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.

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.

PEACHTREE CORNERS, GA—Yesterday, a bipartisan majority of the U.S. House passed ​, which establishes a crucial demonstration waiver for a handful of states to implement safety-net reforms similar to Utah’s “One Door” policy. As a member of the coalition group the Alliance for Opportunity, the Ģ����Ƶ Center for Opportunity has played an important role in educating lawmakers on the perils of the current social safety net that creates barriers to work and upward mobility.

H.R. 6655 revises the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act for the first time since 2014. The bill would give four states leeway to explore a “One Door” safety-net reform strategy similar to Utah’s model enacted in the 1990s. Utah consolidated federal workforce development and social safety-net programs into a single state entity and fully integrated the safety-net system into workforce development programs.

“This is an important first step toward improving the social safety-net in all 50 states and breaking down barriers to work and a flourishing life,” said Randy Hicks, president and CEO of the Ģ����Ƶ Center for Opportunity. “The next step is to broaden the scope to allow every state to explore ways to integrate workforce and safety-net programs. These reforms are badly needed. There are 8.9 million open jobs across the U.S., and the workforce participation rate hasn’t fully recovered from the COVID-19 pandemic. We must create a safety-net system that doesn’t trap people in generational poverty but provides a pathway to a better life.”

Under H.R. 6655, the five-year innovation waiver is only available to states with populations of less than six million and a labor force participation rate below 60%. According to the Alliance for Opportunity, currently only nine states fit the bill: Louisiana, West Virginia, Missouri, South Carolina, Arkansas, Alabama, Maine, Kentucky, and New Mexico.

Under the current version of WIOA, states are barred from implementing such reforms. Utah was grandfathered in and is the only exception.

The bill contains another potential pathway toward a One Door model as well. Three years after enactment of the law, any state’s governor can consolidate workforce programs into one entity, but doing so would require the approval of half of the chairpersons of local workforce boards.

“These reforms would advance the end goal for every work-capable individual in a safety-net program to participate in effective employment and training programs,” added Hicks. “Numerous studies show that the benefits of work extend well beyond finances, encompassing overall wellbeing and a host of other benefits. One Door reforms will help ensure we have a system that encourages people to find work and improve their lives.”

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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.

Schedule An Interview

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On March 29, 2023, the Ģ����Ƶ Promise Scholarship Act (Senate Bill 233) failed by a vote of 85-89 in the House of Representatives, despite passing the Ģ����Ƶ Senate on March 6, 2023. 

At the time, that was the furthest that an bill had advanced in the Ģ����Ƶ Legislature. Despite having support from Governor Brian Kemp, Lt. Governor Burt Jones, and Speaker Jon Burns, the bill still came up six votes short of passage in the House.

Ģ����Ƶ needs Promise Scholarships to build its future workforce and prosperity

In late 2023, Governor Brian Kemp announced a new program called . Ģ����Ƶ Match seeks to connect every high school senior with a post-secondary education path that meets each student’s needs. The program brings unprecedented cooperation between the Ģ����Ƶ Department of Education, The Technical College System of Ģ����Ƶ, and the University System of Ģ����Ƶ. It’s not an exaggeration to say this program can potentially transform Ģ����Ƶ’s educational system and workforce.

SB 233 would allow students zoned for a school ranked in the bottom 25% for two consecutive years, according to Ģ����Ƶ’s College and Career Readiness Performance Index (CCRPI), to use a Promise Scholarship. 

• Promise Scholarships would allow these families to access education options that they might not otherwise be able to afford or use. The scholarship could be applied to private school tuition, homeschooling materials, or other educational expenses defined in the bill.
  
  
• The state would put the scholarship amount ($6,500) in a parent-directed account controlled by the state of Ģ����Ƶ for these purposes.

Based on CCRPI scores, which were last calculated in 2018-2019, 298 schools currently fall into the bottom 25% criteria. These schools are located all across Ģ����Ƶ, but mostly in areas of high poverty.

It’s important to note that limiting the Promise Scholarship to only the bottom 25% of schools doesn’t cover all the schools in Ģ����Ƶ that receive D or F grades in CCRPI.

To see Ģ����Ƶ Match fulfill its potential, K-12 students must be prepared to succeed in the post-secondary education path they choose—especially those students eligible for a Promise Scholarship and those who deserve better economic and social opportunities to escape poverty. 

“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

��[16 Republican legislators opposed Promise Scholarships in 2023. Here’s why they should have changed their vote.

Over the past 10 years, Republican governors and legislators have passed and tried to implement reforms meant to improve Ģ����Ƶ’s lowest-performing public schools. From the failed Opportunity School District constitutional amendment to the all-but-gutted Chief Turnaround Officer legislation, efforts for transformational reform within the traditional public school system have been stifled.

Many of the schools in question also receive intensive assistance from the Department of Education (DOE) via the Comprehensive Support and Improvement (CSI) and Targeted Support and Improvement (TSI) programs. These programs require schools to develop improvement plans in close collaboration with DOE officials. 

While these programs have helped, there’s an important detail that voters and parents should know about. Several of these schools in the bottom 25% of CCRPI performance today were schools that qualified for the Opportunity School District program back in 2015. 

In other words, these schools are still among our state’s lowest-performing schools after eight years of intensive assistance. Should we continue to tell parents to wait for another program? If your children or grandchildren were zoned for these schools, would you tell them to wait?

For several legislators, including 16 Republican Representatives, the answer has been “yes.”

Of the 16 Republican legislators who voted against SB 233 in 2023, 13 have public schools in their districts that are in the bottom 25%. Yet all 16 of these districts have private schools ready to accept more students. In addition, Ģ����Ƶ has a robust homeschooling community in all corners of the state, as well as a burgeoning microschool movement. Promise Scholarship recipients can access these options no matter where they live.

Ģ����Ƶ’s Promise Scholarship Explained
Find out what the program is, how it works, and which students will be eligible. 

See the Promise Scholarship FAQs

To meet Ģ����Ƶ’s diverse student needs, the answer is to expand parental options.

If we truly want Governor Kemp’s Ģ����Ƶ Match program to succeed, parents need more options. If we truly want all of Ģ����Ƶ’s students to obtain a quality education and pursue post-secondary education that prepares them for a meaningful career and a stable life, parents need more options. If we want Ģ����Ƶ’s economy to continue to thrive and attract new industries to our state, parents need more options.

Expanding parental options will lift our entire educational system. To see this in action, all we need to do is look south. A November 2023 of Florida’s educational landscape found that as school choice programs matured, the positive effects were felt across the board, including within the public schools:

“We find that as public schools are more exposed to private school choice, their students experience increasing benefits as the program matures. In particular, higher levels of private school choice exposure are associated with lower rates of suspensions and absences, and with higher standardized test scores in reading and math.”

The students showing the most gains? Students with low–socioeconomic status (SES).��

Far from harming public schools, school choice actually improves public schools. Ģ����Ƶ’s students deserve to have this opportunity as well.

With SB 233, Ģ����Ƶ legislators had an incredible chance to set Ģ����Ƶ students on a path toward academic success and a bright future. Thankfully, SB 233 and Ģ����Ƶ’s kids received the support needed from lawmakers, and the Ģ����Ƶ Promise Scholarship passed in April 2024. The progam will become available for Ģ����Ƶ parents and students in Fall 2025. 

Related Articles

Ģ����Ƶ Needs to Widen Schooling Choices in 2024
(Buzz Brockway in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

Ģ����Ƶ Promise Scholarships (SB 233): Questions and Answers

Gov. Brian Kemp Champions Education Opportunity, Calls for Unity on Promise Scholarship

Why Educational Opportunity Is Good for Rural Areas, Too

The post SB 233: Ģ����Ƶ Promise Scholarships Would Help Thousands of Students. Why Did Some Districts Vote Against It? appeared first on For Opportunity.

Public school transfers explained

, also referred to as open enrollment for public schools, allow parents to move their student to a different public school than the one they’re zoned for. 

This is a great option for states to provide because it increases flexibility within the public school system—something parents increasingly want. The majority of Ģ����Ƶ students () attend public school, so transfers empower more parents to choose the public school environment that’s right for their child.

Public school transfers available in Ģ����Ƶ

• Allowed: Transfers within assigned school districts.��Ģ����Ƶ offers restricted public school transfers. Families can send their child to����as long as that school has space and has been operating for at least four years. This option is known as an “intra-district transfer.”��
• Not yet allowed: Transfers outside of assigned school districts.��Another type of public school transfer, called an “inter-district transfer,” permits students to switch to a public school outside of the district they’re zoned for. This option isn’t allowed in Ģ����Ƶ yet. Ģ����Ƶ lawmakers would need to pass a bill to make it available to families.

How Ģ����Ƶ’s public school transfers work

Parents must contact their local school system to see which schools will accept transfers and for which grades. The Ģ����Ƶ Department of Education provides a . 

Each school system is required to notify parents by July 1 about which schools have space, and many systems post this information on their websites before that date. Most districts only allow transfers at the beginning of the school year, but all can choose to accept students throughout the year. 

Parents must then apply for a transfer through their district’s website, at the district office, or at the local school. If more students apply than space is available, some school systems will make decisions on a first-come, first-served basis. Others will hold a random lottery.

Eligibility requirements

• A student must be enrolled in a public school in Ģ����Ƶ.��

School options

• Transfers open up access to other public schools within a student’s school district.��
• Transfers don’t apply to public schools outside a student’s assigned district. They also don’t apply to non-public schools.��
• A student who transfers to another public school may continue to attend that school until they’ve completed all grades at the school.

Cost to families

• School systems can’t charge tuition for students transferring within their district.��
• Transportation is the parents’ or guardians’ responsibility.��

Five application guidelines to follow:

1. Contact your local school system to see which schools accept transfers and in which grades.

2. Check your school system’s website by July 1. Each system is required to notify parents annually about which schools have space available. State law requires school systems to post this information by July 1, but it’s often available earlier, so consider checking the website as early as April or May.

3. Access the transfer application on your district’s website, at the district office, or at your local school and complete the application (note: some school systems require parents to do this in person at the district office).

4. Application periods can be as short as one to two weeks. For many districts, this application window opens in June or July. In other areas, it can open as early as January. Get in touch with your district or check its website early and often so you don’t miss any deadlines.

5. The school system will notify parents about whether their transfer request was accepted or denied. If more students apply than space is available, school systems will make decisions on a first-come, first-served basis or through a random lottery. 

How Ģ����Ƶ can expand public school options��

Ģ����Ƶ lawmakers could expand opportunities in the public school system by removing all restrictions on open enrollment and allowing both inter-district and intra-district transfers. 

Parents with children in schools across the country are widely in favor of reforms like this. showed that 78% of parents nationwide—regardless of their political affiliation—support open enrollment.

To set up a successful transfer program, Ģ����Ƶ could look to many other states’ examples. In 2025, the reported that policymakers in 24 states introduced at least 54 bills that focused on open enrollment, providing more evidence of the strong interest in these policies.

Of Ģ����Ƶ’s neighbors, Florida offers the broadest transfer opportunities to students and their families. The state passed a law in 2016 allowing  and required all districts to participate. Through the program, students can transfer from the school they’re zoned for to any public school that has space in their grade level. These transfers allow Florida students to attend the school that’s the best fit for them. They also enable parents to send their children to schools near their jobs, which helps lift barriers to rewarding work.

South Carolina followed suit in 2025 when it requiring school districts to implement an inter-district transfer policy once the state’s Department of Education issues guidelines. Intra-district transfers have already been allowed there for some time.

The open enrollment policies in other nearby states vary:

• Tennessee: The state currently allows intra-district transfers.
• Alabama: Open enrollment is limited and voluntary for school districts.��
• North Carolina: There is no statewide policy on open enrollment.

To better position Ģ����Ƶ as a leader in education choice, state lawmakers are paying attention to advances in open enrollment like those in Florida and South Carolina.

In Ģ����Ƶ’s 2026 legislative session, the House of Representatives is considering a bill () that would significantly expand current intra-district transfer options and also provide inter-district transfer options for Ģ����Ƶ students. 

If the bill becomes law, the state will be able to provide families with more educational opportunities and, ultimately, an educational system that better serves every child’s unique situation and needs.

The post Public school transfers: how to send kids to a school they’re not zoned for in Ģ����Ƶ appeared first on For Opportunity.

Key Points

• A from Governor Brian Kemp has designated January 21-27, 2024, as School Choice Week in Ģ����Ƶ.
• Ģ����Ƶ School Choice Week celebrates the fact that every kid is unique and more education options mean parents, educators, and communities can improve education and life outcomes for all students.��
• In 2024, Ģ����Ƶ lawmakers can expand education options by passing Promise Scholarships, expanding the Tax Credit Scholarship for private school access, and allowing public school transfers.

A from Governor Brian Kemp has designated January 21-27, 2024, as School Choice Week in Ģ����Ƶ. Ģ����Ƶ is one of several states holding this event as part of .��

is an annual, multi-state initiative that engages parents, schools, community organizations, and elected officials in promoting the benefits of school choice and the education options available within each state.��

Ģ����Ƶ Governor Bill Kemp’s proclamation highlights the commitment to fostering diverse educational options so that the state is investing in one of our state’s most valuable resources: our students and their futures.

Ģ����Ƶ Governor Bill Kemp proudly celebrates National School Choice Week with a proclamation, adorned with official seals and signatures. The proclamation highlights the commitment to fostering diverse educational options for students throughout the state.

School Choice Week focuses on giving parents and educators the tools to improve education outcomes for all students��

First and foremost, School Choice Week celebrates the fact that every kid is unique. While public schools will continue to be a great option for many students, states are realizing that families need more education choices and flexibility overall. There’s no one-size-fits-all learning�� environment that can accommodate the diversity of learning needs that exist within our communities.��

Parents know this well—so much so that the desire to give kids a quality, customized education motivated one in five parents to switch schools between March 2020 and May 2022. In 2023, polling found that , including , supported more choices within the K-12 education system. Teachers share this support, as well: think that Education Savings Accounts are a good idea.��

Why all the positive support for school choice? More choice in education is . It expands opportunities for all families, not just those who can afford to make a choice or live in a certain area. States with robust choice programs tend to achieve , including those in the public school system.��

These education outcomes are directly linked to students’ long-term success. Students who complete high school , better health, more involvement in their communities, decreased mortality rates, fewer criminal records, and lower teen pregnancy rates.��

With so much at stake, a child’s zip code should not limit their access to a quality education.��

Ģ����Ƶ has opportunities to expand education options in 2024

Ģ����Ƶ’s School Choice Week coincides with the early weeks of the 2024 legislative session, making it a good time to consider the opportunities our elected officials have to shape a more modern, equitable education system in Ģ����Ƶ.��

Here are few ways Ģ����Ƶ lawmakers could expand access to quality education for families this year:��

• Pass Promise Scholarships (SB 233): The Ģ����Ƶ Promise Scholarship is a proposed education choice program that would allow parents to access the best schooling option for their child. These state-funded scholarships would give parents $6,500 per student for each school year and expand opportunity for kids in the bottom 25% of public schools. The bill needs to be passed by the House in 2024 and receive the governor’s signature in order to be enacted.

   

• Increase the Tax Credit Scholarship Cap: Costs often put private school options out of reach for lower and middle-income households. Ģ����Ƶ’s tax credit scholarship program alleviates some of this inequity by making private school scholarships available to K-12 public school students in need. Raising the scholarship cap would allow the program to serve even more kids. In 2024, the House of Representatives is considering that would raise the cap from $120 million to $130 million.

   

• Allow Public School Transfers: We often think of school choice as alternatives to public schools, but there are ways to build flexibility into the public school system itself. This is a worthwhile goal because strong public schools will continue to be beneficial to communities. A would allow students to within their district or a different district, making it easier for families to access the public school best suited to their child’s needs. Ģ����Ƶ Senators have a chance to pass that bill in the current session.

Behind all of these potential reforms, there’s a significant question about the future of education in Ģ����Ƶ: Will we keep pace with other states expanding education opportunity, or will Ģ����Ƶ continue to fall further behind?��

Ways to participate in Ģ����Ƶ’s School Choice Week

, and check out these ideas specifically for Ģ����Ƶ parents.��

• Thank the teachers and administrators at the school your child currently attends. School choice is also about appreciating the options we have today.
• Get to know Ģ����Ƶ’s school choice options.��
• Learn how to get information about ����

For communities, school choice is a powerful tool. When options exist—both public schools and alternatives—parents, educators, and communities have tools to focus on what matters most: Nurturing the development, success, and happiness of Ģ����Ƶ’s kids.��

The post Ģ����Ƶ School Choice Week: Gov. Kemp Encourages Access to Quality Education for Every Kid appeared first on For Opportunity.

The Ģ����Ƶ Promise Scholarship is a state-supported form of financial aid for students leaving public school in search of a better educational setting. Under the proposed legislation, Senate Bill 233, eligible students would have $6,500—funds that the state would have spent on their public school education—set aside in an account. Parents then could direct that money to pay for educational expenses, including private school tuition, books, uniforms, and even transportation. 

Ģ����Ƶ already has two scholarship-based programs: 

• The , which allows students with special education needs to choose the public or private school best suited for their situation. In the event that families choose a private school, the state provides a scholarship equal to the amount the student would have received for state-based education services.��
  
• The , which expands access to private schools for families who otherwise could not afford that option.��

Adding another scholarship program to Ģ����Ƶ’s menu of education options naturally raises questions about what Promise Scholarships would do and who would be affected. For Ģ����Ƶ’s private schools, these questions are top-of-mind as they seek to understand how Promise Scholarships would impact the Tax Credit Scholarship Program and potentially put other requirements on private schools.

Join the movement to give every child in Ģ����Ƶ the education they deserve! Visit Everykid.info to learn how you can make a difference and learn valuable information for parents on how you can help provide quality education for all Ģ����Ƶ kids. Don’t wait – visit now!

Promise Scholarship (SB 233) FAQs for Ģ����Ƶ’s Private Schools��

Which students would be eligible for a Promise Scholarship?

Students currently attending public schools that are ranked in the bottom 25% of all public schools in academic performance. In 2024, the House of Representatives introduced changes to SB 233 that further narrow eligibility:

The bill now 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.

A funding cap was also put on the program. Funding for Promise Scholarships cannot exceed 1% of public school funding. Even if parent demand maxes out the program, this amount would only cover an estimated 22,000 kids.��

Are Promise Scholarship dollars limited solely to tuition and expenses related to private school education?

No. Unlike existing school choice programs in the state such as the Ģ����Ƶ Special Needs Scholarship and the Tuition Tax Credit Scholarship Program, the resources students receive from the Promise Scholarship are more flexible. In addition to private school tuition, allowable expenses could include tutoring and therapies—even offered outside of the private school setting—as well as curriculum and materials for homeschooling.��

What is required by the state of Ģ����Ƶ for a private school to accept students using Promise Scholarship dollars?

The requirements for private schools under the Promise Scholarship program substantially mirror the requirements for private schools already participating in either the Ģ����Ƶ Special Needs Scholarship Program or the Tuition Tax Credit Scholarship Program. If you already participate in either or both programs, there will be very few (if any) new requirements.

In order to serve students with a Promise Scholarship, private schools must:

• Have been in operation for one school year.
• Submit aggregate data of Promise Scholarship Students’ attendance rates and course completion rates.*
• Report on-time graduation rates of Promise Scholarship Students.*��
• Comply with the anti-discrimination provisions of 42 U.S.C. Section 2000d.
• Comply with state laws applicable to private schools.
• Be physically located in Ģ����Ƶ.
• Administer to Promise Scholarship Students at least one norm-referenced test that measures academic progress in math and language arts per year.*

*Requirement is unique to the Promise Scholarship program and not currently required by the Tax Credit Scholarship Program.

Would the creation of the Promise Scholarship program negatively impact existing school choice programs, such as the Tax Credit Scholarship Program?

No. The programs should be viewed as complementary to one another, allowing for a greater pool of financial aid for prospective private school families.��

Students would be prohibited from receiving both a Promise Scholarship and a scholarship from an SSO under the Tuition Tax Credit Scholarship Program. However, the Promise Scholarship program gives each participating student $6,500 directly from the state—a higher value than the average scholarships awarded by SSOs under the tax credit program.��

The Tax Credit Scholarship Program could continue to serve students who are not eligible for a Promise Scholarship.��

Are there any protections for private schools, particularly faith-based schools, against state regulation as a result of accepting Promise Scholarship students and dollars?

Yes. Modeled after similar provisions in other states, there is explicit language in the bill prohibiting the state from requiring a private school or other participating provider to alter the creed, practices, admissions and employment policies, or curricula.��

What’s the key takeaway for Ģ����Ƶ’s private schools?

The Promise Scholarship Program and the Tax Credit Scholarship Program would be complementary to one another. Together, these two programs diversify the sources and types of aid available to families and can broaden the potential applicant pool for private schools without creating additional fundraising burdens.

Additional Resources

The post The Ģ����Ƶ Promise Scholarship (SB 233): What Private Schools Need to Know appeared first on For Opportunity.

We have much to celebrate as the 2023 Ģ����Ƶ legislative session comes to a close. At the same time, there is still much work to be done. That’s what this blog post is all about. First, we’ll take a look at recent victories in the area of education during the session. Then, we’ll talk about the road ahead—what still needs to be accomplished for the good of Ģ����Ƶ’s schoolchildren and families.

The Ģ����Ƶ Center for Opportunity team serves as an important source of information to lawmakers on the impact new laws can have on communities around Ģ����Ƶ, particularly the poor and underrepresented.

School literacy bills

A bright spot in the 2023 legislative session was the passage of two literacy bills that will improve reading and writing skills among Ģ����Ƶ’s kids. According to the Ģ����Ƶ Department of Education, only 64% of Ģ����Ƶ’s third-graders read at or above grade level. These bills will pave the way for our children to enjoy greater literacy, which will impact their educational and professional future.

Here is more about the two bills:

House Bill 538: The requires the state Board of Education to “approve high-quality instructional materials to be used for teaching students in kindergarten through third grade.” This will give Ģ����Ƶ an opportunity to raise the bar on literacy education for public school students in every community.��

Senate Bill 211: This legislation establishes the Ģ����Ƶ Council on Literacy. The Council will work with local school systems to develop a five-year plan to improve reading and writing among Ģ����Ƶ’s students. Coupled with state-approved instructional materials, we have renewed hope for seeing significant improvements in literacy over the next few years.

School safety

The next bill passage regards school safety, which is always an incredibly important topic, but which has received heightened attention in recent months. Here’s a look at the coming changes.

• • House Bill 147: The Safe Schools Act requires local school districts to develop safety plans and submit those plans to the Ģ����Ƶ Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency (GEMA/HS). Because of the heightened threats on schools these days, having districts work with the experts at GEMA/HS will increase the safety of our children.

��It’s important to act quickly, and act together, for the benefit of our kids.

��It’s important to act quickly, and act together, for the benefit of our kids.

School accreditation

Finally, let’s go over the school accreditation bill that passed during this year’s session.��

• • Senate Bill 204: This legislation puts parameters on what K-12 school accreditation organizations can consider when they evaluate school districts. The bill is designed to address concerns that these organizations were limiting local elected school boards’ important discussions and debates.

Bad news from the 2023 Ģ����Ƶ legislative session

Now for the bad news. Despite passing in the Senate and making significant gains in the House, the Promise Scholarship bill (SB 233) didn’t get enough votes to pass on the last day of session. This delay has forced 500,000+ kids in failing public schools to wait yet another year for this critical education option.

Ģ����Ƶ’s General Assembly missed opportunities to adopt three other good education reforms. We’ll address each, but first, we’ll cover what happened to SB 233.��

What happened to promise scholarships?

The, SB 233, would have given parents $6,500 per year, per student to find the right education options for their kids. This would have opened up many non-traditional options, including private school, for families who want alternatives to the public school route. Eligibility would have been narrowed to around 400,000 kids stuck in the bottom 25% of public schools, based on the Ģ����Ƶ Department of Education’s evaluation.

• • The Promise Scholarship bill passed the Senate with unanimous support from Republican senators but, sadly, received no support from Democratic senators. It went all the way to the House of Representatives for a vote. The fact that the bill made it that far in the legislative process is good news.

• • On the last day of session, SB 233 received 85 votes in the House—six votes short of the 91 needed for passage. Sixteen Republican representatives voted against the bill. All but one Democratic representative voted against SB 233: the brave Rep. Mesha Mainor (Atlanta), who voted for the bill on behalf of her constituents’ interests.

• • Thankfully, SB 233 is still on the table for the 2024 legislative session. In the meantime, Ģ����Ƶ students stuck in underperforming schools will be forced to wait another year for this education option to be considered.

The ugly: Public school transfers, charter school management, and tax credit scholarships

As promised, let’s look at three other important opportunities the Ģ����Ƶ Legislature missed during the 2023 session. None of the following bills gained the traction they needed, depriving Ģ����Ƶ families and children of important or increased educational opportunities for at least one more year.��

• • Senate Bill 147 would have allowed students to transfer to attend better public schools, even if it was in a different school district. Other states like Arizona, Florida, and Indiana have seen success with similar laws. The bill never gained any traction, but can be considered again next year.
• • House Bill 318 would have streamlined the oversight of state- and locally-authorized charter schools. The bill passed the House and Senate with bipartisan support, but late amendments to the bill delayed the process. The Legislature adjourned for the session without the opportunity to agree to the Senate changes.

• • House Bill 54 would have increased the cap on Ģ����Ƶ’s Tax Credit Scholarship program from $120 million to $130 million. After going through changes in the House, the bill passed that chamber and moved on to the Senate. In a raucous Senate Committee meeting, the Tax Credit Scholarship portion of the bill was amended several times with unfriendly amendments, and ultimately, the bill died. Fortunately, the program is still operating under the existing cap of $120 million, giving Student Scholarship Organizations the opportunity to continue serving many Ģ����Ƶ students.

Looking toward 2024

While Ģ����Ƶ made important strides forward in school literacy, safety, and accreditation for 2023, there’s still much to be desired when it comes to opportunities for students and their families. It’s our mission to continue championing the value of bills like SB 233. Putting school funding into the hands of parents who wish to depart from the state’s status quo only makes sense; families’ tax dollars should support whatever educational path they choose.��

Likewise, school choice and tax credit scholarships should be open to a wider demographic of families statewide. It’s important to act quickly, and act together, for the benefit of our kids. As we look forward to the next legislative session, we’ll do everything we can to champion positive change.

The post Education successes from the 2023 Ģ����Ƶ legislative session appeared first on For Opportunity.

Late on the evening of August 3rd, 2021, the Centers for Disease Control announced it was extending its eviction moratorium for people in an area of “substantial and high transmission” of the COVID-19 virus. This was followed up by the astounding statement by President Biden that he suspected any attempt to extend the moratorium would be legally doomed even as his administration celebrated the CDC action. Nevertheless, government attorneys argued this was not an extension but rather a new order that would not be set aside by the courts.��

The Supreme Court recently ruled the original policy illegal, but allowed the original deadline of July 31st to stand to give Congress a chance to act prior to the expiration of the order, if it chose to do so. In keeping with the dysfunction we’ve seen in Congress, no legislation was passed, the moratorium expired, and the House of Representatives left town.��

Setting aside the legal questions surrounding the CDC’s eviction moratorium, many people across the nation are facing eviction now and will be again in 60 days when the moratorium expires. The Household Pulse Survey indicates 52,167 Ģ����Ƶns say they are very likely to be evicted and 155,302 say they are somewhat likely. These renters are overwhelmingly African-American and many of these families have children. Should all or most of these folks be evicted, it would be an unimaginable tragedy.

Despite $46.6 billion in federal passed into law last December and March,�� relatively little money has made it into the hands of people who need it. According to a from the U.S. Treasury, nationally only $1.5 billion was delivered to eligible households in June, which exceeded the amount delivered “for all three previous reporting periods combined.” That’s a paltry 3.2% of the funds distributed in six months.

The situation in Ģ����Ƶ is not much better, :“As of July 20, only about 6% of the $710 million that Ģ����Ƶ and select local governments received in federal aid had gone to households at risk of eviction or behind on rent.”

��The U.S. Treasury is relying on state and local housing assistance agencies to reach the people in need. According to a by the National Low Income Housing Coalition, there are 484 state and local programs charged with determining eligibility and dispensing the benefits nationwide.

The Treasury fanned out responsibility to counties and cities with populations over 200,000 plus state governments. Each governmental unit set up their own system for administering the program funds, which can be by the state agencies or county governments themselves, or through public housing authorities or non-profits charitable organizations.

In Ģ����Ƶ, for example, responsibility fell to 13 governmental units: Atlanta City, Augusta-Richmond County Consolidated Government, Chatham County, Cherokee County, Clayton County, Cobb County, DeKalb County, Forsyth County, Fulton County, Gwinnett County, Hall County, Henry County, and the State Department of Community Affairs.��

These governmental units structured their responses differently, creating new administrative structures or funneling the money through non-profits that were quickly overwhelmed. Many people report complicated paperwork and some landlords have refused to take partial payments on back due rent.

It appears unlikely the situation for tenants will improve much before the extended eviction moratorium expires in 60 days. And we haven’t touched on the millions of small landlords who are behind on mortgage payments, taxes, and other liabilities. Sadly, this situation has the markings of a slow-moving economic and humanitarian disaster.

What can be done?��

For the long term, the solution is clear. The entire fiasco could have been avoided if our vision of a fully integrated eligibility system were in place. Ģ����Ƶ is partially there with the Ģ����Ƶ Gateway that coordinates applications for food stamps, Medical assistance, child care, and two other programs. Rental assistance also needs to be part of the Gateway.

Moving forward, Ģ����Ƶ should continue to add additional safety net programs to its Gateway unified eligibility system. Federal housing programs are not currently part of the system. Adding these programs would allow for a much swifter determination of eligibility and distribution of emergency money in times like these.��

Clearly, governments must speed up the distribution of aid money to tenants and landlords. Governments can also extend the same grace to landlords they are demanding landlords extend to tenants. Additionally, Congress should resist the urge to extend enhanced unemployment benefits and remove other disincentives to work such as the exacerbated benefit cliffs found in the emergency SNAP benefits. The problem of looming evictions will only continue to grow until more people return to work and are able to pay rent on their own.��

The post Eviction Moratorium Expired and the House of Representatives Left Town. What now? appeared first on For Opportunity.

Part 1

By Erik Randolph

The monthly spending for food stamp benefits in Ģ����Ƶ nearly doubled since before the start of the pandemic. Surprisingly, only 45.3 percent of the increased spending is due to increased participation. The remaining 54.7 percent is due to enhanced benefits.

Congress Makes a New Food Stamp Rule

On March 18th, the U.S. Senate passed that the U.S. House of Representative passed just four days prior. President Donald J. Trump signed the bill that same day, making the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (P.L. 116-127) the second federal law to address the looming pandemic.��

The food stamp provisions in the law suspended work and work-training requirements and allowed states to request waivers to give recipients the maximum allotment for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the official name of the food stamp program.��

Along with all other states, Ģ����Ƶ requested and received a pandemic-SNAP waiver—P-SNAP for short. P-SNAP lasts as long as there is a declared health emergency by the Secretary of Health and Human Services, and the waivers are renewed on a monthly basis.

Here is what it means in practice: Currently, all households of the same size receive the exact same food stamp allotment. An eligible single mom with one child receives $374 a month in food stamp benefits, the same amount as every other eligible two-person household in Ģ����Ƶ, no matter what income the household earns. It does not matter if the single mom has no income or makes $22,400 annually, which is just below the gross income limit. She still receives $374 each month in benefits.��

Likewise, an eligible four-person household currently receives $680 each month no matter if the household has no income or $34,000 in income, which is also just below the gross income limit.

During normal times, DFCS calculates net income of the household by subtracting several deductions and allowances from a household’s gross income. Then, to determine the amount of the benefit, DFCS subtracts 30 percent of the calculated net income from the maximum allotment.��

Benefits and Costs��

The number of Ģ����Ƶ households participating in the food stamp program was 626,808 in February 2020. As of September, that total was 905,949 households—a 44.5 percent increase. The number of persons participating increased from 1,342,624 to 1,862,486 for a 38.7 percent increase.��

The regular issuance of food stamp benefits followed the increase in household participation. It increased from $163,247,601 to $236,170,166—a 44.7 percent increase. Although the average fluctuated as much as $10.58 on a month-to-month basis, the average household benefit was $260.44 in February compared to $260.69 in September, which are almost identical.��

However, P-SNAP enhanced the size of the payments to the participants. When combined with the regular issuance, the total benefits in September were $324,169,118 for a 98.6 percent increase, increasing the average household benefit to $357.82. Note that these numbers do not include $100,385,379 for free and reduced price school lunches in September that were funneled through the Electronic Benefit Transfer cards that are used to issue the food stamp benefits.��

Was this the Best Way to Do it?

Note that Congress did not allow the states to expand the number of participants beyond the normal eligibility criteria for the program. The P-SNAP benefits of $581,085,040 spent since March were spent on those who would have normally qualified for the benefits.

Consequently, the households who benefited the most from the extra funding were those households with the higher incomes just under the eligibility limits. My next blog will show in greater detail how P-SNAP caused the welfare cliff to jump in magnitude.

In the meantime, if you have an opinion on whether this was a fair way to allocate extra funding for food stamps, be sure to let us know in the comments below.

Check Out Part 2

Erik Randolph is Director of Research at the Ģ����Ƶ Center for Opportunity. This blog reflects his opinion and not necessarily that of the Ģ����Ƶ Center for Opportunity.

The post The Pandemic Doubles the Food Stamp Program Part 1 appeared first on For Opportunity.