Category: Education

Georgia’s Skills Gap Affects Wages, Economic Growth

This week’s Courier Herald column: There’s a lot of wisdom behind the old saying “he couldn’t see the forest for the trees.”  Sometimes we get so focused on what is right in front of us that we can’t see the bigger picture, no matter how obvious it is. This phrase can also help us understand

Leaders Reveal Priorities For Legislative Session

This week’s Courier Herald column: Legislators from across the state reconvened in Atlanta this week for the 2020 session of the Georgia General Assembly. Tensions remain higher than average among Georgia’s leaders as tight budgets force competition among everyone’s priorities.  They’ll have to work harder than normal to present a unified front for the majority’s

Rep Stovall Supports Charter Schools

On the eve of the Democratic debate in Atlanta, State Representative Valencia Stovall, a Democrat from Forest Park (only a couple of miles down I-75 from Tyler Perry Studios), has sent over the following press release: ATLANTA – State Representative Valencia Stovall (D-Forest Park) today announced her support of charter schools by participating in the

Student Opportunity Vs Education Bureaucracy

This week’s Courier Herald column: Several years ago, I had the opportunity to tag along on a trip with a handful of Georgia legislators, education officials, and Governor Deal.  We visited New Orleans, and talked to a variety of educators and community leaders who were all stakeholders in re-creating the local school system in the

Georgia Budget Again Prioritizes Education

This week’s Courier Herald column: Last week, members of the legislature’s appropriations committees held budget hearings with those that head state agencies, going over requests for new money and justifications for existing expenses. It’s the annual signal that the pageantry portion of opening a session of the General Assembly has ended and the hard work

Georgia Ranks 8th In Parent Power Index For Education

The Center for Education Reform has released its “Parent Power Index”, ranking states according to options for family driven education options. Georgia ranks 8th in the nation, but still receives a grade of “C”. Georgia receives it’s highest marks for Transparency (95%) and teacher quality (82%). Lower marks are received for access to Charter Schools

#HBCULove Spelman, Tennessee State University, and Florida A & M University

Do you know what Spelman College, Tennessee State University, and Florida A & M have in common?  Each school is award winning.  Each school has graduated an esteemed cadre of graduates.  Each of these schools are a Historically Black College and University (HBCU)[i] whose alumni are pictured in this photo.  Stacey Abrams a Spelman graduate,