April 14, 2016 
SPECIAL REPORT: Straw Poll for Support of Education Savings Accounts on Republican Primary Ballot on May 24
The following story appeared on the Atlanta Journal Constitution's website yesterday.  A straw poll will be on the Republican ballot in the Georgia primary election on May 24th to test Republican voter support for expensive education savings accounts (ESA's).  This likely signals an upcoming attempt from state Republican leaders to create this program in Georgia. PAGE has opposed ESA's in the past, and will continue to oppose them should they gain momentum again. As a reminder, PAGE is a non-partisan organization. 
Georgia GOP to test school voucher interest on primary ballot
by Ty Tagami 

Georgia Republicans will test support for school vouchers during May primary election balloting.
The question on the statewide GOP primary ballot asks:

"Should Georgia empower parents with the right to use the tax dollars allocated for the education of their children, allowing them the freedom to choose among public, private, virtual, and home schools?"

The question merely gauges voters' opinion, and the ballot result would not bring any school-funding changes without further legislative action.

Vouchers, or permutations such as Educational Savings Accounts, are a recurrent theme during the state's legislative sessions. And they are controversial, opposed by groups that represent public school teachers.

Last year, Gov. Nathan Deal's hand-picked Education Reform Commission voted narrowly to kill a recommendation to create voucher-like accounts for parents.
Margaret Ciccarelli
Director of Legislative Affairs
Josh Stephens
Legislative Policy Analyst
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