Blog Higher Education Jennifer Lee Learning the Basics People Powered Prosperity Toolkits Resources on Need-Based Aid January 12, 2022 / March 3, 2022 by Jennifer Lee Current Status: Georgia is one of only two states that does not operate a need-based financial aid program. “Need-based” financial aid targets dollars based on a measure of a student’s financial need. In 2018, the Georgia Legislature passed House Bill 787 with a provision authorizing the Georgia Student Finance Commission to create the state’s first broad need-based […] Read more » college affordability Higher Education need-based aid student debt
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
Fact Sheets Higher Education Jennifer Lee Learning the Basics 2021 Fast Facts on HOPE July 19, 2021 / July 19, 2021 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, […] Read more » higher ed Higher Education HOPE Scholarship
Budget and Taxes Daniel Kanso, PhD Fact Sheets Higher Education Jennifer Lee Learning the Basics Casino Gambling is Wrong for Georgia February 5, 2021 / February 10, 2021 by Daniel Kanso, PhD Co-authored by Jennifer Lee, senior policy analyst for higher education Casino gambling is not a stable, adequate or fair source of revenue. In addition to being highly volatile, the legalization of casino gambling could cause significant harm to Georgians, including families and small business owners. Casino gambling risks influence from large out-of-state corporations […] Read more » casino gambling Lottery
Blog K-12 Education Learning the Basics People Powered Prosperity Stephen Owens Toolkits Resources on School Vouchers January 11, 2021 / February 11, 2022 by Stephen Owens | 1 Comment on Resources on School Vouchers Current Status: In the 2022 Legislative Session, lawmakers may consider House Bill 60 and House Bill 142, two bills that would enact or expand voucher programs to take hundreds of millions of dollars of state money away from public schools and send them to private schools. House Bill 60 and House Bill 142 did not […] Read more » education-savings-accounts ESA private schools public-schools vouchers
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
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
Alex Camardelle Cash and Safety Net Coronavirus Fact Sheets Learning the Basics People Powered Prosperity TANF Funding and COVID-19: A Critical Opportunity April 8, 2020 / October 13, 2026 by Alex Camardelle Download PDF Gap Between Black and white children The COVID-19 pandemic will have an outsized impact on Black Georgians, who are overrepresented in the low-wage workforce, so support for the safety net is critical for preventing the widening of racial disparities. Georgia’s harsh rules and disinvestment have impacted Black families, who, because slavery and […] Read more » coronavirus COVID-19 NSRT TANF
Coronavirus Fact Sheets Health Justice Laura Harker Learning the Basics People Powered Prosperity Georgia Seeks New Medicaid Changes in Response to COVID-19 April 2, 2020 / October 13, 2026 by Laura Harker Download PDF On March 28, 2020, the Georgia Department of Community Health submitted four plans to the federal government allowing the state to make temporary changes to Medicaid and PeachCare in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This downloadable, one-page fact sheet explains these key changes. Read more » coronavirus COVID-19 medicaid waivers
Fact Sheets K-12 Education Learning the Basics Stephen Owens Video What Are School Vouchers? February 12, 2020 / October 13, 2026 by Stephen Owens Download PDF Vouchers Overview Georgia legislators have debated educational vouchers since the 1950s.[1] A school voucher is an amount of money provided by the state government to parents for use for private educational programs, such as tuition at private schools. There are two basic ways the state can finance school vouchers. Tax-credit vouchers Taxpayers can […] Read more » Education K-12 school vouchers vouchers
