The latest test scores from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) have sparked concern about the state of education in America. But one thing is clear: where a state stands today is not a fixed destiny. With the right leadership, policies and commitment, real change is possible.
For decades, Mississippi, one of the poorest states in the nation, consistently ranked at the bottom of most academic outcomes. But in 2013, Mississippi made a bold decision to rewrite its future. At the time, 80% of its fourth graders scored below proficient in NAEP reading, a grim statistic with far-reaching consequences. Research has long shown that third grade is the critical marker for literacy—if children cannot read by then, their chances of catching up shrink dramatically. Worse still, illiteracy is a direct pipeline to incarceration and poverty, as most people in prison struggle to read well enough to secure and maintain stable employment.
That year, Mississippi lawmakers adopted the Literacy-Based Promotion Act, modeled after a groundbreaking Florida law. While critics focused on the “third grade reading gate”—a policy preventing students from advancing to fourth grade without reading proficiency—the real power of the law lay elsewhere. It emphasized prevention, ensuring struggling students were identified early and given targeted interventions, screenings and support to master reading skills before it was too late.
The plans worked.
In 2013, Mississippi ranked 49th in NAEP’s fourth grade reading scores. Today, it ranks 9th. Florida, which was the first state to adopt this type of policy, ranked 34th in 1998 (the first year comparable data was available) and has climbed to 10th—having previously reached as high as 3rd two years ago. Georgia, once ahead of Florida in 1998, now sits at 28th—virtually unchanged 27 years later.
Mississippi and Florida have proven that dramatic improvement is possible. And it’s what we should want. In this week’s commentary, my colleague Brett Kittredge looks at what those states have done and what Georgia can do to help students. We also have the latest news and analysis from the last week, including:
- January tax revenues up slightly
- Kemp to attend Munich Security Conference
- Tax reform proposals advance
- Braves kick off Spring Training
Have a great weekend,
– Kyle Wingfield
Friday’s Freshest
Georgia school districts prepare to block property tax relief while holding billions in reserves
Across Georgia, public school districts are refusing to go along with a reduction in property taxes – all while raking in taxpayer dollars like never before. Cumulatively, Georgia’s 180 city and county school districts have more than doubled their reserves to a staggering $6.5 billion. Incredibly, $6.5 billion is about a billion dollars more than the state of Georgia has in its official “rainy day” fund.
Tort reform and what it means for cost and access in Georgia healthcare
A comprehensive legislative package in Georgia will seek to address some of the state’s most contentious areas of litigation. One of those areas is healthcare, as hospitals and physicians lament a system that has seen significant cost increases just to carry medical malpractice insurance. For Georgia legislators, one goal is clear: to determine what healthcare damages are worth from a legal perspective, and consequently, the costs associated with maintaining the status quo.
Clarke County voters beg school board to not opt out of floating homestead exemption
More than 60% of voters in Clarke County said yes last fall to Georgia’s new floating homestead exemption, but the Clarke County School Board apparently plans to disregard the voters’ wishes. On the matter of the floating homestead exemption, the school district plans to opt out. This is per the wording on the school district’s website. Read it carefully, and you might notice a glaring contradiction. Voters who showed up for the second of three legally required public hearings on the matter noticed it too.
Kemp makes strongest push yet for tort reform
As Gov. Brian Kemp enters his home stretch as governor, he can point to progress on multiple fronts. He can claim a healthy record of employment growth, unprecedented budget surpluses that have driven tax rates lower (including another, just-announced tax cut) and moves to protect Georgia’s right-to-work status. But Georgia’s legal environment has deteriorated to the point that it threatens all the other good work that policy makers have done over the decades.
The worst time for Georgia to expand Medicaid
Our individual market for health insurance has blossomed in recent years for a variety of reasons. Those reasons include the successful launch of Georgia Access, the state’s online marketplace that replaced Healthcare.gov for Georgians, as well as the reinsurance plan championed by Gov. Kemp, which has helped return carriers to our market and drive down premiums.
The Latest
Economy
January tax revenues up slightly
The State of Georgia’s net tax collections in the month of January totaled slightly more than $3.05 billion, for an increase of roughly $2 million, or 0.1%, compared to January 2024.
State lifts poultry suspension after bird flu outbreak
The state Department of Agriculture has lifted a suspension of poultry activities in Georgia following the successful completion of testing for bird flu with no additional detections. Two cases of avian influenza were discovered last month in commercial poultry flocks in Elbert County. That outbreak prompted the state agency to suspend poultry activities across Georgia including sales at auction, flea or livestock markets, meetups, swaps and exhibitions.
Kemp to attend Munich Security Conference
Gov. Kemp will attend the Munich Security Conference in Germany to participate in a roundtable discussion with foreign leaders and partners on international economic relations and geopolitics. The annual conference is the world’s leading multinational forum for debating international security policy. It also provides a valuable opportunity for bilateral meetings with economic development prospects that can lead to more jobs and investments in Georgia.
Georgia taxpayers could get another refund if bill passes
Georgia residents could soon see tax cuts and refunds, as two bills aimed at reducing the state’s income tax burden moved forward in the legislature. This week, the House Ways and Means Committee approved House Bill 111, which would reduce the state income tax rate for individuals and corporations, and House Bill 112, which would provide another income tax refund for Georgians who filed taxes in 2023 and 2024.
Education
Regents approve first AI degree program
The University System of Georgia is responding to the rapid growth of artificial technology with a new degree program. The system’s Board of Regents voted to create the system’s first baccalaureate program, a bachelor of science degree in applied artificial intelligence at Middle Georgia State University’s Warner Robins campus.
Lawmakers consider banning cellphone use in some schools
Georgia lawmakers are considering new restrictions on school cellphone use for students after several districts implemented their own bans and have seen success. Since implementing their cellphone ban in the district’s middle schools, Marietta City Schools Superintendent Grant Rivera says they’ve seen positive change. Rep. Scott Hilton is proposing a bill to require the state’s K-8 students to put their phone up during the whole school day.
Georgians could vote to make state school superintendent an appointed, not elected, role
A group of Georgia state lawmakers have rolled out a plan that shifts the state school superintendent from being elected by Georgia voters to being appointed by members of the Georgia State Board of Education. If passed, House Resolution 174 would appear on the ballot for Georgians in 2026 as a proposed state constitutional amendment.
Tennessee adopts Education Freedom Act
The Education Freedom Act, passed during a special legislative session convened by Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee, establishes education savings accounts that will allow Tennessee families across the state to choose the educational setting that best fits their children’s abilities, interests and needs. Participants from anywhere in the state may now apply for more than $7,000 to fund private school tuition, transportation, tutoring and other approved educational expenses.
Public school enrollment is plummeting. Here are five things policymakers can do about it.
Public school enrollment is falling fast, a trend that is likely to persist into the next decade. Since 2019, public schools have lost 1.2 million students, and the National Center for Education Statistics projects enrollment will drop by another 2.7 million students by 2031-2032. With falling birthrates and parents increasingly looking to K-12 alternatives—such as private schools and homeschooling—state and local policymakers will need to adapt to the new enrollment reality.
Government accountability
Southwest Georgia farmers will be able to use groundwater from once-restricted basins
For the first time since 2012, Georgia will allow southwest Georgia farmers to drill new wells to make groundwater withdrawals from the Flint and Chattahoochee river basins. It’s a modification–not a complete lift–to a moratorium that was put in place in 2012 after a period of extreme drought.
Sandersville Railroad wins eminent domain ruling
A Fulton County Superior Court judge has upheld a ruling by the Georgia Public Service Commission granting Sandersville Railroad Co. the right to take land from several property owners for a planned rail spur. However, Judge Craig Schwall also issued a partial stay preventing the company from invoking the power of eminent domain to start the project pending an expected appeal of this week’s ruling to the Georgia Supreme Court.
FEMA paid for hotels housing Tren de Aragua, Laken Riley killer, Noem says
Luxury hotels in New York City, including the Roosevelt, recipients of $59 million from FEMA to house immigrants, were a base of operations for Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua and served as a residence of the convicted killer of Laken Riley. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem shared the revelation, just after the Department of Government Efficiency team revealed the payments.
Transportation
Stoner, Stein elected to State Transportation Board
A caucus of Georgia state representatives and senators from Congressional Districts 6, 7, and 8 recently held elections for State Transportation Board at the Georgia State Capitol. Current Board representative Tim Golden of Valdosta was re-elected to represent his congressional district on the board, and Doug Stoner and Joseph P. Stein were newly elected.
Electric truck mandates under fire in states
As it turns out, electric trucks aren’t selling well, so manufacturers will be able to build more diesel trucks than regulations were allowing them to. Yet again, the state tacitly acknowledges that its net-zero ambitions are unrealistic. It was a lesson learned late, though. Several states that followed the California model have backed off their agenda.
Bonus
Atlanta Braves kick off spring training in Florida
The Atlanta Braves are officially turning the page to a new season as they kick off spring training at CoolToday Park in North Port, Florida. Pitchers and catchers arrived on Wednesday, with position players officially arriving on Tuesday. Spring training games begin on Saturday, Feb. 22.
Inflation rises 3% in January, hotter than expected
Inflation ticked higher in January as stubbornly high prices continued to strain Americans’ household finances as the Federal Reserve weighs a continued pause to its interest rate cut plans. The Labor Department said that the consumer price index increased 0.5% in January while it rose 3% on an annual basis. The annual figure is the highest since June 2024.
Donald Trump goes to war against universally hated paper straws
Plastic straw partisans are now on the offensive in the straw wars. This week, President Donald Trump issued an executive order directing federal agencies to halt their purchases of paper straws and ordering the creation of a nationwide strategy to end their use.
Presidents’ Day Quotes of Note
“I hold the maxim no less applicable to public than to private affairs, that honesty is the best policy.” – George Washington, first president of the United States
“And in the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years.” – Abraham Lincoln, 16th president of the United States
“There are men and women who make the world better just by being the kind of people they are. They have the gift of kindness or courage or loyalty or integrity. It really matters very little whether they are behind the wheel of a truck or running a business or bringing up a family. They teach the truth by living it.” – James Garfield, 20th president of the United States
