NEWS & OPINIONS
Why parental involvement is key to a child’s health
Key Points Parental involvement makes a big difference in children's development. Students with involved parents have better attendance and behavior, get better grades, demonstrate better social skills and adapt better to school. Parents need access to tools, which is...
Education successes from the 2023 Georgia legislative session
We have much to celebrate as the 2023 Georgia legislative session comes to a close. At the same time, there is still much work to be done. That’s what this blog post is all about. First, we’ll take a look at recent victories in the area of education during the...
Georgia is poised to expand workforce opportunity
Key Points Georgia General Assembly, lawmakers unanimously approved House Bill 155, which creates a pathway for thousands of Georgians who might face roadblocks to getting an occupational license to smooth the path for doing so, provided they held a license One in...
BETTER WORK has resources for high school students
Key Points Not every high school graduate will attend college. There are strong career paths available for those who are ready to learn. Jobs in the water industry are plentiful. In addition to excellent pay and stability, careers in the water field offer...
The GCO 2022 year in review
Curious about our projects. progress, and achievements over the past year? The Georgia Center for Opportunity 2022 Annual Report is now available online. This year-in-review consolidates the most crucial information about where we’ve been and where we’re headed, all...
Arkansas creates educational opportunity. It’s time for Georgia to step up
Arkansas recently joined a growing list of states that have approved Education Scholarship Accounts, empowering parents to make the best decisions for their child’s unique educational needs.
Let’s transform parenting in Georgia! Recapping the Raising Highly Capable Kids kickoff event
Key Points Positive relationships impact the opportunities and potential future for every child. GCO is partnering with RezilientKids to bring the evidence-based program, Raising Highly Capable Kids to the Gwinnett area. GCO is recruiting partners who are willing to...
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...
Georgia is one of the top states for economic freedom
Key Points Georgia continues to be one of the most business friendly states. Georgia did not impose strict lockdowns during the pandemic. We believe that when the government refrains from heavy-handed intervention in the economy, everything from community life to...
We’re helping the water industry over the next five years
Key Points BETTER WORK Gwinnett and The Water Tower are partnering to expand water industry job training to high school students and young adults. The water industry will need to fill 1200 positions over the next five years. Without skilled water workers our...
Opinion: Increase choice as public schools can’t meet all kids’ needs
OpEd Written by Corey Burres, VP of Communication Unedited Title: Public Schools Are At the Heart of School Choice As states like Utah and Iowa pass sweeping school choice legislation, it is important to understand no one is trying to defund public schools. The...
7 African-Americans Who Fought for Educational Opportunity
Key Points Access to quality education is a top conversation in Georgia and many other states and has been for decades. Stories of black educators offer inspiration for continuing to pursue better education opportunities for every kid. The examples set by African...
MEDIA MENTIONS
Is the tide turning on Larry Krasner?
Hate to say I told you so, but real is real. Back in 2018, three months into Larry Krasner’s revolution in ultra-lenient prosecution, I wrote these prophetic words: I’ve written before that many of Krasner’s reforms — as with those of many of the other Soros DAs — are...
The Alan Nathan Show
Josh Crawford, as a guest on The Alan Nathan Show, engaged in a thoughtful discussion about pragmatic approaches to reforming policies that negatively affect the criminal justice system. His expertise in criminal justice reform was evident as he highlighted key issues...
Want to reduce crime in DC? Ramp up enforcement and sentences
By Joshua Crawford, Director of Criminal Justice Initiatives What a difference a year makes. Around this time last year, the Council of the District of Columbia overrode Mayor Muriel Bowser’s veto of a criminal code reform bill that, among other things,...
U.S. Sen. Mitt Romney’s ‘One Door’ bill would allow states to integrate social safety net with workforce development
The One Door to Work Act, introduced by Sen. Mitt Romney, would allow states the flexibility to implement Utah’s model of consolidating federal workforce development and social safety-net programs into a single state entity. The end goal is to help work-capable recipients reintegrate more quickly into the workforce, empowering them to achieve the independence, stability, and purpose that are crucial to human well-being.
Amanda Kieffer: WV has too many laws preventing former criminals from working
How long should the consequences of your mistakes follow you in life? This is a question that the West Virginia State Senate is considering with SB 493: Relating to the use of criminal records as disqualification from authorization to practice a particular profession....
Contested education reforms loom over Georgia’s legislative session
Perhaps more than any time in recent memory, education-related bills look to dominate the current legislative session. If last year is any indicator, these measures may redraw political alliances and lead to heated debates. As is always the case, not every proposal is...
Community-led city improvement group to hold open meeting next week
COLUMBUS, Ga. (WRBL) — Locals seeking change in the community have an upcoming opportunity to meet with others who share that goal. On Jan. 30, the Columbus Empowerment Initiative will hold its first open meeting, starting at 10 a.m. at the Columbus Public Library....
When it comes to deadly shootings in Louisville, 2023 looks a lot like 2022
In 2023, Louisville experienced a high number of shootings, with 553 individuals dead or wounded, as reported by LMPD. While the statistics suggest a potential decrease in homicides compared to previous years, some, including anti-violence activists argue that there...
