The Partnership in cooperation with the Georgia Chamber of Commerce first developed the popular briefing in 2004 and has delivered more than 150 presentations since.  The briefing is constantly being updated.  It provides specific dollar and cents evidence that education is vitaly important to a community's prosperity.  Here is the latest version (Henry County Intergovernmental Retreat - posted August 26, 2010).

New: Economics of Education - Third Edition
The Georgia Partnership will provide up to two free copies of the new report upon request. 

The briefing emphasizes the strong link between economic prosperity and the state's/individual community's public education system.  Audiences comprised of business, government, education and community leaders get a first-hand look at how important education is.  Without a first class system, a community's workforce can't be properly trained enough to attract businesses.

Attendance at briefings has been good and the response enthusiastic.  Audiences are urged to get involved in their local systems and advice on how to do that is provided.  The Georgia Partnership also offers to work with communities to help them establish a plan to improve their schools.  (For more information or to schedule a briefing, contact the Partnership.)

Since January 1 audiences have included:

Troup County Chamber of Commerce
Dunwoody Rotary Club
Bartow County Chamber of Commerce
Liberty County Chamber of Commerce
Leadership Columbus
Leadership North Fulton
Georgia Rotary Club, Literacy Conference
Washington County Chamber of Commerce
Georgia Academy for Economic Development (Several)
Camden County Rotary Club
Leadership Gwinnett
Macon Chamber of Commerce
Vidalia Kiwanis Club
Technology Association of Georgia
Leadership Haralson
Annual Georgia PTA Conference
Newnan-Coweta Chamber of Commerce
Paulding County Chamber of Commerce
Roswell Rotary Club
Multiple presentations at Education Policy Forums
Georgia Municipal Association

Relating:

One community, after hearing the briefing, decided to form their own Economics of Education Committee that would focus on improving and supporting education.  Led by the local Elbert County Chamber of Commerce and the Community Partnership of Elbert County, citizens representing business, education, government and civic organizations, met to develop an Action Plan to guide their work.

The Georgia Partnership facilitated this planning and strategizing.  The plan is a step by step roadmap on how the group was formed and how it developed its strategy to improve education in Elbert County.  This replication manual is now available. Also available is "The How To's of Community Planning" (second edition) brochure that is a snapshot of the replication manual.  Hard copies of the brochure are available by contacting the Partnership.