NEWS & OPINIONS
Basic Income is the Wrong Solution for Atlanta’s Poor
To make a real difference in seeking innovative solutions to providing poverty relief, we must focus on giving those in need opportunity, not simply pity.
GCO launches anti-poverty policy site as part of Alliance for Opportunity project
Alliance for Opportunity announces new policy roadmap to reduce poverty The Georgia Center for Opportunity launched a resource that provides key policy recommendations for reducing the number of people in poverty as part of their newly formed Alliance for Opportunity...
GCO’s Take: The House Bill 999 “Georgia Educational Freedom Act”
GCO's Take: The House Bill 999 "Georgia Educational Freedom Act" The Georgia Center For Opportunity applauds the introduction of House Bill 999, the Georgia Educational Freedom Act. The legislation would create new Education Scholarship Accounts (ESAs) funded by the...
State Unemployment December 2021 Statistics
Today, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics announced state unemployment numbers from December 2021. The results put Georgia as 6th best in the nation for jobs recovered since the beginning of the pandemic. Utah, Idaho, Texas, and Arizona lead the pack, with Utah the...
School choice story: How Hudson’s life was transformed in a matter of months
Hudson's Story Hudson is the third born in a family of five boys. His mom, Kristen, shared that both she and her husband went to public schools and they support the local system. “We've always just said that we would send our kids to public school as long as there...
National School Choice Week
The Georgia Center For Opportunity is proud to acknowledge Jan. 23-29 as National School Choice Week in Georgia. More than 1,000 events are planned across the state to celebrate the blessing of educational options regardless of a family's income, zip code, or race....
Gov. Kemp Announces GEER II Funding to Support Education
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp has announced that $4.1 million in new federal GEERs funding will be allocated to "the creation and replication of 10 new, high-quality charter schools in underserved communities. The funds will be utilized for start-up costs, networking...
Georgia’s K-12 students fell months behind during remote learning. We need solutions now.
Georgia’s K-12 students fell months behind during remote learning. We need solutions now. Why it Matters: Students in Georgia are 4-6 months behind in learning Leaders have funding to support students and close the learning gap Parents voices need to be heard ...
Could inflation be a persistent problem for the foreseeable future?
The CPI is up over 7% over last 12 months Today, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics announced that in December the Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 0.5% on a seasonally adjusted basis. The CPI is up 7% over the last 12 months, not seasonally adjusted. That is the...
State can give parents options and support traditional public schools
Educational choice is saving the state money An updated analysis from EdChoice finds that Georgia's two educational choice programs—the Special Needs Scholarship Program and the Qualified Education Expense Tax credit—have saved Georgia taxpayers between $605 and...
Training Success at Open Door Community House
A focus on the contributions of the African American family BETTER WORK Columbus delivers Marketing Yourself training to clients of our non-profit partners upon request. This training gives students insight into the perspective of an employer and what matters to them...
My HOPE for individuals and families in 2022
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." — Margaret Mead As we reflect on 2021 and think about what we want for the new year ahead, I thought that it would be beneficial...
MEDIA MENTIONS
Basic Income is the Wrong Solution for Atlanta’s Poor
To make a real difference in seeking innovative solutions to providing poverty relief, we must focus on giving those in need opportunity, not simply pity.
The Importance of Building and Measuring Resilience in Our Community | SAPORTA REPORT
As we look back on the last two years, everyone has experienced challenges. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, the negative mental health effects of the COVID-19 pandemic will continue their impact through 2029. Families First knows the families we serve were...
A lighter government touch would have saved more Minnesota jobs during pandemic | Center Square
Less economic interference from Minnesota state government could have saved jobs during the COVID-19 pandemic, new research from the Georgia Center for Opportunity (GCO) suggests. The GCO measured the impact of each state’s actions on its respective economy in a...
Report: Iowa’s limited government interventions during COVID-19 pandemic reduced harm to economy | Longview News-Journal
Iowa’s comparatively limited response to the COVID-19 pandemic limited the blow to its economy, according to a new report from the Georgia Center for Opportunity (GCO). The GCO measured the impact of each state’s actions on its respective economy in a 510-page study,...
Study: Strict COVID measures hurt Washington state’s economy | KPVI
Washington state’s harsh measures to combat the COVID-19 pandemic had a negative impact in terms of job losses and recovery from those losses, according to a new report put out by the Georgia Center for Opportunity (GCO), without the hoped-for decline in...
New report details the economic devastation of COVID-19 shutdowns in the 50 states
GCO’s study compares each state’s response to the pandemic and measures the impact it had on local communities and their ability to work.
Can Cash Payments Help Atlanta’s Poor? | AJC
Almost three years ago, a simple yet radical experiment was begun in Stockton, Calif., based on an idea floated by the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. more than half a century ago. With no strings attached, 125 low-income residents were given $500 a month for two years....
School choice should be an easy choice | Gainesville Times
Schools are not one size fits all and school choice is a freedom that all should have. According to the Georgia Center for Opportunity, the goal of school choice is to ensure that all families have options when it comes to quality education for their child whether...
