Tuesday, July 29, 2025
Good Morning! It’s back-to-school time in Coastal Georgia, so we look at Georgia’s fledgling voucher program and one school superintendent’s assessment of the state of her district’s schools. We also look at why Coastal Georgia’s congressman declared he was staying the course in his U.S. Senate bid. Finally, we note some things you may have missed. Questions, comments, or story ideas? You can reach me at craig.thecurrent@gmail.com.
NEWS: EDUCATION
More money than applicants
August means the start of school in Georgia, but the state is still ironing out the list of who can access a new private and home school voucher fund that has more money than applicants.
About 8,600 students will be eligible for $6,500 in public money for their families to spend on private schools, home school materials or other educational services this school year, according to a July 22 statement from the Georgia Student Finance Commission.
But that headline figure of 8,600 is misleading, as the commission continues to review applications and initiated new data checks after The Current asked officials why Bryan County was listed among the home counties of voucher recipients.
The Current’s data reporter, Maggie Lee, reports.
NEWS: K-12 EDUCATION
Absenteeism, discipline, ‘culture and climate’
All of Chatham County’s 36,000 public school students will receive a free breakfast and lunch during the coming school year, which starts Monday. Teachers have been given $500 stipends to purchase school supplies. School system staff have received raises.
These were among the announcements made by Denise Watts, superintendent of the Savannah-Chatham County Public School System, during a public forum on Sunday sponsored by the Savannah chapter of the NAACP.
In her remarks at Savannah’s Tremont Temple Missionary Baptist Church, Watts said the school system’s main goal this year is to combat chronic absenteeism, largely a legacy of the COVID-19 pandemic. Last year, an average of 40% of high school students in Chatham County missed more than 10% of the school year, she said.
Other major concerns, she said, were the school system’s approach to discipline and the “culture and climate” of its schools, The Current’s Domonique King reports.
ANALYSIS: POLITICS
Staying the course
In the marathon that is a political campaign, Buddy Carter is going through an especially difficult stretch.
Gov. Brian Kemp last week disclosed his favored candidate in the race to decide which Republican will face Democrat Jon Ossoff in next year’s U.S. Senate race, and it wasn’t Coastal Georgia’s congressman. Furthermore, U.S. Rep. Mike Collins, another self-proclaimed “MAGA warrior,” entered the race Monday, threatening to divide the ranks of party’s avid Trump loyalists and costing Carter votes.
Despite all that, Carter says he’s staying the course. The Current’s Craig Nelson looks at the mounting challenges facing him and the battle brewing in the state GOP following Kemp’s move.
NEWS: UPDATES
ICYMI
- Check it out: How to stay safe during heat waves
- More school news: The Georgia Department of Education says it has shelved a plan to limit access to services for public school students with severe health issues after pushback from parents, advocates and educators, The Current’s Domonique King writes.
- Still more school news: The Trump administration will release billions in frozen education funds after widespread outcry, including from Republican members of Congress, about the devastating impacts.
- Taxes: The state Senate is about to begin laying the groundwork for making Georgia the 10th state with no income tax.
We want to meet your friends! If you like this newsletter be sure to share it.
Carter stays the course in U.S. Senate bid as obstacles mount
Gov. Brian Kemp has thrown his weight behind Derek Dooley in the upcoming Republican primary for the U.S. Senate race, leaving Buddy Carter and Reagan Box as the only two declared candidates and Mike Collins announcing his entry into the race.
Thousands to start private school year with Georgia public money under voucher system
About 8,600 students will each tap $6,500 in public money to help their families pay for private school, home school programs or other educational supports this year, under a new project long sought by Georgia Republican legislators.
Chatham-Savannah school superintendent sets attendance, discipline priorities
Savannah-Chatham County Public School System Superintendent Denise Watts discussed the district’s priorities for the upcoming school year, including improvements to student attendance, parent involvement, discipline, and literacy.
Community gathers to back diversity, equity, inclusion efforts
Advocacy groups and residents gathered at St. Philip AME Church to celebrate Disability Pride Month and speak out against efforts to rescind diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, while faith leaders and advocacy groups collaborated to raise awareness and push for equity in their communities.
New Georgia Senate panel to take up abolishing state income tax
Repeal proposals prompt concerns over how to replace revenue; many states raise sales taxes.
Kelvin King, ex-Senate candidate, launches bid for Georgia secretary of state
Kelvin King, a former Republican candidate for U.S. Senate and husband of State Election Board member Janelle King, has launched a bid for secretary of state, joining state Rep. Tim Fleming in the race to become Georgia’s next top elections officer.
Republican John King withdraws from Georgia U.S. Senate race
Republican John King dropped his U.S. Senate bid Thursday and says he will instead seek another term as Georgia’s insurance commissioner. This story also appeared in Georgia Recorder King announced his decision with a social media post at a time when other high-profile Republicans, like former Tennessee football coach Derek Dooley and U.S. Rep. Mike […]
Billions in federal education funding unfrozen by Trump administration
The Trump administration has agreed to release billions in frozen education funds after widespread outcry from Republican members of Congress and Democratic attorneys general and governors.
How to stay safe during heat waves
Heat-related illnesses can quickly progress to life-threatening heat stroke, so it is important to recognize the warning signs and take steps to stay cool, such as drinking fluids, finding shade, and using cool, damp cloths to lower body temperature.
Support independent, solutions-based investigative journalism without bias, fear or favor on issues affecting Savannah and Coastal Georgia.
You must be logged in to post a comment.