Ensure the State Educates All Georgians

The Georgia Constitution states, “The provision of an adequate public education for the citizens shall be a primary obligation of the State of Georgia. Public education for the citizens prior to the college or postsecondary level shall be free and shall be provided for by taxation.” Funding public education is critical. Policies like voucher programs and caps on property tax assessments add pressure to reduce K-12 school funding and harm the state’s ability to fulfill its obligation to students. Alternatively, policies like an opportunity weight, need-based aid, and in-state tuition for all Georgia high school graduates can increase  access to education. To help ensure education for every Georgian, GBPI is prioritizing the following policies:  

• Invest in Georgia’s future by creating and funding an Opportunity Weight that provides additional public money to educate K-12 students living in poverty.   
• Curtail efforts to divert state dollars away from public schools through voucher programs like the Georgia Promise Scholarship. 
• Build upon progress made with college completion grants, and continue to expand comprehensive need-based financial aid in Georgia, reducing racial, ethnic, and income disparities. 
• Support tuition equity legislation that provides in-state tuition to foreign-born Georgia high school graduates.