Children across Georgia will soon be returning to school. Recently, however, “back to school” has begun to look a little different for a growing number of students. That is because the delivery of education across the country is evolving to meet changing needs. And Georgia lawmakers have already begun to respond to this change.
According to recent data from the Washington Post, homeschooling is the fastest growing educational sector in the country, and it’s not even close. Dating back to 2017, the nation saw a 51% rise in the number of homeschoolers. For comparison, during that same time, there was a 7% rise in the number of private school students and a 4% decrease in the number of public school students.
The dramatic increase in homeschool students, especially relative to private school enrollment, is telling of how perception of the traditional school model is changing. Typically when pundits and lawmakers talk about how the environment of education is changing, they refer (with either positive or negative connotations) to how students and money are flowing from public to private schools.
However, the attraction to homeschooling that those figures indicate shows an even starker rejection of the traditional school model. For parents who are making these new choices, it is not about one system or another, nor about Friday night lights, but about what is best for their child.
In this week’s commentary, we look at the changing delivery of education, the (new) birth of microschools and how state policy can either help or hurt parental demand for choices in their child’s education. We also have the latest news and analysis from the last week, including:
- Gov. Kemp traveled to Italy this week on a trade mission
- S&P Global Ratings has reaffirmed its “AAA with a stable outlook” rating of Georgia
- New analysis finds lasting impact for students affected by COVID school lockdowns
- One Georgia city uses traffic tickets for 73% of its budget
Have a great weekend,
– Kyle Wingfield
Friday’s Freshest
Atlanta residents pay too much to get busted water mains
Atlanta residents pay some of the highest water and sewer rates in the nation. One recent nationwide study backs that up. So imagine how irate Atlanta residents felt in June after a major malfunction deprived them of the most basic of things, H2O.
Reckless protectionist policies from both sides have failed the US economy
During his 2020 presidential campaign, President Joe Biden slammed former President Donald Trump for his protectionist policies. But since entering office, Biden has done little to reverse the tariff hikes and trade barriers erected by his predecessor. And, more worrisome, he has reinforced a mounting bipartisan consensus that free trade is no longer in the interests of the American people.
Nontraditional homes face maze of regulations in Georgia
Many people are interested in nontraditional homes because of their unique look or because they are trying to save money. But in Georgia, unique housing types often clash with a maze of government regulations that make constructing them difficult and costly. Innovative housing solutions often face substantial regulatory challenges that hinder their feasibility.
Supreme Court returns checks and balances to governing
For four decades, the judiciary has ceded the important power of reviewing executive agencies’ rules and regulations to the agencies themselves. Reasserting the court’s preeminence in interpreting the law is a key step toward more constitutional balance with the executive branch, which is merely meant to carry out laws.
New residents resulted in new revenue for Georgia
Georgians have been getting a lot of new neighbors. And these new Georgians don’t arrive empty-handed. They bring their family, their belongings – and their incomes. Over 51,000 more people moved into Georgia than out of it between 2021 and 2022. And they brought with them about $715 million more in adjusted gross income than ex-Georgians took.
The Latest
Economy
Kemp headed to Italy on trade mission
Gov. Brian Kemp will lead a weeklong trade mission to Italy to strengthen existing economic ties with Italian businesses and develop new partnerships, the governor’s office announced. Kemp, Georgia First Lady Marty Kemp, and representatives of the state Department of Economic Development will meet next week with executives from companies currently doing business in Georgia.
German manufacturer expanding Georgia operations with $28 million investment
A maker of instrument transformers for the utility and original equipment manufacturing (OEM) sectors is growing its footprint in Georgia. Ritz Instrument Transformers will invest $28 million in a new plant in Waynesboro that will create 130 jobs, Gov. Brian Kemp announced this week from Italy.
S&P reaffirms Georgia’s AAA rating
S&P Global Ratings has reaffirmed its “AAA with a stable outlook” rating of Georgia. S&P cited the state’s budgetary approach and its economic strength among the factors in bestowing the rating. FitchRatings and Moody’s Investors Service, the other two top credit rating agencies, did not issue formal reports on the Peach State’s bond ratings because the state did not issue new general obligation bonds for the current fiscal year.
Public Service Commission to take up plan to add new fossil fuels to energy mix
Georgia energy regulators already have approved a request by Georgia Power for a significant increase in electrical generating capacity to meet the needs of a growing state. But the state Public Service Commission still must sign off on a key component of the Atlanta-based utility’s plan: a proposal to build three new “dual-fuel” turbines at Plant Yates near Newnan. The PSC held a hearing on the project this week and will vote on it next month.
Education
New analysis finds lasting impact for students affected by COVID school lockdowns
Over four years after the start of mass school lockdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic, many children are still feeling the educational effects. According to a new report, student test score growth is still failing to rebound to pre-COVID levels, and some children would need as much as nine months of extra schooling to catch up.
Appeals court issues injunction stopping student loan cancellation plan
An appeals court approved an injunction that stops President Joe Biden from implementing his latest student loan forgiveness plan. Biden introduced the plan in April, months after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down another effort to forgive student loans. The plan would have exempted additional income from payment calculations and decreased the maximum percentage of discretionary income used to calculate monthly payments from 10% to 5%.
The cost of state holds harmless policies in K-12 education
Public school enrollment is falling fast, and “hold harmless” policies that provide funding protections for school districts are becoming increasingly costly. These policies can broadly be classified in two ways, with each type serving different aims. But instead of funding “ghost students,” these dollars could be otherwise devoted to raising per-student funding for all school districts or to directing greater funds to higher-need students.
Newton Education Foundation receives $94,000 USDA Farm to School grant
Newton Education Foundation is one of just three Georgia organizations to receive a Patrick Leahy Farm to School Program Grant. The $94,000 grant, along with support provided by partners, totals over $128,000 to fund a collaborative project that will expand Newton County Schools’ existing Farm to School efforts.
Government accountability
U.S. Department of Transportation investigates cancellations
The U.S. Department of Transportation is opening an investigation into Delta Air Lines over recent flight disruptions, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said in a post on X. The airline is struggling to resume normal service five days after a global IT outage at cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike.
Nearly 73% of this city’s budget comes from traffic tickets
If you blink, you may miss driving right through it. The city of Lenox, Georgia, covers less than two square miles. It’s a small town in south Georgia with a big reputation for handing out traffic citations. Using figures provided by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs, an Atlanta News First investigation shows Lenox relies more on the profit generated by its police force than any other Georgia town.
Georgia ranks 30th for protecting religious liberty
Georgia ranked as the 30th best state for protecting religious liberty, according to a review of all 50 states. The Peach State earned a score of 39.9%, ranking it just ahead of Nevada and just behind Idaho, according to the third annual “Religious Liberty in the States” from the Center for Religion, Culture & Democracy, an initiative of First Liberty Institute.
Housing
Home prices smashed another record in June as sales slump
The cost of buying a new house just hit another all-time high, according to a new report. Data published by the National Association of Realtors shows the median existing U.S. home sale price jumped to $426,900 in June – a 4.1% increase from the same time last year. That marks the highest level on record and is the second straight month that prices topped a new high.
The housing affordability crisis that continues to trouble would-be homebuyers is sparking an increase in demand for tiny homes. At Mustard Seed Village in Austin, Texas, a development of 28 homes quickly filled up. But developers were only able to start the project after the city decreased the lot size minimum to accommodate tiny homes. The Foundation has previously written how some cities in Georgia have used regulations, such as home size minimums, to block tiny home development.
Sapelo zoning referendum set as McIntosh County officially files to stop it
McIntosh County asked a Superior Court Judge on Monday to stop the referendum process that began July 9 when a group of Sapelo Island residents petitioned the Probate Court seeking a vote that could repeal a Hog Hammock zoning ordinance. Probate Court Judge Harold Webster, less than 36 hours after the county filed in Superior Court seeking a writ of prohibition, issued an order setting the countywide referendum for Oct. 1.
Bonus
U.S. favored to win most medals at Paris Olympics, but China may challenge for most gold
As the Paris Olympics are set to open this week, the United States goes in as the favorite to win the most medals. China is unlikely to overtake the U.S. in the overall medal haul, but it has a chance to win more gold medals than the Americans. Though the Games highlight great individual athletes, they are also a surrogate for geopolitical influence and national pride.
Southwest Airlines is ditching open seating on flights
Under pressure to improve profits, Southwest plans big changes for boarding flights and for fliers who want premium seating. Southwest Airlines will soon assign seats on flights and sell some with extra legroom, making sweeping changes in a bid to broaden its appeal to passengers and boost revenue.
Emory University and Emory St. Joseph hospitals in Atlanta rank highest in Georgia
Emory University Hospital and Emory Saint Joseph are Georgia’s No. 1 and No. 2 hospitals, according to new rankings from U.S. News & World Report. Emory University Hospital was also nationally ranked for their cancer care. U.S. News offers rankings and ratings in three dozen different health care services, including cancer care, orthopedics, heart bypass surgery and much more.
Quotes of Note
“The opportunity to represent your country at the Olympic Games is earned, not given.” – Ashton Eaton
“Once again Georgia’s responsible, conservative approach to budgeting has allowed our state to receive affirmation of the highest possible bond rating.” – Gov. Brian Kemp
“Learning is not attained by chance, it must be sought for with ardor and attended to with diligence.” – Abigail Adams