scholarships, and more people want to give to make them a reality for Georgia’s children. The Legislature shouldn’t stand in the way. Special needs children, children with disabilities, and others can benefit from expanded scholarship programs based on choice.

As the legislative session winds down and the campaign season begins, I hope that voters will take the time to inform themselves on education issues and ask the candidates where they stand and why, rather than simply being satisfied with proposals for higher spending for public K-12 schools. A vibrant education system in Georgia will include high-performing public schools all across the state, but it will include independent schools as well. Each sector should be committed to excellence, and parents should have the option of choosing the educational settings that are right for their child.

Seven years ago, Gov. Nathan Deal called on Georgians to “be frugal and wise. Let us restore the confidence of our citizens in a government that is limited and efficient.” His words ring true with a spirit of promoting true education reform which contributes to both of the Governor’s goals – frugality and efficiency. Public education, too, will benefit from the competition that true choice brings, and the results will benefit both Georgia’s children and Georgia’s taxpayers. The competition that comes from true choice for parents will improve all schools, making education in Georgia not only more frugal and efficient but also much more effective.

And that is the point of true education reform: more choice, and better schools, for everyone. Let’s keep that in mind and keep education reform a priority in this political year.

Georgia Center for Opportunity lauds approval of tax credit scholarship expansion

by gaopp | Apr 11, 2018

News | For Immediate Release

April 2, 2018

Georgia Center for Opportunity Lauds Approval of Tax Credit Scholarship Expansion

ATLANTA – On the final day of Georgia’s 2018 legislative session, lawmakers gave final approval to a bill expanding the state’s wildly popular tax credit scholarship program. House Bill 217, championed by State Representative John Carson, lifts the program’s current cap of $58 million to $100 million over a span of ten years.

The Georgia Center for Opportunity (GCO) had been a staunch advocate for the original bill, which first passed in 2009. Since its adoption, the program has increasingly suffered from over-demand, both from donors who were unable to give to the initiative and students who were unable to take advantage of the scholarship due to an arbitrary cap on the program.

GCO President and CEO Randy Hicks applauded lawmakers for taking a “bold stand for Georgia’s students.”

“For too long, too many kids have been waiting in line for the opportunity to attend a school that better fits their needs,” Hicks said. “By passing an expansion of the tax credit scholarship program, the Georgia General Assembly has set a standard of prioritizing students and providing hope to thousands of families for years to come.”

According to state law, the amount given per scholarship must not exceed the average state and local per-pupil expenditures. In 2017, that amount stood at $9,468, though the average scholarship awarded in 2015 was reported to be $3,425.

“By raising the state cap another $42 million, you’re creating a potential situation where over 5,000 families at least can take advantage of this program, though it will likely be much more,” Hicks added. “That’s more than a number, it represents lives that will be changed for the better thanks to the passage of HB 217.”

House Bill 217 now goes to Governor Nathan Deal’s desk for signature.

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For more information, contact Christy Riggins at christy.riggins@georgiaopportunity.org or 770-242-0001.