State Spotlight: Fighting for Students’ Futures in Georgia

by Buzz Brockway | Apr 25, 2023

State Spotlight: Fighting for Students’ Futures in Georgia

What is it like when your child’s school is failing them? For Georgia mother Tanya Schlegel, it was heartbreaking. Her son “would routinely come home from school with tears in his eyes, saying the school wasn’t treating him fairly. I discovered they were not implementing his Individualized Education Plan as written but were putting pressure on my son to perform outside of the accommodations that were agreed upon. It caused a lot of meltdowns and angst. The situation eventually became so severe that he began self-harm. That progression broke my heart because he is a good kid. He’s not aggressive. He’s not violent. But the pressures the school system put on him caused him to hurt himself.”

Tanya felt stuck. Her son and daughter both have special needs and require extra attention and resources that their school can’t provide. Tanya and her husband also can’t afford to move to an area with better schools or pay for their children to go to better equipped (but expensive) private schools.

Tanya’s story isn’t unique in Georgia. Families all across the state—and especially in rural areas—are stuck in schools that don’t provide the education their students need, but there’s no alternative available.

This is why the Georgia Center for Opportunity launched their campaign to champion school choice programs for Georgia families.

During the 2022 legislative session, there were several bipartisan bills introduced to increase school choice opportunities in Georgia. Two of the most significant bills (HB 999 and SB 601) would have created Educational Savings Accounts called “promise scholarships.” These promise scholarships would have offered Georgia families up to $6,000 a year for approved education expenses. As GCO’s Vice President of Public Policy, Buzz Brockway explains, “Promise Scholarships would step far beyond a typical voucher by fully putting parents in the driver’s seat when it comes to their child’s education. The funds could [be] used for private-school tuition, but there would [be] added flexibility depending on each family’s unique needs, extending to paying for things like tutoring, specialized therapies, or homeschool co-ops.”

For families like Tanya’s, promise scholarships would be a lifeline. She explained “Promise Scholarships would provide the type of resources to ensure that our children are not left behind.”

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Looking at some of the causes, solutions to Louisville’s violence problem

by Kimberly Sawatka | Apr 20, 2023

Looking at some of the causes, solutions to Louisville’s violence problem

As Louisville tries to get into the thunder and Derby spirit, violence hangs over the metro.

We’ve heard from both sides of the political aisles about how to stop the bloodshed.

Tonight the Jefferson County GOP heard some interesting thoughts in a presentation about the violence in Louisville and how it could be stopped. It might’ve been a meeting of Republicans, but it was hardly political.

Last week’s violence grabbed headlines, but it’s really a problem that’s been going on for years.

“All four of our deadliest years ever have been since 2016,” said Josh Crawford from the Center of Opportunity.

Josh Crawford is the Director of Criminal Justice Initiatives at the Center of Opportunity and he spoke to the crowd the cause of violence and how to combat it.

“One of the things that has gotten a lot of attention recently especially in the wake of the shootings in Chickasaw, there is insufficient protections locally for witnesses,” Crawford said.

It was group of people trying to learn about what’s going on in their city and how they can help.

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Louisville leaders say violence reduction strategy falling short in key areas

by Kimberly Sawatka | Mar 23, 2023

Louisville leaders say violence reduction strategy falling short in key areas

According to the Louisville Metro Police Department, 2022 was the third-deadliest year in Louisville’s history.

There were 160 homicides last year, a 150% increase from 2012 when the Metro finished the year with 64 homicides.

“It is simultaneously fully operational, and not operating optimally,” Josh Crawford, who is on Louisville’s GVI governance committee, said.

Crawford, who also serves as head of the Board of Directors for Chris 2X Gamechangers, said one of the main hurdles for GVI thus far has been the frequency and attendance of “call-in” meetings.

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Nelson Mullins – Gold Dome Report – Legislative Day 36

by Kimberly Sawatka | Mar 20, 2023

Nelson Mullins – Gold Dome Report – Legislative Day 36

House Education Committee – Policy Subcommittee

The Policy Subcommittee of the House Education Committee, chaired by Representative Scott Hilton (R-Peachtree Corners), met Monday to consider one measure:

SB 233, authored by Senator Greg Dolezal (R-Cumming), is the “Georgia Promise Scholarship Act.” The bill amends Title 20 to provide for the establishment of promise scholarship accounts to be funded by the state in the amount of $6,000.00 per school year for each participating student.

Dolezal presented the bill alongside Jamie Lord, who represents the Georgia Center for Opportunity and is promoting the legislation.

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Georgia school voucher bill stays alive after heated Senate debate

by Kimberly Sawatka | Mar 8, 2023

Georgia school voucher bill stays alive after heated Senate debate

A school voucher bill is one of many that survived Monday’s legislative deadline where pieces of legislation have to pass at least one chamber in order to stay alive for Georgia’ 2023 legislative session. After some intense debate on the Senate floor, Senate Bill 233 sailed through in a 33-23 vote.

School closures during the pandemic added fuel to the school choice movement. In Georgia, enrollment in charter schools and homeschooling have grown since the Covid-19 pandemic. Georgia Center for Opportunity, a nonpartisan policy research organization, said SB 233 will expand school choice options.

“Parents across the country are demanding more educational options in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic,” GCO’s vice president of public policy Buzz Brockway said in a news release. “Now is not the time for more lip-service or half-hearted efforts to help students reverse learning loss.”

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Georgia Senate passes bill to create state-funded education savings accounts

by Kimberly Sawatka | Mar 8, 2023

Georgia Senate passes bill to create state-funded education savings accounts

The Georgia Senate passed legislation to create state-funded education savings accounts.

Under Senate Bill 233, the Georgia Promise Scholarship Act, taxpayers would fund $6,000 per student per school year. Families could use the money to defray “qualified” education costs, such as private school tuition.

“Parents across the country are demanding more educational options in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic,” Buzz Brockway, vice president of public policy for the Georgia Center for Opportunity, said in a statement. “Now is not the time for more lip-service or half-hearted efforts to help students reverse learning loss. Georgia families need more opportunities and they need them now.

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