The legislation also makes tremendous improvements in areas of financial transparency, accountability, and student eligibility. With the governor's signature, Georgia's amended tax credit scholarship program will require all student scholarship organizations to follow certain best practices already established by Arete Scholars Fund. Effective this year, the law will:

• Require scholarship organizations to consider the financial need of students and publicly disclose the number of scholarships awarded, along with the income of scholarship recipients.
• Ensure more dollars reach students and their families by restricting the amount available for administrative costs.
• Clarify student eligibility by requiring Georgia public school attendance for at least six weeks, unless students are: 1) eligible to enroll in first grade, kindergarten, or pre-kindergarten; 2) zoned to attend a failing public school; 3) victims of bullying; 4) home schooled for the entire previous year.
• Ensure that donors cannot designate their gift to any specific student.

In addition, the amended tax credit scholarship program allows shareholders of an S-corporation and partners in a limited liability corporation to donate the lesser of their annual state income tax liability or $10,000 per year.

"The governor's office and Georgia lawmakers should be commended for their efforts," said Derek Monjure, executive director at Arete. "With greater transparency and protections against abuse, tax credit scholarships will remain a valuable component in the long-term solution to improve education for all Georgia students."

Georgia took a giant step forward on educational freedom last week. After two years of persistence from school choice supporters, and with input from critics, the 2013 Georgia Legislature responded decisively to improve and grow a tuition tax credit program that already serves more than 11,000 Georgia children.

Our state’s political leaders should be commended for their efforts. By passing House Bill 283 with bipartisan support, legislators continued to shift the focus away from education delivery methods to the best interests of children – further enabling parents to choose the learning environment that best fits their own kids. Changes to the law will help ensure that students and families who have the fewest educational choices are not forgotten.

Unlike similar programs in 11 other states, the Georgia tax credit scholarship program has been frequently questioned by opponents of choice for its ambiguities and lack of transparency. House Bill 283 clarifies the law and moves Georgia wisely forward on parental choice. The bill requires public school attendance for scholarship recipients. Exceptions are granted for students assigned to failing public schools and subjugated to bullying. The law further eliminates  quid-pro-quo giving. HB 283 increases the amount of donations that must be used for scholarships, raises the annual cap on tax credits to $58 million, and requires student scholarship organizations to report the household income and composition of their scholarship recipients.

For the first time, both program supporters and opponents alike will have a clearer view of how tax credit dollars are spent.

For the first time, both program supporters and opponents alike will have a clearer view of how tax credit dollars are spent.

With greater transparency and protections against abuse, tax credit scholarships will remain a valuable component in the long-term solution to improve education for all Georgia students. We need more of this kind of clear vision in our educational policy and strategy. The diligence of the governor’s office along with the actions of this Georgia assembly have laid a strong foundation for continued bipartisan collaboration for the benefit of our greatest asset, our children.

Good conduct is made easier in the bright light of day. We are grateful that Gov. Nathan Deal, his Deputy Chief of Staff Erin Hames, and Georgia lawmakers all moved forcefully this year to shine the light of accountability on a program that is transforming the lives of students throughout our state. A stronger tax credit scholarship program means a brighter future for more Georgia children from all income levels.

Kyle Wingfield's AJC interview with school choice advocate Gerard Robinson provides a sound defense against strict means-testing in Georgia's tax credit scholarship program. Like Mr. Robinson and the group he serves, the student scholarship organization that I co-founded, Arete Scholars Fund, supports the principle of universal school choice for students from all income levels. When dealing with limited resources, we also understand that parameters are often necessary for choice programs to make any meaningful impact.

While Arete has chosen to focus exclusively on serving a student population that consistently underperforms academically, specifically those eligible for free and reduced lunch, we recognize that one size does not fit all in the classroom or in the administration of tax credit scholarships. Still, we believe that the best way to support choice is to expand it and make choice more accessible to Georgia families who do not have any. Two responsible ways to accomplish that are with sensibly set income guidelines and greater transparency standards.

Excluding Georgia, each of the other 11 states with tax credit scholarship programs (including Alabama, with its newly passed bill) sets income limits based on annual gross income of recipients. The range is wide, from Florida's adherence to the free and reduced lunch income guidelines up to Oklahoma's $128,000 per year for a family of four. Without exception, states that outperform Georgia academically are taking intelligent steps to ensure that students and families who have the fewest choices are not forgotten. We believe Georgia should follow, given the limited resources for our program.

"Without exception, states that outperform Georgia academically are taking intelligent steps to ensure that students and families who have the fewest choices are not forgotten. We believe Georgia should follow..."

Like Mr. Robinson, Arete supports "expanding the circumference" of school choice programs to empower more middle-income families to select a school that best suits their child's learning needs. We also believe it wise to define middle-income in real numbers, not subjective labels. 

Beyond establishing acceptable income guidelines, another simple way to reduce the misuse of tax credit scholarships is to follow Mr. Wingfield's advice and enhance the transparency of the program. That is why we support the public reporting of data that is, in most cases, already being captured by student scholarship organizations and the schools they serve.

Public disclosure of the number of scholarships awarded and the annual income of each recipient would enable both program advocates and critics alike to see for the first time how tax credit dollars are being spent. Far from restrictive government regulation, this is a straightforward way for scholarship groups to demonstrate responsible stewardship to program donors and help ensure that families who need help receive it.

We are at a critical juncture in the history of the Georgia tax credit scholarship program and must not lose sight of our objective: to improve education in a state that ranks 46th in high school graduation rates by expanding access to excellent schools.

We can do better. We can close loopholes that make the scholarship program an easy target for opponents of choice. We can introduce reasonable reporting measures, utilizing commonly accepted calculation methods, that prove the program's effectiveness. We can establish generous income guidelines that expand choice for the greatest number of middle-to-lower income families. And we can begin to strengthen Georgia's tax credit program so that it can be expanded to serve and benefit more of our children.

Senate Bill 243 takes a strong first step to accomplish those goals and move Georgia forward on school choice.

Greg Beadles
Chairman of the Board, Arete Scholars Fund

The 10 a.m. rally celebrated the success of school choice in the lives of Georgia students and encouraged those in attendance to voice their support with legislators. The energy level was high despite near-freezing temperatures as the KIPP WAYS Academy Marching Band played lively contemporary songs while students danced and sang along.

Rashaun Holliman, the Grassroots Manager at CEG and a speaker at the event, called the rally a success.

“To see this type of turnout for a rally in 30 degree weather shows that there is definitely a movement going on in Georgia,” said Holliman.

Mike Dudgeon, a State House member from Forsyth County, reminded rally goers that school choice is a critical issue for all Georgians, regardless of political affiliation, race or social class. The sentiment was echoed by other speakers, including Lisa Leslie, former WNBA star and four-time Olympic Gold medalist. Leslie flew from her Los Angeles home to speak at the event and shared her story of being trapped in a school that did not meet her learning needs.

Rachel Shaw, a 7th grade Arete Scholar at Atlanta’s Berean Christian Junior Academy, confidently addressed the crowd, which included approximately 400 students from Arete participating schools. Rachel explained how she was a target for bullies in her local public school, but limited family income and a mother with cancer left her with no educational options.

“Just when I was beginning to think the situation was hopeless, my parents were introduced to the Arete scholarship," said Rachel. "Thanks to the Arete scholarship, my sister and I were both afforded the opportunity to attend a Christian private school. My mom said when she dropped us off on the first day of school, that was the first time in our entire school lives she was able to say goodbye and walk out of the building without having a knot in her stomach. For the first time, she didn’t worry about whether we might have mean teachers or class bullies.”

Students, parents, educators and legislators all spoke about the opportunities and personal growth enabled by school choice programs. The consistent theme throughout was that parents and families know what is best for their children’s education, and education is most effective when parents are empowered to select their child's school.

"The attacks on this law are perplexing," said Derek Monjure, executive director at Arete Scholars Fund. "The most vocal critics claim to support education equality for the poor and underprivileged, but then vehemently oppose a solution that offers it."

Monjure outlines five key areas where tax credit scholarships succeed in Georgia, effectively providing access to educational options otherwise unavailable.

Success #1: Tax credit scholarships create new opportunities for those in need. In a state with slumping graduation rates and a growing dropout problem, low- and middle-income children have fewer opportunities for an excellent education. Through tax credit scholarships, Arete Scholars Fund expands access to educational options for those kids with the greatest financial and academic need  ̶  students eligible for free and reduced lunch.

In less than three years, Arete has awarded more than 2,300 scholarships worth $11 million to more than 1,100 low-income students. In 2011-12, nearly 40% of Scholars lived in poverty, 78% were minority, and the average scholarship family earned  less than $28,000 annually.

Success #2: Tax credit scholarships empower families to choose the right school for their kids. While some critics accuse program donors and administrators of unlawfully designating donations, Arete awards scholarships directly to families and enables parents to choose a school that works best for their children. Scholarships may be used at any accredited and eligible school in Georgia  ̶  secular or religious  ̶  and the scholarship always follows the child.

"We recognize that one size does not fit all in education, and the same principle applies to student scholarship organizations," said Monjure. "While our focus is low-income students, Georgia's law gives families the liberty to work with other scholarship groups that responsibly raise and distribute funds primarily through schools."

Success #3: Tax credit scholarships save money for the state. To help facilitate financial accountability, Georgia law sets the maximum scholarship amount based on the state public school funding formula. Going even further, Arete currently caps scholarships at $5,000 per year, guaranteeing substantial savings to Georgia taxpayers. While data in Georgia is still coming in, other states with similar programs are generating significant and verifiable savings for state budgets.

Success #4: Tax credit scholarship organizations support greater accountability and transparency. Not surprisingly, lawbreakers receive the most attention from the opponents of parental choice. However, the majority of Georgia's largest and most established scholarship groups are voluntarily implementing accountability measures more stringent than the law requires, while simultaneously working to end the abuses of the few. Arete and other groups are partnering with lawmakers to build new, common sense standards into the program  ̶  improvements that will strengthen the law, help prevent misuse, and make it the best it can be for all Georgia citizens.

Success #5: Tax credit scholarships are transforming the lives of Georgia's children. And this is the greatest measure of the program's success. Kids throughout Georgia  ̶  more than 11,000 in 2011  ̶  are enjoying opportunities that improve academic performance, ignite love for learning, and increase family satisfaction.

Tax credit scholarships help rewrite the future for students like Andrea Freeman, a two-year Arete Scholar at Atlanta's Bright Futures Academy. Andrea's scholarship enabled her to escape a neighborhood known more for violence and drug use than opportunity. Today, she is thriving academically and socially as a freshman at Georgia Southern University.

And Andrea is not alone in her success. Records demonstrate that thousands of kids from hundreds of schools all around the state are writing their own stories of personal growth and transformation   ̶  stories worth celebrating and repeating. Stories made possible by Georgia tax credit scholarships.

Schools, advocates and scholarship families frequently ask how they can help advance Arete's mission to provide low-income students with greater access to an excellent education. The 2013 School Choice Rally is a simple, effective way to have a real impact on legislators, public policy, and potential donors.

We would love to see our Arete Scholars and schools turn out for this uplifting event. Join us at 10am on Thursday, January 31st for a rally on the steps of the State Capitol. Participants will also have the opportunity to tour the Capitol and meet their legislator. Click to register your school today!

Last year more than 300 students from Arete schools made their voices heard for school choice, and partnering school Greater Atlanta Adventist Academy wowed the crowd with The Star-Spangled Banner and the gospel favorite I Know I've Been Changed.

For more information about how your school can join the chorus and show support, please call Buck Alford at 678-804-4846 or email balford@aretescholars.org.

We hope to see you on the steps!

Thanks to the generous supporters of Arete Scholars Fund, our second year of operation saw a tremendous increase in reach and impact. The number of students receiving scholarships grew nearly fourfold from 262 to more than 1,000, and the number of participating schools and corporate partners more than doubled. Learn more in our recently released 2011-12 annual report.

Yet, the greatest measure of our effectiveness was the number of personal stories of transformation that poured in from around the state. Children from Clarkesville, Savannah, Augusta. Albany, Macon and all around Metro Atlanta are discovering new gifts and thriving in new learning environments - thanks to tax credit scholarships and opportunities made possible by Arete partners. 

Explore our 2011-12 annual report and read about how educational opportunity is changing lives.

Would you consider partnering with us in this important and rewarding work? Click to learn more about how zero-cost tax credit contributions can help transform the future for disadvantaged children. Donate online and 100% of your contribution will be used for student scholarships.

Call 877-55-ARETE to discover other ways you can help Arete improve education in Georgia.

As currently implemented by a small number of scholarship organizations, the law's vague language enables unethical practices and potentially jeopardizes the education of more than 11,000 Georgia students served by the program in 2011-12, including approximately 1,000 low-income Arete Scholars.

According to the story, the tax credit scholarship program was originally intended to help disadvantaged Georgia students escape struggling public schools, but Channel 2’s Kerry Kavanaugh found it doesn’t always work that way.

"The law said students must be enrolled in a public school but didn’t explicitly say they had to attend class, allowing private school students to also enroll in public schools to collect the credit benefit," reported Kavanaugh.

While the story also highlighted other previously known misuses - including the unlawful designation of funds and a lack of transparency among certain organizations - Kavanaugh did note the overwhelming successes of the statewide program in places like Atlanta's Bright Futures Academy. Seventeen Arete Scholars currently attend the inner city school that serves at-risk students.

"In some cases, we found the scholarships are having an enormous impact on students who can't afford private schools," reported Kavanaugh.

In little more than two years, Arete Scholars Fund has awarded more than 2,300 scholarships worth over $11 million to students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. In 2011-12, the average gross household income for scholarship recipients was $28,000. More than 82 percent of scholars were eligible for federal free or reduced lunch; 78 percent were minority students; and nearly 40 percent fell below the federal poverty line.

"We're one example of how the program is providing new opportunity to those with the greatest need," said Derek Monjure, executive director of Arete Scholars Fund. "We certainly support strengthening the law and eliminating the misuses of a few rogue organizations, but let's not lose sight of the fact that this program is currently helping transform the lives of thousands of Georgia students."

With total tax credits of $170 million through the law's first five years - or less than 2 percent of what Georgia spends on public education in just one year - tax credit scholarships are proving an economically responsible way to improve education in a state that ranks 46th in high school graduation rates.

Now is the time to do what's best for all of Georgia - clean up the program and empower more families of all income levels to select the school that's best for their children. 

To learn more about how tax credit scholarships are serving Georgia students, please follow these links:

Our Guiding Principles
2012 Arete Parental Satisfaction Survey
Four Simple Facts About Tax Credit Scholarships
2011-12 Financial Audit for Arete Scholars Fund

In Georgia, public schools have increased administration and non-teaching staff by 74% since 1992, while the student population has grown by only 41%. The state's graduation rate currently ranks 46th nationally.

“We need to rethink how we spend our money including whether we would get better student outcomes if we redirected these funds to parents so they could send their child to the school of their choice,” said Robert Enlow, president and CEO of the Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice.

To measure that difference, Arete Scholars Fund has commissioned an independent research initiative that will employ scientific methodologies to test the overall effectiveness of our scholarships. The first phase of that initiative measured parental satisfaction of Arete scholarship recipients, and the results were overwhelmingly positive.

The survey was administered electronically to 610 families with children that received Arete scholarships during the 2010-11 school year. It was designed by an independent consultant to measure the perceptions and attitudes in various categories, both academic and non-academic, of a student's current and previous school. Researchers also examined reasons for transferring from public schools and explored parental investment in a child's education.

Parents from urban, rural and suburban environments alike were overwhelmingly satisfied with all aspects of their Scholar’s new school. On two especially critical academic questions, readiness to advance to the next grade and progress toward becoming a well-rounded individual, Arete partnering schools excelled ̶ with an impressive satisfaction rates of 92 percent and 93 percent, respectively. By comparison, only 49 percent and 46 percent, respectively, indicated satisfaction with their previous public school.

Notably, the survey revealed that two frequently used arguments against educational freedom (prohibitive expense and poor transportation) are untrue with Arete families. First, despite lower income levels, scholarship families are so eager for educational options that they are spending significant sums from limited personal funds. More than 57 percent of recipients reported contributing to their child's tuition and fees, with an average amount paid of just over $2,000 per year. Regarding transportation options, Arete families were actually more satisfied or content with their private school, by a margin of 86 percent to 80 percent.

Click to read more survey highlights and explore key findings that demonstrate the high level of overall satisfaction that Arete scholarship families have with their new school. The complete 2012 Parental Satisfaction Survey Report will soon be posted online at www.aretescholars.org/annual-reports-audits.

Dacula, GA (August 31, 2012) – Arete Scholars Fund, a nonprofit working to expand educational opportunities for low-income Georgia students, is competing with organizations nationwide for grants ranging from $10,000 to $250,000 from the Chase Community Giving program. Residents can help ensure our success by simply voting for Arete Scholars Fund through the Chase Community Giving program on Facebook. Voting begins on Thursday, September 6th.

Through the utilization of social media networks, the Chase Community Giving program has already directed more than $20 million dollars toward charities nationwide, putting the power to bring positive change across the nation into the hands of those who need it most. Due to enthusiasm, the program is being continued this year, giving hundreds of additional organizations, including Arete Scholars Fund, the opportunity to win grants to advance their mission.

"Arete Scholars Fund is constantly striving to strengthen our community by serving those children who face the greatest obstacles to lifetime achievement," said Derek Monjure, executive director at Arete Scholars Fund. "Even $10,000 would help open doors for children who otherwise may never enjoy the opportunities that an excellent education affords."

The Fall 2012 round of the Chase Community Giving program is designed to benefit smaller and local charities by being limited to 501(c)3 charities with operating budgets under $10 million. The top eligible charity receives $250,000 and the remaining 195 top charities earn $10,000 through $100,000 awards, for a total of $5 million dollars in grants.

With the support of our volunteers, fans and local residents, Arete Scholars Fund has the opportunity to get much needed resources to serve other deserving students.

"Some groups of people don't advance because they know only one way of life for generations," said Rene Harris, mother to two Arete Scholars. "But thanks to Arete, my family has the opportunity to change that cycle."

How You Can Help

You can help Arete Scholars Fund receive up to $250,000 by simply visiting Facebook.com/ChaseCommunityGiving and casting your vote! Then share with your friends and encourage them to vote as well. Voting will be open from September 6-19, 2012.

If you have questions about Arete Scholars Fund or would like to get involved, please contact Buck Alford at balford@aretescholars.org or call 404.202.0984.

About Chase Community Giving

Chase Community Giving is grant program inspiring a new way of corporate philanthropy by letting participants vote to help determine which small and local non profits will receive donations from Chase. The program has given away over $20 million in grants to charities nationwide, with focuses including animals & environment; education; health; military & veterans; poverty; and the arts. To learn more about the program, visit Facebook.com/ChaseCommunityGiving.

Andrea could hardly have imagined the move to Statesboro when she was one of 550 ninth graders attending a local school in an area known more for rampant drug use, prostitution and homelessness than for opportunity. That was before Andrea was enrolled in Bright Futures Academy.

"Without Bright Futures, who knows where I would be today," said Ms. Freeman. "I could've easily been caught up in the fighting and social drama of that school. Instead I ended up at a place that was more like family."

Bright Futures Academy grew out of a year-round after-school/summer program that serves inner-city, at-risk youth. Started in 2002 by former suburbanites, Philip and Gail Ross, Bright Futures provides middle and high school children with the spiritual, educational, and relational support that will help them become productive members of society and role models to their peers. In 2011, 16 of Bright Futures Academy's 21 students attended on an Arete scholarship.

Since its inception, Bright Futures has graduated 10 students from the Academy. Today, six are enrolled in college, one is in full-time ministry, and others are actively serving in the military.

After witnessing firsthand the indelible impact the school was making in the lives of the underprivileged, Balfour Beatty Construction (BBC) expanded its involvement at Bright Futures beyond the financial partnership with Arete. BBC employees are now serving as mentors to students and are active in construction projects at the school.

“Bright Futures equips children like Andrea to break the cycle of poverty through instilling a passion for education and setting goals,” said Al Petrangeli, Southeast Region CEO for Balfour Beatty Construction. "We're privileged to be a part of that work."

Andrea Freeman agrees that her time at Bright Futures was invaluable.

"They helped me apply to colleges, fill out housing and scholarship forms, and have really kept me focused on succeeding at Georgia Southern," said Andrea, who is majoring in business. "I would've been so overwhelmed if I didn't have Bright Futures help in preparing for college."

Andrea Freeman's extraordinary journey is just one of many stories demonstrating the power of collaboration between impassioned supporters and excellent schools committed to serving disadvantaged youth. Thanks to Balfour Beatty and a growing coalition of partners, nearly 1,000 Arete Scholars throughout Georgia are discovering hope and reaching higher.

To learn more about Bright Futures Academy, visit them online at www.bfatl.org.

A recent NPR story included a number of misrepresentations often repeated by critics of tax credit scholarship programs and parental choice. In response, we thought it would be helpful to summarize some basic facts. Here are four simple ones.

Fact #1: Tax credit scholarship programs use private donations from private citizens and corporations to fund private scholarships. 

Despite persistent claims to the contrary, cash contributions to private nonprofits are not "public" funds, even when the private donation results in a reduction of a tax liability.

As the U.S.Supreme Court ruled in an Arizona tax credit scholarship case last year: "When Arizona taxpayers choose  to contribute to [private nonprofit scholarship organizations], they spend their own money, not money the State has collected from respondents or from other taxpayers." In the opinion of the Court, the "contrary position assumes that income should be treated as if it were government property even if it has not come into the tax collector’s hands.  That premise finds no basis in standing jurisprudence." (emphasis added)

What's more, similar programs elsewhere are actually generating significant and verifiable savings for state budgets.

Fact #2: Many tax credit scholarships are awarded directly to families who make their own enrollment decisions. 

The NPR story misleadingly states that, "Businesses and individuals pay into the fund,which directs the money to private schools." While some scholarship organizations raise and distribute private donations primarily through schools, Arete Scholars Fund - the only organization mentioned by name in the article - awards scholarships directly to low-income families.

Families may then use their award at any eligible, accredited and participating private school in Georgia, either secular or religious. Arete puts the enrollment decision directly in the hands of parents - not donors, schools, program administrators, or government officials. More than 950 Arete Scholars from lower income families are attending the school of their parents' choice this school year alone.

As for ambiguous charges of discrimination, the state requires that all participating private schools comply with the same federal civil rights legislation that governs Georgia public schools.

Fact #3: Tax credit scholarships create opportunity where none existed. 

In a state with slumping graduation rates and a growing dropout problem, low-income children have fewer opportunities for an excellent education. Arete expands access to educational options with need-based scholarships for those children who face the greatest obstacles in life. Entering our third school year, Arete has awarded more than 2,300 scholarships worth $11 million to more than 1,100 students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.

The average recipient comes from a family of five earning a total unadjusted gross income of less than $29,000. Greater than 70 percent of Arete Scholars are minorities, and two-thirds are from fragmented families. As Arete's executive director Derek Monjure mentioned in the NPR article, many Arete Scholars are experiencing opportunity for the first time and are beginning to break generational cycles of poverty. That's good news for all Georgians.

Fact #4: Student Scholarship Organizations support greater accountability and transparency standards.

Another frequent criticism from the opponents of educational opportunity is that Georgia's tax credit scholarship program enables misuses. While granting a few bad apples among the 40 scholarship organizations, most of the state's largest SSOs are supportive of strong accountability and transparency standards. The fact is, leading SSOs are voluntarily implementing stricter accountability measures while working to build new standards into the law.

We agree that reasonable people can debate the merits of tax credit scholarship programs, and that debate should be based upon truth. The truth is, there are a growing number of supporters and partners who place the best interests of Georgia school children above political affiliations and unhelpful public-private distinctions. These supporters are putting their money where their hearts are and are creating educational opportunity and hope for Georgia children who desperately seek both.

Evidence indicates that grades are improving, attitudes toward learning are changing, character is growing, and parents are increasingly satisfied. Those are facts that should be celebrated.

Welcome back!

It is hard to believe that summer break is over for students, teachers and administrators throughout Georgia. We hope you all have enjoyed a time of rest and are gearing up for a great 2012-13.

Thanks to a wonderfully dedicated team of partners and supporters, more than 950 Arete Scholars are among the students returning to school this month. Scholars from all around our state - Atlanta to Albany, Clarkesville to Savannah - are enjoying educational opportunities at the school of their parents' choice.

Veteran educator and Arete Client Services Advocate James Greco shares his favorite back-to-school memories: "As a student, I always enjoyed this time of year. A new school year provided a fresh start and a new perspective on life. Strange as it sounds, I always liked the smell of freshly waxed floors and sharpened pencils. Now as an educator, I look forward to meeting new students, reconnecting with colleagues, and giving kids an opportunity to write a new chapter in their lives."

What is your favorite back-to-school memory? Send us a note and a first-day photo at balford@aretescholars.org and let us hear how students, parents and teachers are celebrating a new school year.

$51.5 million limit may be reached in August

The Georgia Department of Revenue (DOR) announced today that it has pre-approved $39,301,058.01 in tuition tax credits through July 20, 2012. That represents 76.3% of the $51.5 million available in Qualified Education Expense credits.

In the last two weeks alone, the DOR has approved credit requests totaling more than $4 million. By comparison, it was late October in 2011 before the program reached the same level of approved credits. Only $12.2 million in credits remain available for 2012, and it is estimated that the cap will be reached by the end of August.

Corporate and individual state income taxpayers may contribute to Arete Scholars Fund by first requesting approval from the DOR. In exchange for a dollar-for-dollar tax credit, a corporation may contribute up to 75% of its Georgia state income tax liability and married couples may contribute up to $2,500. Individuals may donate up to $1,000.

To learn more about how a zero-cost contribution to Arete can help transform lives, please call 877.246.4095. Your donations are making a difference.

Three Arete Scholars were honored yesterday as part of the first annual Breakthrough Collaborative Luncheon sponsored by Georgia Family Council and City of Refuge. The three students - Cornell Harris, Carlethia Ingram, and Brandon Dever - were among 13 finalists being recognized for their outstanding academic and personal achievements.

The event, which included a lunch prepared by former White House Executive Chef Walter Scheib, focused on the power of collaboration and how it can change lives. Awards were given to individuals who have made great strides toward achieving self-sufficiency through the influence of local organizations.

First year Arete Scholar Cornell Harris, 11, received special recognition and was selected as one of two $1,000 award winners. Cornell was chosen for his outstanding work and personal development at Heritage Academy in Augusta.

"Collaboration is essential in all that we do," said Derek Monjure, executive director at Arete Scholars Fund. "From legislative proponents and corporate partners to community groups and the schools that serve our scholars, diligent cooperation is necessary if we're going to break generational cycles of poverty. The students celebrated here today are evidence of that collaboration."

The Breakthrough Georgia initiative seeks to break through the political and social obstacles that keep people from thriving. The initiative will help identify and develop the best collaborative solutions for meaningful results in the areas of education, family and community, justice, economic stability, and health and wellness.

Congratulations to Cornell, Carlethia, and Brandon! 

The CFO of the Year Award celebrates the achievements of the city's most accomplished and dedicated chief financial officers. Nominees are judged on a number of financial criteria, as well as their overall leadership, significant achievements, and contributions to the community at large.

According to the Atlanta Business Chronicle, Beadles received the award "for his work helping expand educational opportunities" for low-income Georgia children.

"We had a very strong list of candidates for the Community Service Award this year and choosing just one winner was exceptionally difficult," said Greg Cinnamon, one of the judges and president of the Association for Corporate Growth Atlanta as well as a corporate partner at Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP. "Setting Greg Beadles apart from the other candidates, though, was the sheer impact that his tireless devotion to Arete Scholars Fund as founder and chairman has made in the community."

The honor also received mention on ESPN's NFC South Blog.

We are grateful for the vision and leadership that Greg Beadles brings to Arete Scholars Fund. Thank you, Greg, for your friendship and your commitment to providing educational opportunity in Georgia.

As Ms. Saul noted, our organization, Arete Scholars Fund, focuses exclusively on low-income children. The need-based scholarships - which are awarded directly to families that need them most and may be used at any accredited school in Georgia - are expanding access to high-quality educational options in a state that ranks 46th in graduation rates.

In only two years, Arete has awarded more than 1,400 scholarships to students from families with an average household size of five and average unadjusted gross income of $29,000 per year. Parents frequently cite a myriad of benefits, including improved academic performance, increased love for learning, greater student and parental satisfaction, and better behavior.

Nevertheless, Student Scholarship Organizations (SSOs) in Georgia are not monolithic, and there are indeed some bad apples. For our part, from Arete's inception in 2010 we have been a vocal supporter of greater standards of accountability, transparency, and fiscal responsibility. Also, we have met with the Southern Education Foundation and supported its petition to clearly define the current enrollment statute.

In fact, our concern for the integrity of the statewide program led us to create Arete and model an approach that addresses many of the broad criticisms.

Focus on low-income families

Arete maintains rigid eligibility requirements based on the income guidelines for the federal free and reduced lunch program  ̶  a demographic that research repeatedly shows underachieves academically. Families must reapply each year to verify income and need.

Empowerment of parents

Another persistent criticism is that donors and schools are making self-protecting decisions about how scholarship money is distributed. In response, Arete awards scholarships directly to families and empowers parents to choose a school that works best for their children. Scholarships may be used at any accredited, eligible, and participating school in Georgia , and the scholarship always follows the child. This creates accountability for schools as parents can “vote with their feet.”

As supporters of true parental empowerment, we recognize that one size does not fit all in education. Consequently, Arete stands in strong support of public, private, charter, virtual and home schools as vital to ensuring all children have access to a quality education.

Fiscal responsibility and transparency

Finally, Arete has instituted operational standards far beyond what the law requires. With a maximum award amount based on the state public school funding formula, every Arete scholarship guarantees substantial savings to Georgia taxpayers. Additionally, while Georgia permits scholarship organizations to retain 10% of contributions for operations, Arete uses less while submitting to annual independent audits with published results.

It is that sort of governance that has made us the partner of choice for a growing coalition of world-class corporations that resonate with our mission, companies like The Home Depot, Dollar General, Equifax, Walgreens, Waste Management, Balfour Beatty Construction, and others.

We agree the program in Georgia needs improvement, but let's support the organizations like Arete that are leading by example and working with lawmakers to make the program the best it can be for the citizens of Georgia.

Let's also remember that even with growing pains and imperfections, this is an initiative that is making a real difference in the lives of real kids, kids that know little of political debates, tax credit caps, and public-private distinctions. And at a maximum statewide investment of $51.5 million in 2012 - or less than 0.6% of the total state spend for education - we believe that's a small price to pay for new opportunities for children who need them most.

Watch the latest video from Arete Scholars Fund and learn how tuition tax credit scholarships can help transform the lives of those lower income Georgia students who face the greatest obstacles to achievement.

With the help of corporate and individual donors, nearly 1,000 Arete Scholars are rediscovering hope through educational opportunity.

For more information about how your company can partner with Arete for a zero-cost way to serve Georgia students, please call 877-55-ARETE or visit our corporate partner page.  

Now is the chance to have your story heard.

This week the Center for an Educated Georgia (CEG) kicked off an exciting storytelling competition for Georgia students. Submit your school choice success story - in either photo, video, or written form - and see your child featured in a special CEG publication this fall.

Aaron explained that her company is particular about where it chooses to participate in tax credit scholarship programs. At Waste Management, Aaron helped define the standard for determining whether the company would offer assistance to a program.

To receive Waste Management's support, a tax credit program or scholarship organization must: 1) support those families without means; 2) be highly transparent and accountable; 3) offer scholarship portability; and 4) provide savings to state budgets.

Read more in this post from the Thomas B. Fordham Institute. 

Now entering its second year as a corporate partner of Arete Scholars Fund, Waste Management doubled its financial commitment to Arete for 2012. 

Learn more about Waste Management's service and work in the community by visiting them online.

"We are thrilled at the response from our families," said Derek Monjure, executive director at Arete Scholars Fund. "It demonstrates the parents' commitment to the education of their children, and we're grateful to be able to support them in their efforts."

Final scholarship award amounts will be determined this week, and award letters and notifications will be sent to parents during the week of May 7th, according to Monjure.

New applications will be accepted only as additional funds become available. For regular updates regarding applications and other Arete news, follow us on Facebook and join our email distribution list by completing the Get Notified! form.

Recently, we caught up with Al and asked him about Balfour Beatty's partnership with Arete.

Q: How did you get involved with education reform and service to low-income families?
A: My wife and I have been involved with serving kids in need for a long time. As a CEO of an organization, there is a lot of opportunity to hear about different causes and deserving organizations. When we learned about Arete Scholars Fund and its support for children in need and its focus on breaking the poverty cycle, we jumped on board.

Q: Why do you think it's important for corporations to support educational opportunity?
A: Corporations have a responsibility to give back to the communities in which they work. The tuition tax credit scholarship program establishes a platform for a portion of that giving. By enabling corporations to direct a share of their state tax obligation to scholarship funds, this program provides a budget-neutral way to serve the kids in our community who are less privileged than others. It's a no-brainer really.

Q: As a corporation, how did Balfour Beatty Construction decide to support Arete Scholars Fund?
A: The tax credit scholarship program was designed to allow corporations to direct up to seventy-five percent of their Georgia state income tax liability into scholarship funds for kindergarten to high school students. The reason we chose Arete over other SSOs (student scholarship organizations) is because the organization is exclusively need-based. It truly focuses on children in poverty situations, those kids who receive full or partial subsidies for school lunches.

Q: Did you have concerns about how your corporate brand would be represented?
Corporations are always concerned about their brand in the community, and Balfour Beatty is no different. When you take a look at Arete's stewardship of money and their service to families in need, for me the exposure for our organization is zero. For Balfour Beatty, this was an easy decision.

Q: What would you say to those who argue that tax credit scholarships unfairly favor one system of delivery over others?
A: One solution does not solve every problem. These are kids lives we're dealing with here. ... Some kids excel in local public schools, my kids go to public schools. It's not about the public school; it's about the child, it's about the individual, and the formula that allows them to succeed. And sometimes that's taking them out of the environment that they're in and placing them in a more favorable learning environment for them to excel. This isn't politics. It's purely about how do these children have the best opportunity to succeed. We have to afford them that chance.

Balfour Beatty Construction is the fourth largest contractor in the nation, a commercial construction business delivering more than $3.4 billion each year in complex, one–of–a–kind custom buildings that enhance people’s lives and alter the landscape of our communities and our nation. Learn more about Balfour Beatty's service in the community.

Arete Scholars Fund is currently supported by the generosity of world-class organizations like Balfour Beatty Construction, Dollar General, Equifax, The Home Depot, Tempur-Pedic, Walgreens, The Walton Family Foundation, Waste Management, and others.

For more information about how your company can support educational opportunity for low-income families, please explore Partnering with Arete or call Derek Monjure at 678.804.4843.

That means nearly one-third of Georgia incoming ninth grade students did not graduate in four years. By comparison, North Carolina had a 77.9 percent graduation rate for 2011 and South Carolina 73.6 percent, according to the AJC.

Georgia's graduation rate currently ranks 46th nationally.

How does your local school system rate? Find out using this searchable database from the AJC. 

These researchers conclude, "Choice's track record so far is promising and provides support for continuing expansion of school choice policies."

Read more for lots of compelling evidence.

Few questions are so universally recognized  ̶  thanks to Shakespeare's Juliet  ̶  and few so frequently fielded by the team at Arete Scholars Fund. It's a fair question.

For us, arete is more than a tag on logos and letterhead. It's an invariable reminder of our mission: to help students from lower income families  ̶  those who often face the greatest obstacles to academic and personal achievement  ̶  reach their highest human potential through educational opportunity.

Pronounced ah-reh-tay, the word is an ancient Greek concept that most simply means excellence in action. Arete is a life well lived, virtuous and courageous. It signifies potential realized and function fulfilled. To achieve arete is to become the person you were intended to be, to walk purposefully in the path prepared before you. It's a name that best captures our vision for all Georgia students, but sadly it's a goal seldom grasped by those families we strive to serve.

Picture the racehorse Secretariat  ̶  a creature whose entire life converged on squeezing every drop of potential from his unique gift to run fast. The horse ran with graceful, ferocious joy and appeared to be birthed for the sole purpose of winning the Triple Crown. In a sense, Secretariat achieved arete. How much more should we desire that same excellence for the children in our state?

John Gardner wrote, “Great gifts unused, even unsuspected, are hardly a rarity. No doubt there have always been a great many men and women of extraordinary talent who have died with all their music in them.” Far too many children from lower income families lack the opportunity to exercise their gifts or even identify them. They are unused and unsuspected.

Arete Scholars Fund exists to aid low-income Georgia children in the discovery, development, and use of their unique gifts and talents. Though only in our second year, we are encouraged by the scores of success stories already streaming in from around our state. More than 1,000 children throughout Georgia are discovering opportunity  ̶  many for the first time  ̶  and are being challenged and inspired in schools of their family's choosing.

Some Arete scholars have escaped unsafe environments, while others are now flourishing in smaller classes. Many are encountering and conquering demanding new academic curricula, while many more are thriving in extracurricular arts and athletic programs. In urban, rural, and suburban settings alike, all are learning what it means to dream, to excel, to strive toward a goal.

Upon hearing her 10-year-old Arete Scholar confidently declare his desire to be a paleontologist, one Augusta-area mother, a single parent trying to make a better life for her children, said emotionally, "It's amazing to hear my children talk like that and have hope that they can actually reach those goals."

Arete students and their families know little of political wrangling, tax credit caps, and unhelpful distinctions of private and public. But they do know about gifts discovered and hope rekindled. They may still struggle to pronounce the word  ̶  many of us do, too  ̶  but thanks to the selfless efforts of teachers, parents, and financial supporters, these young scholars now know a little something about arete.

We're proud to be a part of their discovery.

In addition, the DOR has introduced a new online tool that simplifies the process for Georgia taxpayers to apply for a Qualified Education Expense credit. The secure solution, available via the Georgia Tax Center (GTC) website, will also enable student scholarship organizations like Arete Scholars Fund to apply for a credit on behalf of donor partners. The mail-in option will remain available for credit requests.

"We are excited about the adjusted cap for 2012 and the new online pre-approval process," said Derek Monjure, executive director at Arete Scholars Fund. "The changes represent significant improvements to the program. More Georgia parents will be empowered with choice, some for the first time, and participation will be made easier for donors."

Detailed instructions about how to enroll in and use the online credit pre-approval process can be found at the following links:
For registered Georgia taxpayers
For new Georgia taxpayers

For more information about making a tuition tax credit contribution to Arete Scholars Fund, please call 404.946.8450.

Read more here. 

November 7, 2011  

Arete Scholars Fund of Dacula was one of 234 non-profits chosen by Wells Fargo team members to receive a $1,000 grant in the third year of the Days of Giving program in Atlanta.

As part of the Days of Giving celebration, Atlanta area Wells Fargo employees nominated groups that deliver important services in their communities. A total of 31 groups from Gwinnett and 21 from surrounding areas were honored on Nov. 7 at a breakfast at the 1818 Club in Duluth.

“We are proud to reach so many groups and people through this,” said Scott Asher, Wells Fargo’s community bank president for the area, in a released statement.

“Wells Fargo has a long proud history of community involvement and local decision making,” added Robert Dobbs, business banking area manager for Gwinnett. “Days of Giving is the ideal representation of that and we look forward to celebrating our communities in this way for years to come.”

Atlanta Wells Fargo team members were also recognized for pledging $937,000 in the company's annual United Way and Community Support campaign -- 10 percent more than last year. Wells Fargo corporate will also make a $600,000 contribution to the United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta.

“We take seriously our ongoing commitment to communities," said Tracey Shrader, Area Vice President – South Atlantic for Waste Management of Georgia. “We believe all Georgia students should have access to quality education. Arete’s service to economically disadvantaged families complements our continuing efforts to make our communities better places to work and live.”

“Arete was selected based on its accountability and transparency standards in serving Georgia families and schools,” Shrader said. 

Arete Scholars Fund awards scholarships based solely on financial need and determines eligibility based on the income guidelines from the federal free and reduced lunch program. During the 2010-11 school year, Arete's first year of operation, the Dacula-based nonprofit awarded 262 scholarships worth an average of $4,577 to students attending 38 schools throughout the state. This year the organization expects to award more than $6 million in scholarships to students who face the greatest obstacles to academic achievement.

“Arete was selected based on its accountability and transparency standards in serving Georgia families and schools,” Shrader said. “The organization’s responsible approach to the tax credit scholarship program aligns well with our own standards for excellence.”

Under the Georgia Tuition Tax Credit Scholarship Program, corporations like Waste Management may donate up to 75 percent of their Georgia state income tax liability to authorized student scholarship organizations and receive a tax credit in return.

“We are honored to have Waste Management as a team member in our work to provide educational opportunity to at-risk Georgia students,” said Derek Monjure, executive director at Arete Scholars Fund. “The big winners are the students who will find a learning environment that helps them reach their highest potential.”

Other Arete corporate and organizational partners include The Home Depot Foundation, Newell Rubbermaid, Balfour Beatty Construction, Walgreens and The Walton Family Foundation.

About Waste Management, Inc.

With more than 700 employees serving customers in Georgia, Waste Management, based in Houston, Texas, is the leading provider of comprehensive waste management services in North America. Our subsidiaries provide collection, transfer, recycling and resource recovery, and disposal services. We are also the largest residential recycler and a leading developer, operator and owner of waste-to-energy facilities in the United States. Our customers include residential, commercial, industrial and municipal customers throughout North America. To learn more about Waste Management, visit www.wm.com or www.thinkgreen.com.

About Arete Scholars Fund

Arete Scholars Fund is a Georgia Student Scholarship Organization that supports public education by providing need-based private school scholarships to low-income Georgia families. An initiative of the Georgia Tax Tuition Scholarship Program, Arete raises funds primarily through the private donations of corporations. Arete (ah‐reh‐tay) is a Greek word that means "the pursuit of virtue, goodness, and excellence with the aim of reaching one’s highest human potential." Visit Arete Scholars Fund online at www.aretescholars.org.