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An updated Economics of Education briefing has been developed and has been presented to several audiences state-wide since the first briefing was given in Atlanta in August 2007.  

The Partnership in cooperation with the Georgia Chamber of Commerce first developed the popular briefing in 2004 and made more than 60 presentations.  The new briefing builds upon the initial effort and provides specific dollar and cents evidence that education is vitaly important to a community's prosperity. 

Twelve cities (Atlanta, Rome, Athens, Augusta, Macon, Dublin, Savannah, Gainesville, Carrollton, Columbus, Tifton, and Bainbridge) were on the state-wide tour that was conducted in August and September.  Other briefings have been given since and more are planned. 

  • A video of the initial briefing in Atlanta is available here. 
  • Here is this month's most recent PowerPoint briefing presented at the Georgia Academy for Economic Development.
  • Here is the booklet that is provided with the briefing.
  • A hard copy is available upon request to the Partnership.

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 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
Camden County Rotary Club

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" brochure that is a snapshot of the replication manual.  Hard copies of the brochure are available by contacting the Partnership.