NEWS & OPINIONS
Will Georgia become the seventh state to pass Education Savings Accounts?
On Monday, lawmakers in the Georgia House Ways and Means Committee overwhelmingly passed House Bill 482, a measure that would make Education Savings Accounts (ESAs) a reality in the Peach State. Representatives Paul Battles (R- Cartersville), Allen Peake (R- Macon),...
A “bullet-proof” school choice bill
Georgia lawmakers are poised to consider several bills that would make education savings accounts (ESAs) a reality for students in our state. ESAs empower families with the option of leaving their local public school and choosing an educational option that better fits...
Another study confirms Georgians want more choice in education
As lawmakers prepare to head back to the Capitol in January, Georgians have now received a glimpse of some issues that might move the needle in the 2018 election cycle. A new study released by the Georgia College Department of Government and Sociology finds that...
Georgia’s 3 largest counties show need for the Success Sequence
Georgia Center for Opportunity focuses policy reform efforts around the success sequence. Research shows that those who graduate from high school, get a job, get married, and have kids (in that order) are less likely to end up in poverty. In fact, only 2 percent who...
SOLD OUT!
Studies show that couples who spend quality time together stay together. That’s why 75 couples in the Norcross and Peachtree Corners area have decided to take an evening to invest in their relationship by attending the Healthy Family Initiative’s date night event,...
Advocating for innovation, Steve Jobs championed school choice
Earlier this month, Apple made waves by introducing the iPhone 10. Since being unveiled, the updated smartphone and several other new products have received praise as the latest credit to Steve Jobs’ tech legacy. Years following his death, Americans still remember the...
Getting non-working men working again in Georgia
In the coming decades, could so-called “middle skills” jobs be a key factor in reversing the contemporary epidemic of non-working males in the U.S.? There is reason to hope the answer is a resounding yes. A phenomenon thoroughly documented by the American Enterprise...
GCO’s Healthy Families Initiative announces #FatherhoodFriday: Celebrating the joy of being a dad
Being a dad is one of the greatest challenges in life, but it often gets overlooked. Though the everyday joys of being a father are overshadowed in pop culture by fast-paced news and Hollywood gossip, that doesn't mean celebrity dads aren't talking about how their...
Could charter schools improve the performance of surrounding schools?
Advocates for school choice have long argued that charters encourage higher performance among all public schools. But is it possible that local students could benefit from the presence of a charter school even if they never go to school there? According to a...
Report: A declining birth rate could spell trouble for the economy
When the great recession hit in 2007, economists weren't surprised to find that young couples held off on starting families. However, ten years later, they've found that the birth rate hasn't yet bounced back. Now, some experts fear that fewer babies could equal...
You can’t fix the past, you can improve the future
John F. Kennedy once stated “Children are the world’s most valuable resource and its best hope for the future.” But according to a new study by the Annie E. Casey Foundation called 2017 Kids Count Data Book, the future for Georgia’s children appears dismal.
Freakonomics: ‘Poverty and family structure are intertwined’
Freakonomics is the popular podcast that aims to expose the "hidden side of everything" by applying economics research to everyday realities. In a recent episode, they sought to understand why marriage is on the decline. Their conclusion was staggering: there is a...
MEDIA MENTIONS
3 Ways to be an Informed Voter This November
Walking into a polling booth and thinking, “Who is this guy??” could be the scariest thing you do this fall. With major state and national seats on the line, thoroughly researching candidates and their platform is a vital first step in selecting effective leadership...
Fellowship Friday: Team Retreat at City of Refuge
Meeting people “where they are” is foundational to Georgia Center for Opportunity's (GCO) mission to serve the community and remove barriers to opportunity. As part of this mission, GCO team members recently participated in a unique weekend retreat at City of Refuge...
Make a Donation by August 31st and Double Your Impact
A word from our CEO, Randy Hicks Election years get noisy, don’t they? Perhaps it’s just me, but they actually seem to be getting noisier with every election cycle. On the brighter side, election years always remind me of why the Georgia Center for Opportunity’s...
Beyond Inspiration: Incubating Good Ideas
Recently, I had the privilege of attending an inspiring seminar sponsored by Chick-fil-A Foundation and Gifted Education Foundation (a GCO partner), entitled “Beyond Inspiration: Moving Ideas to Execution”. As I walked into the Chick-fil-A Discovery Center to find my...
2013: A LOOK BACK … A LOOK AHEAD
Thanks to your support, Georgia Center for Opportunity is making significant progress in removing barriers to opportunity through Research & Development, Policy Advancement and Delivery. Please review highlights from 2013 and preview our work for 2014. RESEARCH...
GCO Testifies Before Governor’s Criminal Justice Reform Council
The Governor’s Special Council on Criminal Justice Reform invited organizations from across the state to present recommendations for improving ex-offender outcomes at the Department of Corrections Headquarters in Forsyth, Georgia, Tuesday, November 26. Eric Cochling,...