Fact Sheets K-12 Education Billions of Dollars Behind: District Facts Sheets Show Georgia Schools are Far from “Full Funding” September 21, 2021 / October 14, 2021 by Stephen Owens Over the last twenty years of public school funding in Georgia, the General Assembly has underfunded grants and avoided necessary improvements to the way schools are financed—all on top of cuts totaling $10 billion. The specific cuts (called “austerity cuts” or, more recently, “amended formula adjustment”) are damaging enough and can mask the other ways […] Read more » Budget Cuts Education K-12
Federal Policy Letter Urges Congress to Make Child Tax Credit Permanent September 14, 2021 / September 15, 2021 by Alex Welch Last month, GBPI joined more than 20 Georgia organizations in sending a letter to the state’s federal delegation urging them to make the CTC expansions permanent and fully inclusive in this next legislative package. Dear Georgia Federal Delegation, The expanded Child Tax Credit (CTC) in the American Rescue Plan will help all families succeed, providing […] Read more » Child Tax Credit Economic Security
Blog Ray Khalfani Worker Justice Risk without Reward: Georgia Workers Deserve Better September 2, 2021 / September 2, 2021 by Ray Khalfani Key Takeaways This Labor Day offers an opportunity to recalibrate our policy approach to better protect labor in our state while placing a mirror to reflect on the state’s harmful impulses to continue down a path of anti-labor policy choices. GBPI envisions Georgia policies that foster worker power–equitable working conditions, livable pay, adequate unemployment protections […] Read more » Economic Security Jobs Unemployment Insurance
Blog Higher Education Jennifer Lee How Federal Higher Education Proposals Affect Georgia September 1, 2021 / September 1, 2021 by Jennifer Lee Key Takeaways: Federal lawmakers face multiple opportunities to support college affordability and completion for Georgians. Increasing Pell Grants would provide an immediate financial boost to more than 280,000 college students in Georgia. Added funding for colleges and universities to support students complements increased financial aid. Georgia is home to 26 Historically Black Colleges and Universities […] Read more » Higher Education
K-12 Education Reports Stephen Owens Districts Turn to Federal Money to Fill Holes Made by the State: Results from GBPI’s 2021 School District Survey August 23, 2021 / August 25, 2021 by Stephen Owens This report was co-authored by Allie Schneider, Southern Education Foundation Policy Fellow Key Takeaways: 93 percent of surveyed districts reported planning to use federal relief funds to address budget shortfalls. School leaders have used Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES) I and II funds to update technology, fill budget gaps and […] Read more » COVID-19 Education K-12
Blog Inclusive Economy for Immigrants Immigrant-Inclusive Tax Credits Are More Important Than Ever August 10, 2021 / August 10, 2021 by Crystal Muñoz Key Takeaways The changes made to the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and the Child Tax Credit (CTC) under the American Rescue Plan (ARP) are targeted to help those with low and moderate incomes and have the potential to lift millions out of poverty. The EITC excludes Individual Tax Identification Number (ITIN) filers, and the […] Read more »
Federal Policy Health Justice K-12 Education Worker Justice New GBPI Poll Shows Georgians Want American Rescue Plan Dollars to Support Health, Economic Recovery, Education August 3, 2021 / October 4, 2021 by Caitlin Highland | 4 Comments on New GBPI Poll Shows Georgians Want American Rescue Plan Dollars to Support Health, Economic Recovery, Education Georgia will receive $4.9 billion in federal emergency relief and infrastructure funding as part of the American Rescue Plan (ARP). This money is meant to be used to support Georgians as they recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. State leaders are currently exploring the best ways to spend these funds. Targeted investments to bolster education outcomes, […] Read more » American Rescue Plan COVID-19 Economic Security Education health
K-12 Education Learning the Basics Stephen Owens Retirement in Georgia’s Public Schools August 2, 2021 / August 2, 2021 by Stephen Owens Overview The state of Georgia maintains two pension systems for employees in public schools: the Teachers Retirement System (TRS) and the Public School Employees Retirement System (PSERS). TRS members include full-time, certificated public teachers and school leaders. Once you retire, a formula dictates your monthly check based on your years of service and highest […] Read more » Education K-12 Teachers Retirement System of Georgia
Blog K-12 Education Stephen Owens Updated: Georgia Risks Losing Billions in Federal Funds for Public Schools July 29, 2021 / August 11, 2021 by Stephen Owens UPDATE: On 8/6/21 the U.S. Department of Education released updated guidance on the calculation for Maintenance of Equity requirements for the American Rescue Plan Act. Under this new determination for state expenditures, Georgia will likely not be found in violation of the provisions. Regardless of future action by the federal agency, Georgia’s public school system […] Read more » Education K-12
Budget and Taxes Coronavirus Fact Sheets Georgia Can Leverage $4.9 Billion in American Rescue Plan Funds to Jumpstart Recovery July 26, 2021 / July 30, 2021 by Alex Welch Georgia will receive $4.9 billion in federal emergency relief and infrastructure funding as part of the American Rescue Plan. This money is meant to be used to support Georgians as they recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. Gov. Brian Kemp is overseeing how the state will spend this money. State leaders should use the […] Read more » American Rescue Plan Budget Cuts EITC Medicaid Expansion
