Claire Suggs K-12 Education Reports Shifting Public Funds to Private Schools: High Costs, Poor Track Record April 26, 2018 / January 14, 2020 by Claire Suggs Georgia lawmakers created multiple pathways to shift public funds to private schools in recent years. These schemes risk reducing money available to invest in public schools and critical state services including early learning, higher education, and community health. Little is known about the academic outcomes of Georgia students participating in these programs or the private […] Read more » 529 plans Claire Suggs Education K-12 private schools public-schools school vouchers student scholarship organizations tax credit
GBPI In The News Bus funding remains a challenge for schools even with more state money April 10, 2018 / January 14, 2020 by GBPI Admin State lawmakers allocated $15 million to upgrade aging school bus fleets in public school districts across Georgia when it passed its 2019 fiscal year budget last month, but the money is not nearly enough to serve the needs of the Hall County and Gainesville school systems. “While I am always thankful for any funding, the […] Read more » Claire Suggs Education K-12
Blog GBPI In The News Legislative budget vote includes full funding for Georgia schools March 29, 2018 / January 14, 2020 by GBPI Admin Lawmakers will vote Thursday on Gov. Nathan Deal’s budget proposal for fiscal year 2019. The governor surprised a lot of people Tuesday when he revealed plans to fully fund the state’s K-12 education formula. More than a decade ago, the state enacted so-called “austerity cuts” to education. Deal has added money to the Quality Basic […] Read more » Claire Suggs Education K-12
GBPI In The News Deal comes up with money to fully fund Georgia k-12 schools next year March 28, 2018 / January 14, 2020 by GBPI Admin With Georgia’s economy continuing to grow, Gov. Nathan Deal increased his projection of how much tax money the state will take in next year, allowing lawmakers to fully fund the k-12 school funding formula after more than a decade of cutbacks. State House Appropriations Chairman Terry England, R-Auburn, made the announcement Tuesday as House and Senate […] Read more » Claire Suggs K-12 State Budget
Claire Suggs K-12 Education Reports Private School Savings Accounts Lack Oversight, Could Prove Costly February 22, 2018 / January 14, 2020 by Claire Suggs Bill Analysis: House Bill 482 (LC 33 7253S) Georgia lawmakers are considering a plan to allow parents to take state money to pay for private schools and educational services. House Bill 482 creates an individual Education Savings Account, or ESA, program. The program would allow parents to redirect state money to pay for tuition and […] Read more » Claire Suggs Education Education Savings Account ESA HB 482 K-12 private schools
Claire Suggs K-12 Education Reports Shrinking State Funds Trigger Student Bus Safety Concerns February 12, 2018 / January 14, 2020 by Claire Suggs Shrinking state funding for student transportation and rising costs are making it more difficult for school districts across Georgia to get children to and from school safely. The worsening financial pinch leaves districts with aging bus fleets on the road past their intended life, concerns about student safety and far fewer dollars to invest in […] Read more » Budget bus Claire Suggs Education K-12 Transportation
Claire Suggs K-12 Education Reports Overview: 2019 Fiscal Year Budget for K-12 Education February 5, 2018 / January 14, 2020 by Claire Suggs Gov. Nathan Deal’s budget proposal for fiscal year 2019 provides nearly $9.8 billion to educate Georgia’s 1.7 million public school students, a boost of nearly $353 million over current funding. Most of the increase goes to student enrollment growth, routine adjustments in teachers’ salaries, and the Teachers Retirement System of Georgia. Districts will continue to […] Read more » Claire Suggs Education Georgia Department of Education K-12 State Budget teachers Teachers Retirement System of Georgia
GBPI In The News Report links poverty to school performance in Georgia January 7, 2018 / March 5, 2021 by GBPI Admin Some 70 percent of Georgia school district leaders say poverty is the most significant out-of-school issue that limits student learning, according to a recent report from the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute. That’s a view shared by local school leaders. Read the full article on The Gainesville Times. Read more » Claire Suggs Education K-12
GBPI In The News Most Georgia schools graded D or F by the state serve low-income kids December 5, 2017 / January 14, 2020 by GBPI Admin In its new analysis of the grades awarded to schools by the Governor’s Office of Student Achievement, the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute found most schools where at least half of students are low-income earned a D or F, including 99 percent of extreme-poverty schools. (The institute defined extreme poverty as 75 percent or more of students coming from […] Read more » Claire Suggs Education K-12
Claire Suggs K-12 Education Reports Tackle Poverty’s Effects to Improve School Performance December 4, 2017 / March 18, 2021 by Claire Suggs | 1 Comment on Tackle Poverty’s Effects to Improve School Performance Seventy percent of Georgia school district leaders say poverty is the most significant out-of-school issue that limits student learning. That key finding in a new Georgia Budget and Policy Institute survey reinforces an analysis of the grades issued to schools in 2016 that reveals a tight connection between whether a school sits in a high-poverty […] Read more » Claire Suggs Education K-12 poverty schools teachers
