NEWS & OPINIONS
Georgia Passes Promise Scholarships and Expands Education Opportunity
On April 23, 2024, Governor Brian Kemp signed SB 233, the Georgia Promise Scholarship Act, into law. This education savings account program—the first of its kind in Georgia—will allow eligible students to receive $6,500 state-funded scholarships that they can use to access the education option that best fits their needs.
Safer Kentucky Act: Six Crime Reforms Included and How They Help
The Safer Kentucky Act (House Bill 5) is a package of crime-related bills, including six GCO-recommended solutions for restoring community safety and better opportunities close to home, especially in impoverished neighborhoods that tend to bear the brunt of increasing violence.
Promise Scholarships Cross Major Hurdle
On March 14, 2024, the Georgia House passed SB233, The Georgia Promise Scholarship Act. This bill is an important first step in extending an education lifeline to the over half-a-million kids stuck in failing public schools.
Why Georgia Policies Matter
Georgia is a battleground state and the policies it enacts can have a huge impact on those living in poverty. We discuss why policy matters in Georgia and what we can expect in 2024.
A Better Safety Net in Georgia: Mapping the One Door Policy (House Bill 738) Would Be a Big Step Forward
Legislation pending in the Georgia Legislature, House Bill 738, would create a task force to explore how Georgia could use Utah’s One Door policy to build a safety net system that helps more people find meaningful work and pathways out of poverty.
SB 233: Georgia Promise Scholarships Would Help Thousands of Students. Why Did Some Districts Vote Against It?
If we truly want all of Georgia’s students to obtain a quality education that prepares them for a meaningful career and a stable life, parents need more options. Promise Scholarships are an incredible opportunity, but making them available to Georgia families depends on support from a few districts.
The Marriage Penalty: A Barrier to Relational Support and Better Opportunities for the Poor
Strong relationships are a cornerstone of vibrant communities, and research has shown that marriage is one key type of relationship for empowering individuals, regardless of race or circumstance, to escape poverty and find stability and opportunity. But a current tax policy is making it difficult for communities in Georgia and beyond to reap the benefits of marriage.
Understanding How Benefits Cliffs Impact Those In Poverty
We discuss the issue of Benefits Cliffs and what we are doing on this important issue for anyone on welfare or safety net services.
Public School Transfers: How to Go to a School You’re Not Zoned for in Georgia
Do Georgia parents have the option to move their kids to a different public school than the one assigned to their neighborhood? Yes…and no. Setting up a more flexible public school transfer program is one way Georgia could expand public school options and success.
Georgia’s 2024 Legislative Session: An Agenda to Lift Up Vulnerable Communities
Key Points As Georgia lawmakers convene for the 2024 legislative session, multiple bills are on the table that could break down barriers in poor and disadvantaged communities. A key issue to track: education opportunity. Lawmakers have a chance to enact several...
Building Better Work: The Power of Community and Business Partnerships
Key Points Our BETTER WORK program harnesses the transformative power of local partnerships to get more people hired and build prosperous, stable communities. Four standout collaborators—Essendant, Neighborhood Cooperative Ministries, D.P. Jones Electrical, and...
Georgia School Choice Week: Gov. Kemp Encourages Access to Quality Education for Every Kid
Key Points A new proclamation from Governor Brian Kemp has designated January 21-27, 2024, as School Choice Week in Georgia. Georgia School Choice Week celebrates the fact that every kid is unique and more education options mean parents, educators, and communities can...
MEDIA MENTIONS
Report: Welfare a barrier to economic mobility for low-income workers
At a campaign stop in North Carolina last month, Vice President Kamala Harris suggested that efforts to combat price gouging are needed to help poor and middle-class households. But a new research report shows that government transfer benefits are contributing to the...
New Crime Fighting Proposals in CA – Josh Crawford Guest on Conway and Larson
Leland Conway meets with Josh Crawford to discuss real solutions for combatting crime in California. Listen to the full interview
“DOING RIGHT BY KIDS” BOOK EVENT TOMORROW
One of my colleagues Josh Crawford, contributed to a book titled “Doing Right by Kids: Leveraging Social Capital and Innovation to Increase Opportunity.“ The book will be released next week, but tomorrow the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) will host what they’re...
San Francisco Should Try Punishing Criminals, Not Businesses
Josh Crawford, Director of Criminal Justice Initiatives at Georgia Center for Opportunity, recently appeared on Ave Maria in the Afternoon to discuss one of the nation's most challenging public-safety environments: San Francisco’s Tenderloin District. Crawford shared...
San Francisco Should Try Punishing Criminals, Not Businesses
A new city ordinance mandating nightly business closures in the Tenderloin both fails to address the real problem and hampers economic opportunity. San Francisco’s Tenderloin District is one of the most difficult public-safety environments in the country. Long derided...
Josh Crawford Joins the John Butler Show
In this engaging interview, Josh Crawford, a respected criminal justice specialist, shares his insights on pressing issues related to public safety, crime trends, and effective law enforcement strategies. Hosted by John Butler, the conversation delves into the...
Report: Safety-net programs discourage career advancement
While safety-net programs such as Medicaid and food stamps support those in need, they "discourage career advancement," according to new research from the Georgia Center for Opportunity. The group's "Workforce Engagement: A Missing Link in Understanding Income...
Reforming Welfare to Help Americans Thrive with Randy Hicks | Let People Prosper Show Ep. 110
Episode 110 of the Let People Prosper Show: Dive into a thought-provoking discussion with Randy Hicks, President and CEO of the Georgia Center for Opportunity (GCO), as he explores how we can reform safety net programs to promote long-term self-sufficiency. Learn...
