NEWS & OPINIONS
Basic Income is the Wrong Solution for Atlanta’s Poor
To make a real difference in seeking innovative solutions to providing poverty relief, we must focus on giving those in need opportunity, not simply pity.
GCO launches anti-poverty policy site as part of Alliance for Opportunity project
Alliance for Opportunity announces new policy roadmap to reduce poverty The Georgia Center for Opportunity launched a resource that provides key policy recommendations for reducing the number of people in poverty as part of their newly formed Alliance for Opportunity...
GCO’s Take: The House Bill 999 “Georgia Educational Freedom Act”
GCO's Take: The House Bill 999 "Georgia Educational Freedom Act" The Georgia Center For Opportunity applauds the introduction of House Bill 999, the Georgia Educational Freedom Act. The legislation would create new Education Scholarship Accounts (ESAs) funded by the...
State Unemployment December 2021 Statistics
Today, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics announced state unemployment numbers from December 2021. The results put Georgia as 6th best in the nation for jobs recovered since the beginning of the pandemic. Utah, Idaho, Texas, and Arizona lead the pack, with Utah the...
School choice story: How Hudson’s life was transformed in a matter of months
Hudson's Story Hudson is the third born in a family of five boys. His mom, Kristen, shared that both she and her husband went to public schools and they support the local system. “We've always just said that we would send our kids to public school as long as there...
National School Choice Week
The Georgia Center For Opportunity is proud to acknowledge Jan. 23-29 as National School Choice Week in Georgia. More than 1,000 events are planned across the state to celebrate the blessing of educational options regardless of a family's income, zip code, or race....
Gov. Kemp Announces GEER II Funding to Support Education
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp has announced that $4.1 million in new federal GEERs funding will be allocated to "the creation and replication of 10 new, high-quality charter schools in underserved communities. The funds will be utilized for start-up costs, networking...
Georgia’s K-12 students fell months behind during remote learning. We need solutions now.
Georgia’s K-12 students fell months behind during remote learning. We need solutions now. Why it Matters: Students in Georgia are 4-6 months behind in learning Leaders have funding to support students and close the learning gap Parents voices need to be heard ...
Could inflation be a persistent problem for the foreseeable future?
The CPI is up over 7% over last 12 months Today, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics announced that in December the Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 0.5% on a seasonally adjusted basis. The CPI is up 7% over the last 12 months, not seasonally adjusted. That is the...
State can give parents options and support traditional public schools
Educational choice is saving the state money An updated analysis from EdChoice finds that Georgia's two educational choice programs—the Special Needs Scholarship Program and the Qualified Education Expense Tax credit—have saved Georgia taxpayers between $605 and...
Training Success at Open Door Community House
A focus on the contributions of the African American family BETTER WORK Columbus delivers Marketing Yourself training to clients of our non-profit partners upon request. This training gives students insight into the perspective of an employer and what matters to them...
My HOPE for individuals and families in 2022
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." — Margaret Mead As we reflect on 2021 and think about what we want for the new year ahead, I thought that it would be beneficial...
MEDIA MENTIONS
Georgia Senate committee advances education savings accounts bill
The Senate Education Committee voted to advance legislation creating state-funded education savings accounts. The committee voted 6-5 Tuesday afternoon in favor of Senate Bill 233, the Georgia Promise Scholarship Act. “Too many times, education access in Georgia is...
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...
Georgia Senate again pushes $6,000 school voucher bill
Georgia Senate Republicans are again pushing a plan to give $6,000 educational vouchers to many students, part of a nationwide push for what supporters call education savings accounts following the COVID-19 pandemic. The movement is fueled in part by fights over...
Georgia Senate again pushes $6,000 school voucher bill
Georgia Senate Republicans are again pushing a plan to give $6,000 educational vouchers to many students, part of a nationwide push for what supporters call education savings accounts following the COVID-19 pandemic. The movement is fueled in part by fights over...
A new bill in KY legislature simplifies expungement process
A new bill has been introduced in the Kentucky Legislature, House Bill 589, that simplifies the process of having criminal records expunged for people who have been convicted of a misdemeanor or class C felony that does not involve violence, sex, a child victim, or...
GCO applauds introduction of Promise Scholarship bill
The Georgia Center For Opportunity is thrilled to support new legislation introduced in the Georgia General Assembly creating Promise Scholarship Accounts. Georgia State Senator Greg Dolezal is the primary sponsor of Senate Bill 233, The Georgia Promise Scholarship...
Georgia lawmaker proposes state-funded education savings accounts
Proposed legislation would allow Georgians to create state-funded education savings accounts. Under Senate Bill 233, taxpayers would fund $6,000 per student per school year. Students could use that money to defray "qualified" education costs, including private school...
Inflation continues to worry Georgians, groups say
Inflation will likely stick around for the foreseeable future, and the elevated inflation continues to worry Georgia businesses, groups said. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers increased by 6.4% over the...
