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 Reports Stephen Owens State of Education Funding (2022) January 6, 2022 / January 5, 2022 by Stephen Owens This report offers an assessment of the state of education funding in Georgia by analyzing how it compares to prior years and other states and exploring what areas are due for review or revision. In the Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 budget, Georgia continued a pattern of cutting education and underfunding specific grants for the state’s […] Read more » Budget k-12 education school budget
Blog Crystal Munoz Federal Policy Health Justice Inclusive Economy for Immigrants Worker Justice Over-Represented Among the Vulnerable, Under-Protected In the Pandemic: Georgia Immigrants Deserve Better December 17, 2021 / December 17, 2021 by Crystal Muñoz As the pandemic continues, one glaring outcome has been increased disparities between certain groups. During the beginning of the pandemic and the immunization stage, numbers and percentages of those infected and vaccinated gave us a clear indication that this pandemic was disproportionately affecting some more than others. One group that has been disproportionately and negatively […] Read more » Build Back Better covid five-year waiting period immigration pandemic vaccine
Criminal Legal System Reform Ray Khalfani Reports Unjust Revenue from an Imbalanced Criminal Legal System: How Georgia’s Fines and Fees Worsen Racial Inequity December 16, 2021 / December 17, 2021 by Ray Khalfani Key Takeaways: Georgia’s poor governance of fines and fees revenue practices has allowed many economically underperforming localities to over-rely on fines and fees revenue, significantly contributing to Georgia having the highest probation rate in the country. Of the more than 430,000 Georgians who were on probation in 2018, nearly 40 percent of them were on […] Read more » Criminal Legal Systems driver's licenses fees fines revenue
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 2022 Policy Priorities December 13, 2021 / January 7, 2022 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 2022. Many are part of our People-Powered Prosperity campaign. For more insights throughout session, be sure to follow @GaBudget on Twitter or georgiabudget on Instagram […] Read more »
Blog Cash and Safety Net Ife Finch Floyd Georgia Can Afford to Begin to Modernize TANF and Move Past Its Racist Legacy December 10, 2021 / February 9, 2022 by Ife Finch Floyd Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), the cash assistance program to families with children and with very low incomes, should help stabilize any family, Black, Brown or white, when they experience a life challenge like a job loss. Yet TANF was built on racist narratives and policies that have kept it from being the program […] Read more » cash assistance Economic Security Safety Net TANF
Blog Dominique Derbigny Sims Worker Justice Unequal Recovery: How the COVID-19 Pandemic has Impacted Economic Security for Black Women and Latinas November 18, 2021 / April 25, 2023 by Dominique Derbigny Sims | 1 Comment on Unequal Recovery: How the COVID-19 Pandemic has Impacted Economic Security for Black Women and Latinas Nearly two years into a global public health crisis, most people are experiencing some degree of pandemic burnout, but COVID-19 and its ensuing economic effects have not impacted everyone equally. People who were systematically marginalized before the pandemic are bearing the brunt of its devastation, especially women of color with low incomes. Although Black women […] Read more » COVID-19 Economic Security racial equity women
Higher Education Jennifer Lee Reports A Need-Based Financial Aid Program for Georgia November 2, 2021 / November 3, 2021 by Jennifer Lee Key Takeaways Georgia can raise educational achievement through a need-based grant for college students, which it currently lacks. Policymakers can structure the grant to target more dollars towards students with financial need, promote racial/ethnic equity and raise graduation rates. The state has substantial lottery reserves and funds available to dedicate to need-based […] Read more » Higher Education need-based aid
Blog Crystal Munoz Federal Policy Inclusive Economy for Immigrants New Administration, New(ish) Immigration Rules: Policy Continuity and Change Under President Biden and the Experience of Georgia Communities October 22, 2021 / October 25, 2021 by Crystal Muñoz Key Takeaways Georgia has 18,000 DACA recipients. These recipients rely on DACA to be able to work and live without having to worry about the threat of deportation. As DACA continues to play out in the courts, thousands are left in limbo with no permanent solution. Migrant Protection Protocol was used to stop thousands of […] Read more »
Blog Cash and Safety Net Federal Policy Advancing Equity: Ensuring Immigrant Families Can Access the Expanded Child Tax Credit October 13, 2021 / October 14, 2021 by Ife Finch Floyd Key takeaways: The Child Tax Credit has the power to significantly reduce the racial and ethnic disparities in child poverty in Georgia, but more needs to be done to ensure immigrant families have access to the program in the near and long term. Families with very low income who do not have to file taxes […] Read more »
