Category: Learning the Basics

Resources on Need-Based Aid

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

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Retirement in Georgia’s Public Schools

 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

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2021 Fast Facts on HOPE

  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

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Casino Gambling is Wrong for Georgia

    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

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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

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Fast Facts on HOPE – 2020

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

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Fast Facts on Student Access Loans

    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

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Family walking outside

TANF Funding and COVID-19: A Critical Opportunity

  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.

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Student working on test

What Are School Vouchers?

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

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