Opportunities to drive progress and hope will greet Ģ����Ƶns in 2026. Critical issues will dominate the legislative agenda, and top governmental positions will be up for election.

The well-being of many Ģ����Ƶns, their families, and their communities is at stake as pressing concerns like welfare reform, the cost of living, educational opportunities, and public safety take center stage in political discussions. These issues involve significant challenges, but policymakers are working to find promising solutions that will enable people across the state to flourish.

Electing leaders to fill key political offices

The primary election will take place on May 19, and the general election is scheduled for November 3.

The roles of both the governor and lieutenant governor will be on the ballot. Ģ����Ƶ’s current governor, Brian Kemp, isn’t eligible to run again because he’s reached his term limit, so several candidates are competing for the position, including Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones. 

Ģ����Ƶns will also vote on one of the state’s U.S. senatorial positions—Senator Jon Ossoff currently holds the post. All of Ģ����Ƶ’s seats in the U.S. House of Representatives will be up for election as well.

These political races are pivotal because the elected officials will have the power to remove barriers and open more doors to opportunity for the state’s residents.

Reforming Ģ����Ƶ’s public assistance programs and creating a pathway out of poverty

The candidates running for office will likely take positions on ways to reform government assistance (welfare or safety net) programs in Ģ����Ƶ. This should be a top priority because about 13.5% of the state’s population is currently living in poverty. 

One of the main concerns about the welfare system is that it isn’t helping to lift people above the poverty line or empowering them to become self-sufficient. Instead, the complexities and regulations in the system tend to trap people in long-term cycles of poverty that affect families for generations.

To make real change, Ģ����Ƶ’s top lawmakers need to focus on streamlining the state’s welfare system and integrating it with workforce development programs. This strategy, called the , connects recipients of government benefits with one caseworker who not only helps them meet their immediate needs but also provides resources to support them in finding a rewarding job.

In Ģ����Ƶ, around 28% of prime-age (25-54) adults aren’t working, and disengagement from work is one of the primary reasons people seek public assistance. Developing a One Door strategy in Ģ����Ƶ will help these individuals become self-sufficient and also enable them to experience the sense of dignity and purpose meaningful work provides.

Ģ����Ƶ’s political leaders can take steps toward implementing a One Door model by advocating for federal authorization to do so. At the state level, they can also establish a task force to explore ways to connect and improve Ģ����Ƶ’s public assistance and workforce programs.

A reform called the One Door model would allow Ģ����Ƶ to connect more welfare recipients to meaningful work and economic opportunity. 

Making life more affordable in Ģ����Ƶ

Many low- and middle-income families in Ģ����Ƶ are struggling to cover the basic costs of living, as prices for just about everything seem to be rising. The increasing costs add extra hardship to the numerous barriers that already impact people’s well-being. But Ģ����Ƶ’s policymakers have opportunities to make some things more affordable for the state’s residents.

• Housing shortages and costs: The shortage is driving up prices and making affordable homes hard to come by. Builders want to construct more houses, but they face restrictive regulations regarding land use and infrastructure, including roads and water lines. Local policymakers can address the issue by allowing greater flexibility in lot sizes and housing types. Doing so will bring more affordable homes to the market, and that will reduce rent and mortgage payments and free up income to cover other necessities.
• State income taxes: Ģ����Ƶ’s state income tax is set to drop to 4.99% in January 2027, but some lawmakers want to eliminate it completely. For many Ģ����Ƶns, every dollar matters, and doing away with the tax would allow them to keep more of their income in their own pockets. State leaders are considering eliminating corporate tax breaks to offset the potential loss in government revenue from income taxes. But it’s important to note that they could also raise the sales tax to recoup the state’s lost revenue. That could leave lower-income families worse off because essential goods would cost them more.

Creating an educational system that meets the needs of every child

In 2026, Ģ����Ƶ lawmakers will continue their efforts to develop an educational system that honors every child’s unique situation and needs.

Several education-related bills that carried over from 2025 will likely be up for consideration in the Ģ����Ƶ General Assembly.

• Senate Bills 124 and 152: These bills will expand eligibility for Promise Scholarship accounts to students with a parent who’s an active-duty military service member stationed in Ģ����Ƶ and to biological or adopted children of foster parents. The bills will help support more families who want to consider alternative education options for their children
• Senate Bill 171: This bill will require Ģ����Ƶ’s Board of Education to develop an advanced math pathway for students in grades 3-8. The program will prepare students to take higher-level math classes in middle school and ultimately to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). The opportunity will pave the way to brighter futures and upward mobility for participating students, and particularly for young African Americans, Hispanics, and girls who haven’t traditionally received significant STEM education.
• House Bill 917: This bill will provide open enrollment processes for students who want to transfer between local school systems or from one school to another within a school system. This will enable students to attend the school that’s the right fit for them, regardless of where they live.

Charter school funding will also be on policymakers’ radar. In 2025, the Ģ����Ƶ Senate created the Study Committee on Funding for Charter School Capital Improvements. The committee was tasked with reviewing current funding processes for public schools, examining the differences in capital funding between charter and public schools, and analyzing the challenges charter schools face in getting funding. Ģ����Ƶ’s leaders will likely use the study’s findings to make sure charter schools have equal access to capital improvement funds so they can continue to offer alternate educational options for families.��

Prioritizing neighborhood safety and reducing crime

Public safety is a top concern for Ģ����Ƶns, and especially for those living in impoverished communities. High crime rates lead to losses in property value, community resources, business activity, and job opportunities—all making it increasingly difficult for people to escape poverty.

Among several public safety bills, Ģ����Ƶ lawmakers will likely consider two that were drafted during the 2025 session.

• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for juveniles: The first bill will enable greater use of CBT with young people who get arrested, even those who are non-violent or have minor convictions. CBT teaches participants to look at the relationship between their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors and helps them respond to challenging situations more effectively. Studies show that CBT programs can reduce recidivism by an impactful 25%. They also set participants on a path toward healing and growth, which will, in turn, help their communities flourish.
• Support for local law enforcement agencies: The second bill will create grants for local law enforcement agencies to assist them in solving more violent crimes. Local departments can use the funds to improve investigations, enhance the technology and data systems officers use, and support victims and families. The resources will also help authorities deter future crime and boost community safety and resiliency.

Taking action to transform lives and communities

Ģ����Ƶ’s policymakers know that more needs to be done to break down the social and economic barriers so many people are facing, and they’re taking action. But this responsibility doesn’t lie with government leaders alone.

Ģ����Ƶ residents should pay close attention to the issues lawmakers discuss, but also to the needs of their families and communities. They can then use what they learn, along with their voices and votes, to create real change. 

In doing so, Ģ����Ƶns will bring even greater promise and prosperity to the state—making it a place where everyone has the opportunity to achieve their full potential and thrive.

Additional resources

The post Shaping Ģ����Ƶ’s Future: Opportunities for the Year Ahead appeared first on For Opportunity.

When it comes to providing educational opportunities for families, Ģ����Ƶ ranks 14th out of 50 on measuring families’ access to school choice nationwide.����

At first glance, that doesn’t seem like such a bad position, but when you dig deeper, the picture becomes less flattering. Ģ����Ƶ is still lagging behind and we have our work cut out for us to ensure that every family has access to a great education.

Where Does Ģ����Ƶ Stand?

Ģ����Ƶ scored four out of a possible 100 on which weighs three major factors:

• Access to School Choice: Only 15% of Ģ����Ƶ’s K-12 students are eligible for school choice programs, far below what it takes to establish broad, equitable access.
  

• Flexibility in Educational Funding: While Ģ����Ƶ has made strides through its Promise Scholarship Program (an education savings account or “ESA”), current funding systems and program designs limit how well families can use educational funds to meet their unique needs.
  

• Funding Parity: Choice students in Ģ����Ƶ receive just 45% of the funding allocated to their public school peers. For example, public school students receive $13,810 per pupil, while choice students average $6,264 in funding.��

These metrics paint a clear picture of why Ģ����Ƶ’s score is so low. More significantly, it’s a reminder of the limitations facing families who are seeking to access the best education for their children.

Image Credit: EdChoice,

Ģ����Ƶ’s Neighbor to the South Earns the Top Score

To notch a perfect score of 100, states must have several policies in place. First, universal school choice is a must. That means all students, regardless of income or zip code, have access to a great education.

A second requirement is that all educational funds allocated to students must be fully usable for any educational expenses—anything from tuition to textbooks to needed therapies or tutoring.

Lastly, funding per choice student must be equal to the amount provided to public school students.��

So far, no state has achieved these standards, but Florida has come the closest with a score of 77 out of 100.�� Florida allows for all students to access school choice and receive 77% of the funding that public school students receive. Additionally, all students may use these funds flexibly.

Closing in on Florida are Arkansas (60), as well as Alabama and Arizona (each scoring 59).��

While these states are leading the way, the Friedman Index is a reminder that the majority of the country still has a long way to go on education choice and opportunity. The idea of a “school choice” revolution has sparked widespread conversation, but in reality, even higher-ranking states like Ģ����Ƶ have only begun to tap into the full potential of school choice and its benefits for families and communities.

Educational Opportunity Matters Most for Ģ����Ƶ’s Low-Income Communities

The limitations of Ģ����Ƶ’s school choice programs disproportionately affect children from low-income communities. For these families, access to the right education isn’t just a luxury—it’s a pathway to life-changing opportunities, such as improved academic performance, higher graduation rates, and better chances of long-term employment and financial stability.

Data consistently shows that providing families with education options leads to better outcomes for kids. For example, numerous studies indicate that students in choice programs are more likely to become proficient in core subjects like reading and math, areas that often determine future academic and career success.

One recent leap forward is the Ģ����Ƶ Promise Scholarship, a state-funded initiative designed to give families financial support to choose the best learning environment for their child. The program opens to families this year, providing scholarships of $6,500 a year that families can use for private school tuition, tutoring, special needs programs, homeschooling, or other customized options outside the traditional public school system.

While this program is an encouraging start, it’s not enough to rank Ģ����Ƶ among the nation’s top states for school choice. Currently, too few students have access to the program, and funding levels fall short of what’s needed to enable meaningful choice for all families.

The Friedman Index Gives Ģ����Ƶ a Roadmap, Not Just a Score

The factors that make up the Friedman Index give Ģ����Ƶ lawmakers clear steps to increasing education opportunity for all students:

• Expand Access to School Choice: Every family throughout Ģ����Ƶ should have access to educational opportunities that meet their child’s needs, regardless of income or location. This includes significantly increasing the percentage of students eligible for choice programs, particularly the Ģ����Ƶ Promise Scholarship.

• Increase Funding for Choice Students: Ģ����Ƶ must make substantial investments to bring funding for choice students closer to parity with public school funding. Providing families with adequate resources will make educational choice a real possibility—not just an option in name only.
  

• Focus on Students, Not Systems: It’s time for Ģ����Ƶ to reframe its education policies around the needs of students. Our goal shouldn’t be to improve Ģ����Ƶ’s ranking on an index, but to provide real hope and opportunity for the students who need it the most.

Image Credits: Canva, EdChoice

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Ģ����Ƶ lawmakers wrapped up the 2025 legislative session with some big decisions that affect our state’s families, students, and workers.

Several new laws were passed to improve education, job opportunities, and access to childcare — while a few important changes didn’t quite make it through.

“The 2025 session included some key victories to improve public school classrooms, expand school choice options, and improve workforce opportunities,” said Buzz Brockway, vice president of policy for GCO. “While there were some disappointments on bills that didn’t make it across the finish line, we are pleased with the progress lawmakers made this year in promoting an agenda to allow all Ģ����Ƶns to flourish.”

What Passed: New Ģ����Ƶ Laws in 2025

These bills passed out of both the House of Representatives and the Senate and are headed to the governor for signing. 

: Less phone distraction, more student engagement

K-8 classrooms now face stricter limits on student cell phone use during school hours. The goal of this policy is to cut down on distractions and help kids stay engaged in the classroom.

: More support for charter schools

With this legislation, local boards of education must reconsider denied charter petitions and provide detailed explanations for their decisions. To incentivize approvals, schools receiving charters are eligible for grants of $250,000 a year for three years to help them get started.

and : Helping kids read better

Two bills aimed to boost reading skills among Ģ����Ƶ students. HB 307 updates dyslexia screening and interventions and improves statewide coordination to help at-risk students earlier. SB 93 makes sure future teachers are trained in proven methods to teach reading. State-approved educator preparation programs must align their core curricula with the science of reading—a move that aims to enhance literacy instruction by prioritizing evidence-based methods.

: Bigger tax break for child care

Families can now get a larger credit on their state taxes (up to 40% of the federal tax credit) for expenses related to child and dependent care. By allowing Ģ����Ƶ families to subtract more child care expenses from their annual taxes, this measure eases the financial burden on working families across the states.

: Simplifying licensing for businesses and trades

HB 579 makes it simpler and faster to get professional, business, or trade licenses in Ģ����Ƶ, reducing paperwork, red tape, and other barriers getting in the way of people looking for steady work.

: Free college prep tests for homeschoolers

SB 63 mandates that homeschool students in Ģ����Ƶ must have free access to take AP, SAT, and PSAT exams at their local public schools. Improving access to testing for  all students helps level the playing field for college readiness.

​�ċWhat Didn’t Pass (But Could Still Come Back)��

Despite these successes, some significant bills were left on the table when the legislative session abruptly adjourned early.

: Second chance for job-seekers with a criminal record 

This measure would have helped people with past criminal records get job licenses more easily.  A simpler, fairer process gives returning citizens better opportunities to rejoin  the workforce and build stable livelihoods and futures. However, due to legislative discord, the bill didn’t get a final vote. 

: Making Ģ����Ƶ’s welfare programs work better 

This proposal sought to create a task force to streamline safety net and workforce development systems in Ģ����Ƶ. It was shelved due to disagreements, but it’s on the radar for next year’s session. Connecting welfare and workforce programs should be an immediate priority because it’s one of Ģ����Ƶ’s best opportunities to remove barriers to work and upward mobility for more people. 

Image Credit: Canva

The post From classrooms to careers: Ģ����Ƶ laws that passed (and didn’t) in 2025 appeared first on For Opportunity.

Exciting News for Ģ����Ƶ Families and Students 

Students zoned for one of 506 elementary, middle, and high schools across Ģ����Ƶ can apply for the state’s Promise Scholarship program to attend an educational alternative.

This scholarship program offers students a chance to access education opportunities best suited to their needs. Recipients can use the funds for private school tuition, homeschooling expenses, tutoring, or other approved education costs.

The total amount of scholarships is capped at for the upcoming school year. That will cover around 15,000 students.

Several application periods are open throughout the year. Families can learn more at the .

If your student goes to a school on the Ģ����Ƶ Promise Scholarship school list, your family meets the attendance zone requirement to apply.��

Does Your Family Qualify for the Ģ����Ƶ Promise Scholarship? 

Parents can quickly determine their child’s eligibility by taking a short .

Eligibility Criteria:

To apply, a student must:

1. Be zoned for one of the 506 eligible public schools. 
2. Have been enrolled in a Ģ����Ƶ public school for two consecutive semesters, or be a rising kindergarten student. 
3. Be part of a family in which the parents have lived in Ģ����Ƶ for at least one year, with exceptions for active-duty military families.
4. Not be a recipient of the Ģ����Ƶ Special Needs Scholarship or any state scholarship program administered through a Student Scholarship Organization. 

The program prioritizes returning students and siblings of currently participating students. Children whose families have household incomes below 400% of the Federal Poverty Level (roughly $132,000 for a family of four) will also receive higher priority in the selection process. 

Opportunities Like the Promise Scholarship Give Families a Brighter Future

The creation of the Promise Scholarship has been a crucial step forward for Ģ����Ƶ families. Ģ����Ƶ 8,400 students received a scholarship last year, and lawmakers are continuing to invest state funds in the program and encourage more families to apply.

Education is the foundation for a thriving life. For families feeling limited by their current school options, the Promise Scholarship provides the hope of access to a better fit for their child’s unique needs. Whether it’s finding the right private school, funding homeschooling expenses, or acquiring other learning resources, this program empowers parents to make the best decision possible for their children.

Additional Resources

The post School List Available for Ģ����Ƶ Promise Scholarship Eligibility appeared first on For Opportunity.

Thousands of families now have greater access to flexible education options through the .

Education is a vital pathway to opportunity, and every child deserves the chance to succeed. Unfortunately, many Ģ����Ƶ students remain stuck in underperforming schools without access to better alternatives. The Promise Scholarship aims to change that by expanding access to diverse, high-quality education opportunities. 

What Are Promise Scholarships?��

is a state-funded initiative designed to give families more control over their children’s education. Through this program, qualifying students will receive up to $6,500 annually* to cover a range of education-related expenses. Unlike traditional vouchers, which are limited to school tuition, Promise Scholarships provide greater flexibility.

Funds can be used for approved expenses such as: 

• Private school tuition and fees 
• Tutoring services 
• Textbooks and curriculum 
• Education therapies 
• Education-related technology 
• Transportation costs 

With this comprehensive approach, Promise Scholarships aim to help families create a personalized education path that meets their unique needs.

Who Can Apply?

Promise Scholarships are targeted to empower families with the fewest resources and the greatest need. There are specific eligibility criteria to qualify for the program, including:

• Enrolled in eligible public schools: Students must be attending one of the bottom 25% of Ģ����Ƶ’s public schools (as ranked by the Governor’s Office of Student Achievement) during the 2025-2026 school year or be entering kindergarten.
• Residency requirement: Parents must have lived in Ģ����Ƶ for at least one year, with exceptions for active-duty military personnel.
• Income priority: If the number of applicants exceeds available funding, families with household incomes below 400% of the Federal Poverty Level (around $130,000 for a family of four) will be prioritized. 

Funding is available for up to 20,000 students, creating access to resources and opportunities they wouldn’t otherwise have.

Key Dates to Remember

Student applications will open four times in 2026:

• March 1— March 31, 2026 
• May 1—May 31, 2026 
• August 1—August 31, 2026 
• November 1—November 30, 2026

Families are encouraged to start preparing now by gathering necessary documentation and confirming eligibility to apply as soon as possible.

What Can Parents Do Now?

Parents can take steps today to prepare for the Promise Scholarship application windows. Here’s how you can get started: 

Check for eligibility: Ensure your child qualifies by reviewing the criteria. This includes confirming their enrollment in a qualifying school or kindergarten for the 2025-2026 school year.

Prepare documentation: Gather residency proof and any other information that may be required for the application.

Start exploring education options: While the list of eligible schools hasn’t been released yet, it’s a good idea to consider the types of educational settings or services that could best meet your child’s needs. A list of participating private schools is available here.

Learn more about education choices: For additional guidance, consult the Parents’ Guide to Education in Ģ����Ƶ to better understand the options available to you and your family.

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PEACHTREE CORNERS, GA—Today, the Ģ����Ƶ Center for Opportunity (GCO) applauded Gov. Brian Kemp and the Ģ����Ƶ legislature for ushering into law the Promise Scholarships bill that will bring much-needed relief to the over half-a-million low- and middle-income kids stuck in low-performing schools.

“We are thankful to Gov. Kemp and the many House and Senate lawmakers who recognized the urgency of the moment and advanced a bill to provide much-needed opportunity to bolster academic options,” said Buzz Brockway, GCO’s vice president of public policy. “Passing Promise Scholarships is a momentous milestone for tens of thousands of Ģ����Ƶ kids struggling in a system that doesn’t work for them. It recognizes that Ģ����Ƶ is a diverse state with a diverse set of needs for education. After years of work, this bill is a positive step toward shaping an education system that honors every child’s unique situation and prevents a lack of quality education from locking children and communities into poverty.”

Senate Bill 233 will make students from the lowest performing 25% of public schools eligible to receive $6,500 a year set aside in an account. Parents can then use the funds to cover approved educational expenses, including private school tuition, books, uniforms, and even transportation.

SB 233 also gives first priority to students from families below 400% of the federal poverty level — around $120,000 a year for a family of four. Students above that threshold will be allowed to participate if funds are left over after the lower-income students are served.

Promise Scholarships will serve an estimated 21,500 kids when the program goes live for the 2025-2026 school year.

Ģ����Ƶ now joins a growing list of states offering educational options for all students. In the Southeast, Alabama, Florida, and North Carolina have recently enacted universal Education Savings Account programs, while South Carolina is in the process of creating a universal program in the coming years.

“The urgency to create an education lifeline for kids can’t be overstated. Education is a basic need. Lack of access to quality options is a major cause of many of the ills in our society, including putting a cap on upward mobility. A lack of quality education locks children into poverty and prevents communities from thriving,” said Brockway.

Although GCO praised passage of Promise Scholarships, Randy Hicks, GCO’s president and CEO, cautioned that the bill is just a first step.

“Unfortunately, the final compromise bill was watered down in a number of ways that will limit its reach,” said Hicks. “Funding for Promise Scholarships is capped to 1% of public school funding and there is a 10-year sunset on the entire program. It’s a positive step that over 20,000 students will be eligible for educational freedom, that number is a drop in the bucket compared to the need. We will continue building on this foundation for the future so that all of Ģ����Ƶ’s schoolchildren have options.”

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Ģ����Ƶ Center for Opportunity (GCO) is independent, non-partisan, and solutions-focused. Our team is dedicated to creating opportunities for a quality education, fulfilling work, and a healthy family life for all Ģ����Ƶns. To achieve our mission, we research ways to help remove barriers to opportunity in each of these pathways, promote our solutions to policymakers and the public, and help effective and innovative social enterprises deliver results in their communities.

Learn More about SB233

Schedule An Interview

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On April 23, 2024, Governor Brian Kemp signed SB 233, the Ģ����Ƶ Promise Scholarship Act, into law. This program—the first of its kind in Ģ����Ƶ—will give parents access to $6,500 state-funded scholarships that they can use to afford the education option best suited to their child’s needs. 

The Promise Scholarship Program empowers parents to give their kids quality education and brighter futures��

Promise Scholarships will be state-administered, state-funded that give parents $6,500 per year and per student to use for approved education expenses. The program will be available beginning in the 2025-2026 school year. 

Parents can use these scholarships for a variety of education costs, including: 

• Tuition and fees for private schools, online classes, college courses, and vocational programs
• Tutoring services
• Curriculum and textbooks
• Educational therapies
• Technology, including adaptive or assistive technologies for students with special needs
• Transportation costs

Because of this flexibility, Promise Scholarships allow parents to consider a wide range of options—from homeschooling to private schools to other unique combinations of education services. 

“The best gift we can give our next generation is a quality education that opens the doors for new opportunities.” — Randy Hicks, GCO President & CEO

Promise Scholarship eligibility focuses on low- and middle-income students��

SB 233 limits Promise Scholarship access to students enrolled in the bottom 25% of Ģ����Ƶ’s public schools, as ranked by the Governor’s Office of Student Achievement. 

First priority will also be given to students from families below 400% of the federal poverty level—around $120,000 a year for a family of four. Students above that threshold will be allowed to participate if funds are left over after the lower-income students are served.

These parameters—plus the funding cap that SB 233 puts on the program—means that Promise Scholarships will serve an estimated 21,000-22,000 kids out of half a million that are stuck in low-performing public schools. 

See all the student eligibility requirements here. 

The Ģ����Ƶ Promise Scholarship is an important step for updating our education system

SB 233 is a good step toward giving Ģ����Ƶ families access to high-quality, diverse education options. With more education options, students will have even better opportunities to get an education that’s tailored to their needs and sets them up for success in today’s fast-changing world. But if Ģ����Ƶ is serious about investing in our communities, we must keep working to close the education opportunity gap for all of Ģ����Ƶ’s kids. 

By passing SB 233, Ģ����Ƶ is catching up to neighboring states like , , that have already adopted education savings account programs. 

While Ģ����Ƶ is starting out with narrow student eligibility, these other states are opting for , opening access to all students. Ģ����Ƶ will need to be open to this model if we want to give our own students the best possible academic outcomes and opportunities for a flourishing life. 

Thank you to Gov. Kemp and the lawmakers who recognized the urgency of the moment and passed Promise Scholarships to strengthen the key building block of education for thousands of kids across the state. It’s a momentous step toward a system where every child has access to quality education and a good life, regardless of income, race, zip code, or other life circumstances. 

Learn more about the Ģ����Ƶ Promise Scholarship

The Ģ����Ƶ Promise Scholarship Act (SB 233): Questions and Answers (Ģ����Ƶ Center for Opportunity)

(Ģ����Ƶ Public Policy Foundation)

The Ģ����Ƶ Promise Scholarship (SB 233): What Private Schools Need to Know (Ģ����Ƶ Center for Opportunity)

Ģ����Ƶ Students Need More Schooling Choices (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

(Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

(Washington Examiner)

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Key Points

• On March 14, 2024, the Ģ����Ƶ House voted 91-82 to pass Promise Scholarships (). The bill was confirmed in the Senate and signed into law on April 23, 2024.��
• SB 233 will create a much-needed education option for students zoned for a school ranked in the bottom 25% of public schools.��
• The Ģ����Ƶ House added parameters to the bill that reduce accessibility and set the bill to expire after 10 years. These issues will need to be addressed moving forward so that every child can have better opportunities to access quality education in Ģ����Ƶ.

On March 14, 2024, the Ģ����Ƶ House voted 91-82 to pass Promise Scholarships (). This bill is an important first step in extending an education lifeline to low- and middle-income kids in under-performing schools. While there is still much more to do as we press toward universal school access, we are thankful to the many House lawmakers who put the needs of kids above politics to advance this measure.

What’s in the Promise Scholarship Bill?

With these Promise Scholarships, students in the lowest performing 25% of public schools will be eligible to have $6,500 a year set aside in an account. These are the funds the state would have spent for their public school education. Under this bill, parents can direct the funds to cover approved educational expenses, including private school tuition, books, uniforms, and even transportation.

SB 233 also gives first priority to students from families below 400% of the federal poverty level—around $120,000 a year for a family of four. Students above that threshold will be allowed to participate if funds are left over after lower-income students are served.

To give public schools time to plan and adjust, public school districts will still receive state funding for a period of two years to cover any students leaving to participate in the program.��

“Our job is not decide for every family but to support them in making the best choice for their child.” — Gov. Brian Kemp, 2024 State of the State Address

“Our job is not decide for every family but to support them in making the best choice for their child.”
— Gov. Brian Kemp, 2024 State of the State Address

Limits to Promise Scholarships

While we are thankful that the bill moved forward in the 2024 legislative session, the version of SB 233 passed by the House is watered down in significant ways:

It restricts eligibility and access: The bill caps the amount of revenue available to fund Promise Scholarships to not exceed 1% of public school funding. Even if parent demand maxes out the program, this amount only covers an estimated 21,000-22,000 kids. That’s 0.012% of Ģ����Ƶ’s public school student population, and only a fraction of the 500,000+ kids that are stuck in the bottom 25% of public schools.

It applies expiration dates: Unless a future legislative body evaluates the program and chooses to extend it, the Ģ����Ƶ Promise Scholarship program will expire in 10 years. In that decade, lawmakers will still have to vote annually to fund the program. These measures add a layer of uncertainty that makes it difficult to secure a future of success and opportunity for our kids.

Curious how your representative voted on SB 233?
Ģ����Ƶ’s General Assembly puts the voting records online. Go to the legislature’s website to see the breakdown of support among state representatives.��

Student success is at the heart of Promise Scholarships

The passage of SB 233 can’t come soon enough. Ģ����Ƶ is now surrounded by states that are aggressively and urgently addressing the needs of the future generations by adopting , or ESAs, that are open to all students. Alabama, Florida, and North Carolina have recently enacted universal programs, while South Carolina is in the process of creating a universal program in the coming years.

ESAs, particularly universal ones, are good policy because kids need quicker solutions for accessing education options that will work best for them. We can’t wait on reforms that will take years or even decades to take hold. As we’ve seen before, increased funding is no guarantee that poor performing public schools will improve, much less improve quickly.

Every semester, our K-12 students have academic milestones they are supposed to hit. And we know that when they don’t achieve these goals, they are more likely to fall further and further behind their peers, putting themselves and their futures at risk.��

SB 233 provides immediate help by making Promise Scholarships available beginning with the school year in 2025.

Education is a building block of a flourishing life. Without access to quality education in Ģ����Ƶ, our kids and our communities will continue down a path where success and opportunity are not open to everyone in the state. An increasing number of families are looking for alternatives, and we must work to provide opportunities that meets the needs of all students, not just a few.

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The post Promise Scholarships Cross Major Hurdle appeared first on For Opportunity.

The Alabama legislature has passed a bill that phases in universal Education Savings Accounts over time. It now goes to the desk of Gov. Kay Ivey for her signature. The ESA will be worth up to $7,000 for each student to be used for approved educational expenses.

The Ģ����Ƶ Center for Opportunity’s (GCO) take: “Ģ����Ƶ is now on the cusp of being surrounded by states with universal school choice, or near universal school choice,” said��Buzz Brockway, GCO’s vice president of public policy. “That means our state is now an outlier in the southeast when it comes to educational options. We shouldn’t be satisfied to maintain a status quo on this issue that leaves thousands of schoolchildren behind each year. It’s time for Ģ����Ƶ lawmakers to lead and pass legislation like the Promise Scholarships bill that expand educational opportunities across the state to students and families trapped in a system that doesn’t work for them.”

For more on the ways ESAs would help kids in Ģ����Ƶ, check out these resources:

• SB233 Could Help Thousands
• Aidan’s Story
• Education Designed for Everyone��

The post It’s Time for Ģ����Ƶ Lawmakers to Lead and Pass Legislation Like the Promise Scholarships appeared first on For Opportunity.