IDRA Urges State Leaders to Recommit to Fully Funding Georgia’s Public Schools Instead of Expanding Privatization

Mikayla Arciaga, M.A.Ed., IDRA Georgia Education Advocacy Director 

(Atlanta – January 20, 2026) Today, Gov. Kemp announced that Georgia will opt into a federal private school voucher program that provides tax credits to donors to voucher organizations in the state. He made this decision without public input or public consultation with the legislature. 

It is deeply concerning and a violation of wisdom, justice and moderation at a moment when Georgia’s public schools face growing fiscal and structural challenges.

The overwhelming majority of Georgians send their children to public schools, particularly schools serving rural communities, students with disabilities and students from low-income families. 

Wise governance demands that we strengthen – not weaken – the institutions which serve most of our children. But voucher programs divert scarce public resources toward private schools that are not held to the same standards of transparency, accountability or nondiscrimination laws. This weakens the public education systems on which communities rely.

The federal voucher provides a dollar-for-dollar tax credit of up to $1,700 per year to people who donate to scholarship-granting organizations, which then issue vouchers to individual families. This money would otherwise go to education that serves the vast majority of students.

Research estimates that the federal voucher could funnel away tens of billions of dollars each year from the public good to private institutions.

This is not a theoretical concern. Georgia’s Qualified Education Expense Tax Credit Voucher program has been repeatedly criticized by the Department of Audits for failing to adequately account for hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars. 

And the reporting requirements for the Special Needs Scholarship Voucher and the Georgia Promise Voucher are so minimal that meaningful evaluation or public accountability is impossible. 

The governor’s decision also comes amid growing fiscal uncertainty for Georgia’s public education system. After decades of austerity cuts and stagnant funding, state divestment from our public schools has left many communities bearing more than their share of the cost. 

Federal pandemic relief funds have expired, and additional federal education and social service cuts are under consideration. Many school districts are already preparing for budget shortfalls which will affect staffing levels, student support and classroom resources.

As the state continues to divest from public education, districts are increasingly reliant on local property wealth to fill funding gaps. The state is placing a heavier burden on communities with the least capacity to absorb it. 

This approach fails the test of justice by deepening inequities between communities. Opting into the federal voucher program does nothing to address these structural challenges and will instead widen them.

Wisdom calls for stabilizing public schools and protecting essential services. Diverting public funds to private vouchers under these conditions is not just misguided; it is irresponsible. 

Moderation calls for responsible stewardship of public funds. Justice requires restitution for the historic underfunding of our public schools and the shortcomings of existing school privatization schemes rather than diverting additional resources from public schools.

Public education is a public good. Every child deserves access to a well-resourced, fully funded public school, regardless of zip code, income, disability status or background. 

Georgia’s leaders should be guided by wisdom, justice and moderation to strengthen the public systems charged with serving all students, rather than fragmenting opportunity through privatization.

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FAQs

What did Georgia announce today?

Georgia opted into a federal tax credit voucher program that provides tax credits to donors who fund private school vouchers.

How does the federal tax credit voucher work?

Individuals receive a dollar-for-dollar tax credit for donations to voucher organizations, reducing funds available for public services, including education.

Why is this concerning for public schools?

The program diverts public resources to private institutions while public schools face staffing, support and funding pressures.

Does Georgia already have voucher programs?

Yes. Existing programs have faced criticism for weak oversight and limited public accountability.

What is IDRA calling for?

IDRA urges state leaders to reverse course and fully fund Georgia’s public schools instead of expanding privatization.