Beginning to Redefine Success
The morning of September 17th, thirty leaders from community businesses, churches, and non-profits gathered at Brenau University’s North Atlanta Campus in Norcross to discuss how a Collective Impact effort could transform the landscape of social-service delivery in...
Sometimes A World-Class School Just Isn’t Enough
Who is responsible for our children's education? Parents? Schools? Most would probably quickly agree that these parties are of paramount importance in insuring the education of future generations. However, what if businesses, faith-based groups, and non-profits were...
Check “Yes” If You’ve Ever Been Arrested
Recently, the Georgia Center for Opportunity (GCO) conducted its second working group meeting on the issue of prisoner reentry. Working group members traveled from across the metro-Atlanta area to convene with like-minded professionals who desire to see prisoners...
STARS DANCING TO CHANGE LIVES?
As a delivery consultant with Georgia Center for Opportunity I have recently been engaged with an inspirational organization named Every Woman Works (EWW), located in Sandy Springs, Georgia. EWW can technically be described as an organization that provides training in...
Why Care About Prisoner Reentry?
When I tell people that part of my work involves heading up a project on prisoner reentry reform, I’m often met by puzzled looks. Given my organization’s other work – including fighting for education reform and school choice, encouraging stronger families, and...
School Choice Opponents Pursue New Legal Challenge
The Supreme Court has established that well-designed school choice programs are constitutional at the federal level. However, this has not stopped school choice opponents in Alabama from asking a federal court to block the state’s new law that gives tax breaks to...
Druid Hills High Cluster Votes for Autonomy from DeKalb Board
Last week the parents, teachers, and administrators of the Druid Hills High School cluster overwhelmingly voted to become a charter school cluster. The 92 percent vote for approval was well above the 60 percent threshold required by the untested state law. Supporters...
Atlanta Continues to Expand Charter School Options
On Monday the Atlanta school board unanimously approved the Atlanta Classical Academy, a K-8 charter school scheduled to open for the 2014-15 school year. With about 10 percent of APS students attending locally approved charter schools, the district continues to be a...
You Have to Know Your Choices before Making One
In communities across Georgia, too often parents that have school choice options are unaware of the opportunities that exist. Not because they don’t care, but because we haven’t done enough to share. Share the options, what they mean, and how to access them. GCO’s...
School Choice Advocacy Training Blog Contest Winner!
Inspired by the School Choice Advocacy Training, Rae Harkness submitted the following for our blog contest: We are living in our own little spheres of influence - we interact with teachers, administrators, parents, coworkers, neighbors and our children. Through social...