NEWS & OPINIONS
Georgia Promise Scholarships: Here’s what families and communities need to know
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.
Food stamps program a top opportunity for increasing access to work and savings for taxpayers
A new proposal for reform, developed with research by Erik Randolph at the Georgia Center for Opportunity in collaboration with the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), offers a way to restructure SNAP so that it enables recipients to pursue meaningful work and stable futures.
5 issues that will impact opportunities and hope for Georgians in 2025
When it comes to helping communities thrive, Georgia should focus on encouraging work, fostering safer neighborhoods, and empowering parents and students.
2024 election results confirm public safety is a priority for Americans
In state and local elections, voters across the political spectrum chose candidates who shared their priority for greater public safety and order.
Why Focus More on Public Safety and Order? Kids Need More of It.
A new book, “Doing Right by Kids” features a chapter from GCO’s Josh Crawford on how community violence impacts kids and their opportunities for economic and social mobility.
Poverty and Crime in America: What Can Happen in a Neighborhood When Violent Crime Goes Up
Research has found that violent crime negatively affects property values, employment, and outcomes for children. Good public safety policies are a prerequisite for fostering community environments where opportunities for upward mobility and a better life can flourish.
How safety-net benefits discourage low-income workers from escaping poverty
A new research paper from GCO shows the ways social safety-net programs like food stamps and Medicaid provide critical support but also discourage career advancement.
Want our kids to be seen, heard, and valued? Get the community involved.
By engaging with the building blocks of raising highly capable kids, parents and communities can get kids on a path to enriching relationships, meaningful work, and better quality of life.
Marriage Rates in Georgia Are Down. But Marriage Still Matters For Quality of Life and Upward Mobility.
Georgia has seen a decline in marriage rates, mirroring a national trend and raising important questions about the impact of marriage on personal well-being and societal mobility.
Two new laws bring good news for charitable giving in Georgia
Thanks to two bills passed in 2024, Georgians can continue donating generously without fear their wishes will be violated or their identity disclosed.
Atlanta has $29.8 million in public safety funding for 2025. Here’s why it matters.
Atlanta’s City Council has adopted its budget for 2025, and it has devoted public safety funding to a few best practices that are good news for crime-weary residents.
9 Benefits of Work for Teens and Young Adults
Our review of the research uncovered nine benefits of work that help young people develop the foundations for success in every area of life.
MEDIA MENTIONS
A Path from Welfare to Self-Sufficiency
Safety net systems should be integrated with workforce support programs. Mostly they aren’t. More states should implement the kind of “One Door Model” that Utah has proven effective.
Strengthening Welfare: How DOGE Can Help Open Doors to Work and Opportunity
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. For welfare recipients, the best place to start is opportunities for work.
DC’s Amazon lawsuit reminds us that safety is a luxury for Black Americans
Black Americans have long bore the brunt of America’s violent crime problem, and things have gotten worse in recent years, especially in cities run by progressives.
Substantial policy moves sought for Georgia child care costs
(The Center Square) – State Sen. Brian Strickland said he hopes the Legislature will make “substantial policy moves in the coming years” to address child care issues for Georgia families. Stickland, a Republican, is chairman of the Senate Study Committee on Access to...
Georgia unveils its newest private school choice program
The Georgia Promise Scholarship was passed by the state General Assembly earlier this year. According to pro-school choice organization EdChoice, it joins two other private school choice programs in the state. Eligible families can use the funds for private school...
Defending Ideas: How to empower those on the social safety net to pursue work and opportunity
In a recent interview with the Sutherland Institute's Defending Ideas series, Randy Hicks, President and CEO of the Georgia Center for Opportunity, shared his vision for empowering individuals on the social safety net to achieve greater independence and opportunity....
Graduate puts on ‘another shield of armor’ to build career, and a better life.
As the time for his graduation ceremony approached, Michael Averett joined his classmates in a small classroom. He donned his cap and gown. Just down a short hallway, family and friends waited for the ceremony to commence. When asked for his thoughts, Averett said it...
Op-Ed: Hidden costs of getting a raise for America’s working poor
As Congress continues to debate the Farm Bill and the reauthorization of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, a critical flaw in the U.S. safety net system remains largely unaddressed: benefits cliffs. Our research, alongside studies from the Atlanta Fed and...
