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For more than 80 years, the Vinson Institute has worked with public officials throughout Georgia and around the world to improve governance and people's lives. From Georgia's early days as a largely agrarian state with a modest population to its modern-day status as a national and international force in business, industry, and politics with a population of almost 10 million, the Institute has helped government leaders navigate change and forge strong directions for a better Georgia.
In the Spotlight > Institute Facilitates State Educational Funding Committee Meetings

Institute Facilitates State Educational Funding Committee Meetings

Posted August 3, 2011
Contact: Courtney Yarbrough, cryarb@uga.edu; 706.542.6221

The Institute facilitated the first of several meetings for the education funding committee on June 30 in Atlanta at the request of the chairs of the House and Senate Education Committees.

Composed of key legislators along with the state school superintendent, the university system chancellor, and others, the committee is attempting to develop innovative ideas for funding K-12 and higher education in the state. Currently, about 55 percent of the state's budget is designated for education.

Two Institute faculty members guided the committee through its first brainstorming session in which participants proposed cost-saving ideas and divided themselves into subcommittees.

The lieutenant governor and the speaker of the house made appearances at the meeting, and the governor addressed a letter to the committee to motivate them to think creatively and develop big ideas.

The committee will eventually make recommendations for reforms to the current funding formula established in 1985 with the Quality Basic Education Act.

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