AFC Celebrates Georgia Senate Leaders for Supporting Georgia Students in Budget Vote

The American Federation for Children (AFC) celebrates Georgia Senate leaders for maximizing the funding for the Promise Scholarship Program, ensuring that all students who need to participate in the state’s newest school choice programs can do so. As many as 22,000 children can access an education that meets their needs under the State Senate’s budget, which passed 48-7 on Friday.

In a fiery speech on the Senate floor, Appropriations Chair Blake Tillery pushed back on claims from school choice opponents, saying “let’s talk about accountability. Give me your answer to why we consider 50% of a class reading on grade level ‘good.’ We are cheering mediocrity.” The reason, he said, that the Senate supports the school choice program, “is because kids have to be given an ability to do something better. Their parents have to be given options to take their kids somewhere else.”

Statement from Ryan Cantrell, VP of Government Affairs, American Federation for Children:

“Every student in Georgia deserves the chance to access an education that meets his or her unique needs, and we applaud Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones, Appropriations Chair Blake Tillery, and Senator Greg Dolezal for prioritizing children and ensuring those in our lowest-performing assigned schools can find a better solution. We will continue to work with Georgia parents, advocates, and leaders toward the goal of ensuring education freedom for every Georgia student.”

Details:

• Governor Kemp proposed funding 22,000 Georgia Promise scholarships, the maximum amount allowed under law; although the State House would have reduced that level, the State Senate has stood with the Governor and parents across the state in ensuring every family who needs to participate can do so.
• The Georgia Promise Scholarship is available to students who reside in a Georgia public school attendance zone that is on the Georgia Promise Scholarship School List.

About AFC:

The American Federation for Children is the nation’s largest school choice advocacy organization and the most successful force for education freedom in America, passing over 200 laws across 31 states throughout our history. Our affiliated Super PAC, AFC Victory Fund, is the only nationwide Super PAC focused on advancing school choice.

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