New Research: School Students Lag Behind in Literacy Almost Two Years Into the COVID-19 Pandemic

by Buzz Brockway | Feb 17, 2022

New Research: School Students Lag Behind in Literacy Almost Two Years Into the COVID-19 Pandemic

New research brief shows that elementary school students lag behind in literacy almost two years into the COVID-19 pandemic

The mid-school-year assessment concluded that students in kindergarten, first grade, and second grade are the furthest behind compared to their pre-pandemic counterparts. Black and Hispanic students are bearing the brunt of those learning losses, with the literacy gap between minority students and white students larger than before the pandemic.

The Georgia Center for Opportunity’s (GCO) take: “Count this report as yet another entry in a long line of research studies showing the devastation of learning loss due to school shutdowns,” said Buzz Brockway, GCO’s vice president of public policy. “Georgia kids need the flexibility provided by Promise Scholarships now more than ever. We urge lawmakers to pass either House Bill 999 or House Bill 60 immediately. Both bills would provide up to $6,000 a year for families to choose alternatives to their locally zoned public school.”

January’s Rise of the Consumer Price Index (CPI)

by Erik Randolph | Feb 10, 2022

January’s Rise of the Consumer Price Index (CPI)

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics announced that

the Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 0.6% in January

Today, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics announced that in January the Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 0.6% on a seasonally adjusted basis. The CPI is up 7.5% over the last 12 months, not seasonally adjusted. That is the highest 12-month rate since February 1982, just prior to when the stagflation of the 1970s was finally defeated.

The Georgia Center for Opportunity’s (GCO) take: “Our nation’s recent bout of severe inflation continued in January and doesn’t show signs of easing anytime soon,” said Erik Randolph, GCO’s director of research. “The rate once again exceeded consensus estimates from economic experts. Alarmingly, there seems to be a major disconnect between politicians and insider pundits over how impactful inflation is for the average American. They say we should be thankful for rising wages, but Americans are still net losers in this highly inflationary environment. When you can’t find a decent used car, your energy bills are spiking, and your grocery bills might have doubled in one year’s time, minimal wage gains are little solace.

“The monthly inflation rate for January is unsettling: 0.8% prior to being seasonally adjusted. When annualized, it’s double digits inflation (10.6%). If it were a fluke, that would be one thing. But this is the fifth time this has happened over the last ten months. This is not unpredicted. We’ve been saying since the beginning—along with many economists—that the actions taken by the federal government because the pandemic would lead to inflation.”

GCO honored to be listed on Atlas Network’s top 10 to watch in 2022

by Georgia Center for Opportunity | Feb 2, 2022

GCO honored to be listed on Atlas Network’s top 10 to watch in 2022

The Georgia Center for Opportunity team is honored to be named as one of the Atlas Network’s top 10 nonprofit partners to watch in 2022. Atlas acknowledges GCO as an organization working “to make the world a better place for countless everyday people.”

Atlas’ designation focuses on our work to ensure that Education Scholarship Accounts (ESAs) are passed into law during the current session of the Georgia Legislature. These would allow public school funds to be used for private school tuition. Quoting Atlas:

Coming out of the pandemic and its devastating effects on educational outcomes, GCO sees the expansion of educational choice as more important and more achievable than ever before. With that perspective in mind, their campaign will push for the implementation of a sweeping educational savings account program in Georgia. These programs are an effective way of providing parents the financial means to choose the best educational option for their children, restoring hope, dignity, and prosperity.

The Success Sequence provides an outline of how to reverse the cycle of poverty in our communities. GCO uses this as a framework for much of our work.

Who is the Atlas Network

The Atlas Network is a nonprofit organization that seeks to secure for all individuals the rights to economic and personal freedom through its global network of strategic partners.

Georgia Education Academic Innovation Subcommittee Passed House Bill 999

by Buzz Brockway | Feb 1, 2022

Georgia Education Academic Innovation Subcommittee Passed House Bill 999

The Georgia Education Academic Innovation Subcommittee passed House Bill 999

Today, the Georgia Education Academic Innovation Subcommittee passed House Bill 999, legislation that would create Promise Scholarships allowing all children to find the right fit for their education. Scholarships could be used on any approved education expense, such as private school tuition, tutoring, homeschool curriculum, virtual classes, college classes, therapies (for kids with special needs), technology, etc. H.B. 999 now goes to the full House Education Committee for consideration.

The Georgia Center for Opportunity’s (GCO) take: “We have been fighting alongside parents and families to create more opportunities for students to access high-quality education options. Promise Scholarships are a huge leap in the right direction to put kids first,” said Buzz Brockway, GCO’s vice president of public policy. “This was a true bipartisan effort and we’re glad to see lawmakers working together for the common good of children and their education.”

GCO’s Take: The House Bill 999 “Georgia Educational Freedom Act”

by Buzz Brockway | Jan 26, 2022

GCO’s Take: The House Bill 999 “Georgia Educational Freedom Act”

GCO’s Take: The House Bill 999 “Georgia Educational Freedom Act”

The Georgia Center For Opportunity applauds the introduction of House Bill 999, the Georgia Educational Freedom Act. The legislation would create new Education Scholarship Accounts (ESAs) funded by the state in the amount of $6,000 for students for each school year.

GCO’s take: “We believe these types of steps give kids a fighting chance,” said Buzz Brockway, GCO’s vice president of public policy. “All Georgia’s kids deserve quality education and that includes students who may need additional help or need a different learning environment. This bill keeps our public school funding in place for the vast majority who access it while giving a lifeline to those left without opportunity or hope.A public education system should ensure that all students have access to quality education, no matter their race, past mistakes, or circumstances of their birth. This bill opens that door for kids in our state.”

State Unemployment December 2021 Statistics

by Erik Randolph | Jan 25, 2022

State Unemployment December 2021 Statistics

Today, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics announced state unemployment numbers from December 2021.

The results put Georgia as 6th best in the nation for jobs recovered since the beginning of the pandemic. Utah, Idaho, Texas, and Arizona lead the pack, with Utah the run-away leader in labor force recovery.

The Georgia Center for Opportunity’s (GCO) take: “An important factor aggravating the wide disparity among the states in the jobs recovery is out-migration. Many workers—and businesses who are taking jobs with them—are voting with their feet by moving out of states that imposed more severe COVID-19 shutdown measures compared to states that were less severe, including Georgia,” said Erik Randolph, GCO’s director of research.

For more, read Randolph’s research report on the economic impact of the pandemic shutdowns.