Georgia education officials cite education loss as a top priority for 2023

by Georgia Center for Opportunity | Dec 21, 2022

Georgia education officials cite education loss as a top priority for 2023

Georgia education officials say they plan to address lost learning opportunities stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic.

But a leading Georgia nonprofit says state lawmakers should pass legislation to give parents more educational choices, saying the pandemic proved the “one-size-fits-all” model no longer works.

“We are pleased that Georgia’s public education officials are acknowledging the very real pain of learning loss, plus the pleas of parents for as wide a spectrum of educational options as possible,” Buzz Brockway, executive vice president of public policy for GCO, said in a statement. “As we head into the legislative session in 2023, there are a wide variety of ways lawmakers can help families, including by finally passing Education Scholarship Accounts that empower families to choose the very best type of school for their students.

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Why Our Justice System Is Making More Criminals Than Preventing & Ways to Reform w/ Joshua Crawford

by Georgia Center for Opportunity | Dec 6, 2022

Why Our Justice System Is Making More Criminals Than Preventing & Ways to Reform w/ Joshua Crawford

On this Heard Tell Good Talks our guest is Joshua Crawford, Director of Criminal Justice Initiatitives at the Georgia Center for Opportunity returns to Heard Tell to have a grown folks talk about crime and punishment, how our criminal justice system is making more criminals than it is preventing, the economic impact of folks with criminal records not being in the regular workforce, regulatory reforms and legislative needs, and how everyone involved needs to keep the human aspect front and center in policy discussions.

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Report: Charter school enrollment increases in Georgia

by Georgia Center for Opportunity | Dec 1, 2022

Report: Charter school enrollment increases in Georgia

More Georgia students are attending charter schools, while enrollment at public schools is declining, according to a new report.

New figures from the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools show that Georgia experienced a roughly 4.9% increase in charter enrollments between 2019-20 and 2021-22. Meanwhile, traditional public schools saw a roughly 1.9% decline in enrollments during the same period.

“Public education is about ensuring students and parents have access to quality education,” Buzz Brockway, executive vice president of public policy for the Georgia Center for Opportunity, said in a statement.

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New national study shows America’s gun epidemic is more deadly than ever

by Georgia Center for Opportunity | Nov 30, 2022

New national study shows America’s gun epidemic is more deadly than ever

A new national study commissioned by the Journal of American Medical Association shows America’s gun violence epidemic is more deadly than ever.

The study analyzes data from 1990-2021 and provides context into the gender and racial disparities of gun violence in that time.

The numbers show more than one million people were shot and killed in that time, 86 percent of them men.

They also show all homicides doubled across the country from 2014 to 2021, with men five times more likely to die.

“The first is the group violence intervention that has started to gain some steam and while is not functioning perfectly, is in a far better place than it was a year ago,” Crawford said. “And the other thing is that our homicide clearance rates a year ago at this time were abysmal. One of the things that was done was try to reduce homicide detectives’ case loads.”

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New national study shows America’s gun epidemic is more deadly than ever

by Georgia Center for Opportunity | Nov 30, 2022

New national study shows America’s gun epidemic is more deadly than ever

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WAVE) – A new national study commissioned by the Journal of American Medical Association shows America’s gun violence epidemic is more deadly than ever.

The study analyzes data from 1990-2021 and provides context into the gender and racial disparities of gun violence in that time.

The numbers show more than one million people were shot and killed in that time, 86 percent of them men.

They also show all homicides doubled across the country from 2014 to 2021, with men five times more likely to die.

“The first is the group violence intervention that has started to gain some steam and while is not functioning perfectly, is in a far better place than it was a year ago,” Crawford said. “And the other thing is that our homicide clearance rates a year ago at this time were abysmal. One of the things that was done was try to reduce homicide detectives’ case loads.”

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Report gives Georgia high marks for economic freedom

by Georgia Center for Opportunity | Nov 29, 2022

Report gives Georgia high marks for economic freedom

A new report found Georgia among the freest states in the republic.

The Economic Freedom of North America 2022 report from the Canadian-based Fraser Institute ranked Georgia eighth. The report explored freedom across three areas for the 2019-20 fiscal year — government spending, taxes and regulation.

“This is another report that reinforces Georgia’s place in the country as a freedom leader, especially during the pandemic and now in post-pandemic life,” Erik Randolph, director of research for the Georgia Center for Opportunity, said in a release.

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