Blog Higher Education Jennifer Lee People Powered Prosperity 4 Ways Georgia Lawmakers Can Make College More Affordable in 2021 January 11, 2021 / January 11, 2021 by Jennifer Lee As Georgia begins a new year and legislative session, the state has an opportunity to accelerate equitable economic growth by focusing its financial aid resources on those who will most benefit. The pandemic-induced recession illustrates how Georgians without degrees are most vulnerable, with unemployment rates for individuals with a high school education only (37 percent […] Read more » Higher Education Lottery need-based aid People-Powered Prosperity scholarship Student Loans
Blog Budget and Taxes Cash and Safety Net Coronavirus Health Justice Higher Education Inclusive Economy for Immigrants K-12 Education Taifa Smith Butler Worker Justice To A Healthy, Prosperous New Year December 31, 2020 / December 31, 2020 by Taifa Smith Butler Today marks the end of 2020, and I know we all are breathing a sigh of relief as 2021 is a sunrise away. As I reflect on this past year and everything that has tested us, feelings of fear, loss and pain are inescapable. The pandemic brought existential challenges for our world and we felt […] Read more »
Blog Budget and Taxes Cash and Safety Net Community Impact Health Justice Higher Education Inclusive Economy for Immigrants K-12 Education People Powered Prosperity Worker Justice 2021 Policy Priorities December 2, 2020 / January 7, 2021 by Caitlin Highland The Georgia Budget and Policy Institute’s goal is to shine a light on people-first policies that help all Georgians share in the state’s prosperity. These are the policy priorities GBPI will track during 2021. Many are part of our People-Powered Prosperity campaign. For more insights throughout session, be sure to follow @GaBudget on Twitter and sign up for our newsletter. […] Read more »
Higher Education Jennifer Lee Reports How Student Debt Worsens Racial Inequality November 18, 2020 / October 13, 2026 by Jennifer Lee Download PDF Higher education is a pathway to greater financial security and prosperity. The pandemic-induced recession illustrates how Georgians without degrees are most vulnerable during economic downturns, with unemployment rates for individuals with a high school education only—37 percent of adult Georgians—consistently double that of those with a college degree.[1],[2] Many jobs lost […] Read more » Education Higher Education student debt Student Loans
Higher Education Jennifer Lee People Powered Prosperity Reports Scholarships are a Better Way to Use Lottery Dollars Than Student Loans October 14, 2020 / October 13, 2026 by Jennifer Lee Download PDF As the country finds itself in another historic recession, Georgia faces an opportunity to focus state financial aid resources on an equitable economic recovery. A budget-neutral and effective option is to rework the state’s troubled lottery-funded Student Access Loan program to fund scholarships and grants that support degree completion. Georgia is […] Read more » Education Higher Education Lottery
Higher Education Jennifer Lee People Powered Prosperity Reports Uncategorized Moving HOPE Forward into the 21st Century September 14, 2020 / October 13, 2026 by Jennifer Lee Download PDF HOPE has made college more accessible and affordable for more almost two million college students since Georgia voters approved the creation of the lottery-funded HOPE Scholarships and Grants more than 25 years ago. Georgia needs to develop and harness all its people’s talents in order for the economy to recover and stay competitive. […] Read more » Financial Aid Higher Education HOPE HOPE Scholarship Zell Miller Zell Miller Scholarship Program
Budget Primer Higher Education Jennifer Lee K-12 Education Stephen Owens Georgia Education Budget Primer for State Fiscal Year 2021 August 10, 2020 / August 11, 2020 by Jennifer Lee Georgia’s 2021 Education Budget Georgia lawmakers cut $1 billion from the state’s budget for the Department of Education. The bulk of these cuts, totaling $950 million, will be passed on to 181 local K-12 school systems. State support for private school vouchers through tax credits and direct state funding face no budget cuts. Public school […] Read more » Budget Budget Cuts Education Higher Education HOPE Scholarship K-12
Fact Sheets Higher Education Jennifer Lee Learning the Basics Uncategorized Fast Facts on HOPE – 2020 July 29, 2020 / August 13, 2020 by Jennifer Lee HOPE At-a-Glance provides a quick and simple reference of the state’s six lottery-funded HOPE programs. HOPE provides grants and scholarships to students pursuing technical certificates and diplomas and associate and bachelor’s degrees. This downloadable, one-page fact sheet includes state budget information, eligibility requirements and number of students served. For more detailed information on HOPE, visit […] Read more » higher ed Higher Education HOPE Scholarship
Blog Budget and Taxes Cash and Safety Net Coronavirus Health Justice Higher Education K-12 Education People Powered Prosperity Taifa Smith Butler Worker Justice GBPI Writes Senator Perdue About the HEROES Act July 27, 2020 / November 17, 2020 by Taifa Smith Butler GBPI recently wrote the following letter to Senators Perdue and Loeffler asking them to support the HEROES act and aid Georgians in this difficult time. We need your help — please write our senators today asking them to help Georgians recover and thrive. July 24, 2020 Dear Senator Perdue: Georgians have been hit hard by the COVID-19 […] Read more »
Fact Sheets Higher Education Jennifer Lee Learning the Basics Fast Facts on Student Access Loans July 2, 2020 / October 13, 2026 by Jennifer Lee Download PDF Student Access Loans (SAL), or Low-Interest Loans, are student loans funded by lottery dollars. The program began in 2012. Before using SAL, student borrowers must first use all available federal, institutional and private scholarships and loans, as well as veterans’ educational benefits. Georgia’s Fiscal Year 2021 budget for student access loans […] Read more » Higher Education student access loans Student Loans
