NEWS & OPINIONS
The GCO 2022 year in review
Curious about our projects. progress, and achievements over the past year? The Georgia Center for Opportunity 2022 Annual Report is now available online. This year-in-review consolidates the most crucial information about where we’ve been and where we’re headed, all...
Arkansas creates educational opportunity. It’s time for Georgia to step up
Arkansas recently joined a growing list of states that have approved Education Scholarship Accounts, empowering parents to make the best decisions for their child’s unique educational needs.
Let’s transform parenting in Georgia! Recapping the Raising Highly Capable Kids kickoff event
Key Points Positive relationships impact the opportunities and potential future for every child. GCO is partnering with RezilientKids to bring the evidence-based program, Raising Highly Capable Kids to the Gwinnett area. GCO is recruiting partners who are willing to...
The Georgia Promise Scholarship (SB 233): Questions and Answers
Key Points The Georgia Promise Scholarship (Senate Bill 233) is the state's newest education choice program to empower parents to access the best schooling option for their child. It creates state-funded scholarships that give eligible families $6,500 per student for...
Georgia is one of the top states for economic freedom
Key Points Georgia continues to be one of the most business friendly states. Georgia did not impose strict lockdowns during the pandemic. We believe that when the government refrains from heavy-handed intervention in the economy, everything from community life to...
We’re helping the water industry over the next five years
Key Points BETTER WORK Gwinnett and The Water Tower are partnering to expand water industry job training to high school students and young adults. The water industry will need to fill 1200 positions over the next five years. Without skilled water workers our...
Opinion: Increase choice as public schools can’t meet all kids’ needs
OpEd Written by Corey Burres, VP of Communication Unedited Title: Public Schools Are At the Heart of School Choice As states like Utah and Iowa pass sweeping school choice legislation, it is important to understand no one is trying to defund public schools. The...
7 African-Americans Who Fought for Educational Opportunity
Key Points Access to quality education is a top conversation in Georgia and many other states and has been for decades. Stories of black educators offer inspiration for continuing to pursue better education opportunities for every kid. The examples set by African...
New survey shows spike in misbehavior among K-12 students
Key Points A new survey puts forward more evidence of increased social and behavioral problems among students in K-12 public schools arising from the pandemic. Georgia parents need more education options for their children. GCO is working to bring a new curriculum,...
Announcing the Raising Highly Capable Kids program in Georgia
Key Points Georgia Center for Opportunity has partnered with a national nonprofit, RezilientKidz, to present the Raising Highly Capable Kids parenting program to adults across Georgia. Raising Highly Capable Kids is a 13-week evidence-based parenting program...
5 Reasons Why It’s a Good Idea to Expand Georgia’s Tax Credit Scholarship
Lawmakers are considering a 2024 bill that would raise the cap of Georgia’s Tax Credit Scholarship program to $200 million, allowing it to meet the growing demand from parents and communities who want to invest in our students’ futures.
Now is the time to expand educational freedom in Georgia
Key Points Georgia's recent growth could be halted because it's falling behind other states who are increasingly offering families more and more choices in K-12 education. Georgia lawmakers have another chance this year at passing ESAs. Georgia’s public schools are...
MEDIA MENTIONS
Benefits Cliffs in the Aggregate: Consequences for Welfare and Business Cycles
Benefits cliffs - sudden decreases in public benefits that may occur with a small increase in earnings - may inhibit upward mobility. I study the effect of a multitude of cliffs across the universe of benefit programs in nine southern US states on intensive-margin...
Opinion: New Missouri law will help residents escape safety-net cliffs
This new law will help more Missourians escape from an entrapping safety-net system and experience the dignity and opportunity of work.
Group offers recommendations to address Atlanta’s spike in violent crime
A Georgia public policy group has released a report offering suggestions on mitigating Atlanta’s uptick in violent crime. The Georgia Center for Opportunity suggests the city focus on disrepair by expanding cleanup efforts, addressing abandoned buildings and...
Steve Gruber Show: Josh Crawford, NEW Landmark Study on Reducing Crime
September 20, 2023 Josh Crawford is an attorney, criminologist and a director at the Georgia Center for Opportunity. NEW Landmark Study on Reducing Crime Listen to the interview
The Shelley Wynter Show Special guest Josh Crawford
Listen to the Shelley Wynter Show, September 18, 2023, for a thought-provoking and crucial discussion on the pressing issue of rising crime in our cities, public safety, and effective public policy solutions. We are thrilled to have our own Josh Crawford as a special...
Lilly grant will bring the Parents First Initiative to Lawrenceville, enabling families to thrive
Lawrenceville, Ga. - Lilly Endowment Inc. has awarded an endowment grant to Lawrenceville First United Methodist Church. The grant will enable the church to facilitate the Raising Highly Capable Kids parenting program — called the Parents First Initiative — across the...
New report seeks to ease spike in Atlanta crime, restore community safety
The Georgia Center for Opportunity is releasing a new report on violent crime in Atlanta, which highlights the city’s recent spike in violent crime and how to mitigate it. Josh Crawford, Director of Criminal Justice Initiatives at GCO, developed the report, along with...
The Steve Gruber Show: Joshua Crawford, Homicides Are on the Decline—Except Where Progressives Reign Supreme on Apple Podcasts
Dive into the latest episode of 'Criminal Insights' with guest Joshua Crawford, Director of Criminal Justice Initiatives at the Georgia Center for Opportunity. Explore the surprising correlation between declining homicides and progressive policies, as Josh uncovers...