Scorecard Rates Georgia Lawmakers on ‘School Choice’

Georgia Center for Opportunity releases score card grading lawmakers on school choice support
33 state lawmakers recognized for outstanding support of school choice in 2018

The Georgia Center for Opportunity (GCO) recently released their 2018 Legislator Report Card, a scorecard recognizing state lawmakers according to their voting record on key school choice bills. The report “empowers parents to see where their Representative and Senator stood on bills that would expand educational access to kids throughout the state,” the organization said in a press release.

Randy Hicks, President and CEO of the Georgia Center for Opportunity, said the scorecard is necessary because the vast majority of Georgians stand strongly in favor of school choice.

“Time and again, Georgians on all sides of the aisle continue to express their support for expanding parental choice,” Hicks said. “We praise the legislators who prioritized children and families in 2018, and look forward to seeing greater movement under the Gold Dome to will ensure all students have access to the best possible education.”

The group says legislation considered in the scorecard included an expansion to the state’s tax credit scholarship program and increases to funding of state charter schools. Both bills passed in 2018.

The scorecard ranks legislators on an A-F grade scale, though special honors were given to those who demonstrated outstanding support for educational choice. Members were named a “School Choice Champion” if they received As following both the 2017 and 2018 sessions, while those on the “Honor Roll” were recognized for sponsoring or co-sponsoring a bill that would increase educational options.

In total, 33 current and outgoing legislators in the House and Senate were given “Honor Roll” or “School Choice Champion” awards. They include:

School Choice Champion:
Senator John Albers (R- Alpharetta)
Senator Burt Jones (R- Jackson)
Senator William Ligon Jr. (R- Brunswick)
Senator Josh McKoon (R- Columbus)
Senator Fran Millar (R- Dunwoody)
Senator Michael Williams (R- Cumming)
Representative Buzz Brockway (R- Lawrenceville)
Representative John Carson (R- Marietta)
Representative David Casas (R- Lilburn)
Representative David Clark (R- Buford)
Representative Heath Clark (R- Warner Robins)
Representative Earl Ehrhart (R- Powder Springs)
Representative Barry Fleming (R- Harlem)
Representative Mike Glanton (D- Jonesboro)
Representative Rich Golick (R- Smyrna)
Representative Scott Hilton (R- Peachtree Corners)
Representative Jan Jones (R- Milton)
Representative Todd Jones (R- South Forsyth)
Representative David Knight (R- Griffin)
Representative Randy Nix (R- LaGrange)
Representative Ed Setzler (R- Acworth)
Representative Valencia Stovall (D- Forsyth Park)

Rep Wes Cantrell
Representative Sam Teasley (R- Marietta)
Representative Scot Turner (R- Holly Springs)

Honor Roll:
Senator Brandon Beach (R- Alpharetta)
Senator Matt Brass (R- Newnan)
Senator Chuck Hufstetler (R- Rome)
Senator Fran Millar (R- Dunwoody)
Senator Ben Watson (R- Savannah)
Representative Kasey Carpenter (R- Dalton)
Representative John Carson (R- Marietta)
Representative David Casas (R- Lilburn)
Representative Heath Clark (R- Warner Robins)
Representative Robert Dickey (R- Musella)
Representative Earl Ehrhart (R- Powder Springs)
Representative Mike Glanton (D- Jonesboro)
Representative Rich Golick (R- Smyrna)
Representative Scott Hilton (R- Peachtree Corners)
Representative Rick Jasperse (R- Jasper)
Representative Jan Jones (R- Milton)
Representative Todd Jones (R- South Forsyth)
Representative Randy Nix (R- LaGrange)
Representative Jay Powell (R- Camilla)
Representative Alan Powell (R- Hartwell)
Representative Ed Setzler (R- Acworth)
Representative Valencia Stovall (D- Forest Park)
Representative Sam Teasley (R- Marietta)
Representative Scot Turner (R- Holly Springs)

The 2018 Legislator Score Card on School Choice can be downloaded by clicking here.