School children

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp has issued a proclamation declaring January 22-28 as National School Choice Week.

The Georgia Center for Opportunity’s (GCO) take: “Parents are demanding more options in education, spurred on by the seismic changes we’ve seen in K-12 schools during the pandemic,” said Buzz Brockway, executive vice president of public policy for GCO. “On this front, we’re proud that Georgia is leading the charge on expanding educational opportunity for every child, not just for those from families with the right income or who live in the right zip code. This legislative session, Georgia lawmakers must build on the progress we’ve made in recent years by approving Education Scholarship Accounts to ensure educational access for all.”

buzz statement school choice.

In The News

Buzz Brockway, a former Republican legislator from Gwinnett, is vice president of public policy for the right-leaning think tank Georgia Center for Opportunity, which promotes school choice.

In this guest column, Brockway discusses solutions to pandemic learning loss.

Georgia students are flocking back to their classrooms, but in addition to the usual assortment of back-to-school supplies, kids are taking something else with them — profound learning losses from the past two years of the COVID-19 pandemic.

A 2022 research brief reveals that K-2 students are the greatest victims of learning loss. Furthermore, the literacy gap between minority and white students is now larger post-pandemic. Parents and teachers know that the earliest years of instruction are often the most impactful.

Read the full article here

girl remote learning

Key Points

Georgia’s request to waive several testing and attendance measurements for the 2022 school year was approved by U.S. Dept. of Education
This move locks in the learning loss that took place during the COVID-19
American Relief Package Act requires at least 20% of funds be spent on recovering learning loss

Georgia’s request approved

The U.S. Department of Education has approved Georgia’s request to waive several testing and attendance measurements for the 2022 school year. “Our goal is to establish a new baseline, rather than compare your schools’ performance to pre-pandemic norms,” said School Superintendent Richard Woods.

Buzz - GA School quote

The Georgia Center for Opportunity’s (GCO) take:

“By doing this we are locking in the learning loss that took place during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Buzz Brockway, vice president of GCO. “This means for some students, they will never recover from the pandemic learning loss they experienced, nor are they expected to recover. This ignores the millions and millions of dollars Georgia’s school districts are being sent via the American Relief Package Act, which requires that at least 20% of those funds be spent on recovering learning loss. What will local districts do with that money? Is giving up best for students? Georgia’s parents should march in loud protest to accepting that pandemic learning loss is the new norm.”

boy doing homework

Join other parents and community leaders on Liberty Plaza to spread the message that it is time for change in education

Today, hundreds of parents, families, and advocates will come together for a rally at noon on Liberty Plaza at the Georgia State Capitol to voice their support for more educational options through Promise Scholarships.

The Georgia Center for Opportunity’s (GCO) take: “The time for Georgia lawmakers to act is right now. Already, 23 other states have passed legislation in recent months to create or expand educational opportunity for their families,” said Buzz Brockway, GCO’s vice president of public policy. “Our state must follow their lead by passing Promise Scholarships, which are a huge leap in the right direction to put kids first.”

Buzz Statement

sad kid near bookbag

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.”

buzz quote

GIRL SCIENCE, ELECTRICAL BOARD

Educational choice is saving the state money

An updated analysis from EdChoice finds that Georgia’s two educational choice programs—the Special Needs Scholarship Program and the Qualified Education Expense Tax credit—have saved Georgia taxpayers between $605 and $1.1 billion through the 2018 fiscal year. That translates to between $4,355 and $8,013 in taxpayer savings per student participating in the programs.

Buzz - edu media statement

Georgia Center for Opportunity’s take:

“There is a falsehood out there that if we expand access to different educational options for Georgia families we’ll end up hurting traditional public schools. Data like this from EdChoice clearly show this isn’t the case,” said Buzz Brockway, GCO’s vice president of public policy. “Our toxic political environment sets up a false dichotomy between giving families a choice in education and supporting traditional public schools. Our state can do both. In fact, if our goal is to do what’s best for students and families, then we must do both: Have properly funded and supported traditional public schools while providing options for families who need a different environment for their children to best thrive.”

banner - prisoners

The Georgia Center for Opportunity has signed on to a letter with 37 organizations across the ideological spectrum in favor of the EQUAL Act now pending in Congress.The EQUAL Act would end the federal prison sentence disparity between crack cocaine and powdered cocaine offenses—that is not grounded in evidence and contributes to over-incarceration, particularly within communities of color.

GCO’s take: “This important bill in Congress would correct a harmful policy put in place 35 years ago,” said Buzz Brockway, GCO’s vice president of public policy. “A crucial part of criminal justice reform is identifying unfair and harmful laws on the books and correcting course. We urge Congress to pass this bill and restore equal justice under the law when it comes to cocaine offenses.”

Buzz - statement Equal Act

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Get Buzz’d in Austin, Texas at the Heritage Foundation Resource Bank Conference

Buzz Brockway and Eric Cochling talk about their experience at the Resource Bank Conference.

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A focus on the state legislature and the policies effecting Georgian’s everyday life.

Buzz Brockway, VP of Policy, is in downtown Atlanta at the state Capitol building, and walks us through the the last day or sine die of the legislative session.

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Our state lawmakers create policies that better the lives of Georgians. Learn more about active legislation and how it translates into everyday life for all of us.

Get Buzz'd Blog Header

A focus on the state legislature and the policies effecting Georgian’s everyday life.

Buzz Brockway, VP of Policy, is in downtown Atlanta at the state Capitol building, and walks us through the proposed changes to The Special Needs Scholarship, occupational licensing, a current protest, and more.

Get Buzz'd - at capitol - March 17 2021

Our state lawmakers create policies that better the lives of Georgians. Learn more about active legislation and how it translates into everyday life for all of us.

Buzz Brockway

Join other parents and community leaders on Liberty Plaza to spread the message that it is time for change in education

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

Educational choice is saving the state money

Georgia Center for Opportunity’s take:

A focus on the state legislature and the policies effecting Georgian’s everyday life.

A focus on the state legislature and the policies effecting Georgian’s everyday life.

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Key Points

Georgia’s request approved

The Georgia Center for Opportunity’s (GCO) take:

Join other parents and community leaders on Liberty Plaza to spread the message that it is time for change in education

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

Educational choice is saving the state money

Georgia Center for Opportunity’s take:

Get Buzz’d in Austin, Texas at the Heritage Foundation Resource Bank Conference

A focus on the state legislature and the policies effecting Georgian’s everyday life.

A focus on the state legislature and the policies effecting Georgian’s everyday life.

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