There is an ongoing national debate around foundational aspects of higher education, including ideological biases, free speech, the cost of a degree and the best way to deliver services.
These topics yield deep disagreements, but a healthy university system that offers robust educational pathways and adequately prepares students for work benefits a state. Colleges and universities in Georgia frequently cite the successful establishment of workforce pipelines as helpful to the state’s economy and local communities. This, along with Georgia’s general philosophy of light regulation and encouraging growth, has made the state attractive to investors and startups.
For over half a century, colleges have been able to outsource services to contractors called “third-party servicers.” These contractors often offer what the federal Department of Education calls “bundled services,” or a combination of online technology platforms, coursework design, recruiting and more. Contractors offering bundled services could be compensated via tuition revenue-sharing arrangements. But, recently, colleges throughout the country have dealt with federal interference in these established partnerships.
In February 2023, the Biden administration threatened to eliminate this bundled services exemption and potentially regulate the actions of private companies doing business with colleges. Among those most impacted were education technology companies called online program managers, which help to facilitate online classes.
In this week’s commentary, we look at how these services have been beneficial to students and why Washington should scrap this attempt at overregulation. We also have the latest news and analysis from the last week, including:
- State launches website with new details on Georgia Promise Scholarship
- Funding available for Georgia landowners hit by Helene
- AAA expects 2.3 million Georgians to travel for Thanksgiving
- Kemp to chair Republican Governors Association
Have a great weekend,
– Kyle Wingfield
Friday’s Freshest
New information on Georgia Promise Scholarships released
The state of Georgia has just released brand-new information on the Georgia Promise Scholarship, which will provide eligible families with up to $6,500 to use on the education of their children. The online application portal will open early next year, and funds will be made available for the fall of 2025. You can access the new program website, My Georgia Promise, here. On the website, your family can find more information and specifics about how the program can work for you in the new family handbook.
Institutions worth preserving have to be defended
The Founders didn’t invent the filibuster, but they did want to make it difficult to change federal law. No doubt, some Republicans will soon be just as frustrated by this difficulty as some Democrats were in recent years. Let’s hope they are not too far removed from minority status to forget why they defended it then – or that they could be out of power again in no time.
How Trump won Georgia after his defeat in 2020
For the second time in as many statewide elections, Georgia voters contributed to a comeback. Beyond that headline, the similarities between Brian Kemp’s re-election in 2022 and Donald Trump’s restoration in 2024 begin to fade. Trump authored one of the most stunning political redemption stories in American history. Not only is he just the second person to win non-consecutive terms in the White House, but he did so after being presumed politically dead as of Jan. 7, 2021, and facing multiple criminal prosecutions since then.
It is fitting that Veterans Day follows closely after federal elections. It serves as a reminder that there are things in this country far bigger than campaigns and candidates—things like duty, sacrifice and the ideals that have always made this country great. That is what we celebrate as we thank the men and women who have always answered the call to defend our nation.
The election is over. Let’s focus on policy.
After billions of dollars were spent on the 2024 elections, including a large chunk here in Georgia, it’s a welcome relief to finally have a moment to step back from the relentless political barrage. We know this past campaign season was particularly intense. But now, in Washington and in Georgia, we need to turn our attention to policy, something that wasn’t always present in the campaign. The Foundation’s Guide to the Issues provides an in-depth look at the biggest issues in Georgia.
The Latest
Economy
Hyundai IONIQ 9 electric SUV to be built at $7.6B Georgia factory
Hyundai Motor Group this week unveiled its first three-row electric SUV called the IONIQ 9, the second vehicle slated to roll off production lines at the automaker’s newly minted Georgia factory. The IONIQ 9 is the Korean automaker’s first seven-seat EV, joining the growing fleet of fully electric SUVs and larger vehicle models racing to market to give consumers more choice beyond plug-in sedans and compacts.
Chamber survey reveals business community concerns
The results of a legislative survey created to gauge the state of the business community were unveiled at Wednesday’s board meeting of the Brunswick-Golden Isles Chamber of Commerce. More than 95% of respondents have experienced increased insurance costs and are concerned about future increases. Another 85% said they support reform in the civil justice system.
How Trump can unleash US energy and abundance
In recent decades, federal regulations have made it harder to produce more energy, and energy consumption is now lower today than it was in 2000. This is where Trump can and must act. By all means, he should shred the overregulation that stifles oil and gas production. But we have to think much bigger than fossil fuels. The most exciting energy technologies today are in areas such as geothermal and nuclear power.
Education
Charters hastened Catholic school decline. Will ESAs slow the process?
The 2023–24 school year offered some encouragement for Catholic schools in the United States, with 20 new K–12 institutions opening around the country. Set against 55 closures or consolidations that also took place, total student enrollment managed to hold steady from the previous year. Just stopping the bleeding is considered a good omen in a sector that has lost more than 3.5 million pupils, or two-thirds of its headcount, since the 1960s.
Grading every state’s public school open enrollment laws
Reason Foundation’s “Public Schools without Boundaries 2024” ranks the K-12 open enrollment laws of all 50 states. Georgia received an F. Open enrollment laws let students transfer from their assigned public schools to other public schools with open seats. A recent report from the Foundation looked at how Georgia can improve its open enrollment policies.
What’s ahead for colleges, school choice and the Department of Education?
Will the Department of Education be abolished? Not likely. It’s hard to see how you abolish the department without legislation, and the Republicans won’t have the votes. There may be efforts to trim the department or move parts of it, but anything more seems unlikely. What about federal school choice legislation and higher education?
Government accountability
Bryan County Water Conservation outlines plans for future needs
Bryan County will need a reliable flow to support incoming industries, as well as residential and commercial growth. Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America, the state’s largest economic development to date, opened this fall and will hire some 8,500 workers to help operate the plant. With population growth on the rise, the county is looking into multiple options to support its future water needs.
$25 million in funding available for Georgia landowners hit by Helene
The Georgia Forestry Commission is offering $25 million in emergency funding for landowners impacted by Hurricane Helene to assist in debris cleanup and firebreak installation. The two programs, the Fuels Mitigation Program and the Forest Access Road and Firebreak Restoration Project, were recently approved by the Georgia State Financing and Investment Commission, according to the Georgia Forestry Commission.
Housing
BeltLine files plans to build 1,100 housing units
The Atlanta BeltLine filed plans with the Georgia Department of Community Affairs announcing their intent to build more than 1,000 residences in northwest Atlanta. The development will be set with at least 30% of the units to be affordable housing, along with the development of 5,000 square feet of commercial space.
Northwest Georgia Housing Authority finalizing audit
The Northwest Georgia Housing Authority is preparing to submit a finalized audit to the U.S. Department of Housing and Development. Preliminary figures were presented to the board during its monthly meeting this week. Restructuring the authority’s accounting has been a priority, along with streamlining and optimizing budgets.
Bonus
Kemp to chair Republican Governors Association
Gov. Brian Kemp has been elected chairman of the Republican Governors Association (RGA) for 2025. The election of Kemp and Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte as the RGA’s vice chairman took place at the end of the association’s annual conference.
AAA: 2.3 Million Georgians Expected to Travel for Thanksgiving
AAA expects record-setting travel numbers for Thanksgiving. Over 2.3 million Georgians are forecast to travel 50 miles or more for the holiday. That’s an all-time high for Thanksgiving and nearly 40,000 more travelers than last year.
Laken Riley’s killer to spend the rest of his life in prison
A Venezuelan man convicted of killing Laken Riley in Georgia will spend the rest of his life in prison, a judge ruled this week. Jose Ibarra was convicted on all 10 counts relating to Riley’s Feb. 22 death and a separate Peeping Tom incident. He faced charges of killing Riley after abducting her off a trail near her Athens apartment and attempting to rape her.
Quotes of Note
“This criminal should never [have] been allowed to enter our country and he certainly should not have been allowed to stay after shamelessly breaking our laws. Open border policies failed Laken Riley, and today’s verdict is a reminder that the safety of our communities must remain our number one priority.” – Gov. Brian Kemp
“College presidents at deep-pocketed, high-profile institutions may want to have their attorneys and lobbyists on speed dial.” – Frederick Hess
“It’s a hard one because I don’t know what they’re (college football playoff committee) looking for. They can’t define that. It’s not simple, either. I mean, anybody can be on that committee and say, ‘This is what we’re looking for. This is our criteria. And there’s so much that it overlaps things and everybody debates it, and I don’t have time to really waste energy on it.” – Kirby Smart