NEWS & OPINIONS
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...
New survey shows spike in misbehavior among K-12 students
Key Points A new survey puts forward more evidence of increased social and behavioral problems among students in K-12 public schools arising from the pandemic. Georgia parents need more education options for their children. GCO is working to bring a new curriculum,...
Announcing the Raising Highly Capable Kids program in Georgia
Key Points Georgia Center for Opportunity has partnered with a national nonprofit, RezilientKidz, to present the Raising Highly Capable Kids parenting program to adults across Georgia. Raising Highly Capable Kids is a 13-week evidence-based parenting program...
5 Reasons Why It’s a Good Idea to Expand Georgia’s Tax Credit Scholarship
Lawmakers are considering a 2024 bill that would raise the cap of Georgia’s Tax Credit Scholarship program to $200 million, allowing it to meet the growing demand from parents and communities who want to invest in our students’ futures.
Now is the time to expand educational freedom in Georgia
Key Points Georgia's recent growth could be halted because it's falling behind other states who are increasingly offering families more and more choices in K-12 education. Georgia lawmakers have another chance this year at passing ESAs. Georgia’s public schools are...
There’s Hope for Reducing Crime in Georgia
Key Points Addressing gang violence is an important way to bring down Georgia’s crime rate Improving public safety and reducing crime in Georgia are key to growing economic opportunity Governor Kemp should add re-entry programs to his crime-solving agenda By Josh...
Why educational opportunity is good for rural areas, too
This year, the Georgia Legislature is poised to once again consider creating Education Scholarship Accounts (ESAs) for families statewide. These scholarships would allocate funds to allow parents to choose the best educational option for their child’s unique needs.
A Georgia Center for Opportunity agenda for 2023
We’re excited about everything we were able to accomplish with your support in 2022. But our focus is also forward, and our team is excited to expand our growth and reach into Georgia communities and beyond in 2023.
Why are so many families switching schools?
One-in-five families switched the school their child attended during the pandemic. The Harris Poll found that 89% of parents whose children have switched school types report that they or their child experienced a positive change as a result of the switch.
MEDIA MENTIONS
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...
Reversing DC crime trends
Josh Crawford, the Director of Criminal Justice Initiatives at the Georgia Center for Opportunity, visited Fox 5 DC to talk about his analysis on DC crime trends. Watch the full video here
Ask Dr. E: What should national leaders do to rescue America from an economic trainwreck?
OPINION: Dear Dr. E: The American economy is a mess. Few could argue otherwise, at least with a straight face. Inflation is out of control. Our national debt is unsustainable. Social Security is teetering on bankruptcy. Homeownership is out of the question for...
Food Stamps: New Report Outlines 5 Possible Ways To Combat SNAP ‘Benefits Cliffs’ at Federal Level — Would They Save Recipients Money?
A benefits cliff is when a household loses more in net income and benefits from governmental assistance programs — like SNAP — than it gains from additional earnings. According to a report by the Georgia Center for Opportunity, this net loss is a “perverse incentive”...
Georgia report finds steps Congress should take to SNAP ‘benefits cliffs’
Design flaws in the federal food stamp program hinder recipients’ upward economic mobility and effectively force them into governmental dependency. That’s the upshot of a new Georgia Center for Opportunity report exploring possible solutions for addressing the...
Getting serious about teen violence in Washington, D.C.: Louisville, Kentucky, provides a solution
In this opinion editorial published in The Washington Times, Joshua Crawford highlights the escalating crime crisis in Washington, D.C., particularly focusing on a significant surge in violent crimes, including a staggering 104% increase in carjackings from the...
