Friday Facts: May 8, 2026

Every year, thousands of Georgia parents fill out lottery applications for schools their children may never get to attend. Not because they can’t afford it, but because thousands of other Georgia families want the same thing and there simply aren’t enough seats.

That school is a public charter school. 

And if you’re not entirely sure what that means, you’re in good company. Charter schools have been at the center of America’s education debate for decades, yet most Americans still struggle to explain what one actually is. Charter School Week is a good time to change that.

We dive into the topic of charter schools in this week’s commentary.

– Kyle Wingfield

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This year’s session was dominated by a pair of tax debates: one over income taxes and one concerning property taxes. The opposition to each plan featured the common complaint that each amounted to “cutting” revenues–i.e., the ability to spend more taxpayer dollars–year over year well into the future. Only in Washington, D.C., could anyone believe that was true.

While a great deal of focus on education policy in Georgia has revolved around school choice policies and education finance, there are significant changes taking place inside the classroom as well. Georgia has joined several states in addressing early literacy, that fundamental period for students that typically begins around age 5.

With most Americans recently submitting their income tax filings, it’s an opportune time to review where exactly those tax dollars go in the federal budget these days. Spoiler: It’s mostly going to our entitlement programs, Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. But what should also be alarming is how much tax revenue is being used at this point just to pay interest on the national debt.

Ronald Reagan reportedly once observed to his chief of staff James Baker, “I’d rather get 80% of what I want than go over the cliff with my flags flying.” But with the business of the General Assembly likely concluded until 2027, the 2026 legislative session may be defined by its missed opportunities, both in the final version of the bills passed and in those that didn’t make it across the finish line.

If you’ve spent any time scrolling through social media or watching the evening news lately, you’ve likely heard a familiar villain blamed for the skyrocketing cost of housing in Georgia: the “institutional investor.” But if housing affordability is one of your concerns, the “investor” issue is a distraction.

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Gov. Kemp and the Georgia Department of Revenue announced that the state has begun issuing the one-time, special tax refunds authorized by HB 1000 during the 2026 legislative session. The fourth such refund of its kind under Gov. Kemp’s leadership, it will return over $1 billion to Georgia taxpayers, thanks to the state’s approach to maintaining a balanced budget.

Gov. Kemp signed multiple bills into law which aim to support literacy and math education, expand education opportunities and support students and teachers in Georgia’s K-12 education system. The nine pieces of legislation are listed in a press release from the Governor’s office this week.

Ted Turner, CNN founder, businessman and ‘Mouth of the South,’ died at 87.Turner turned a billboard business into a media empire, creating 24-hour cable news. He also owned the Atlanta Braves and supported environmental causes.

The Justice Department can retain 600 boxes of election records that prosecutors seized from Fulton County, a federal judge in Georgia ruled Wednesday, enabling investigators to continue pursuing a probe that dovetails with President Trump’s grievances over his defeat in the 2020 election.

Gov. Kemp signed multiple bills into law which aim to strengthen public safety and support law enforcement in Georgia. Among them is a bill to create a specialty license plate for individuals with autism or developmental disabilities and require training for interacting with individuals with autism in law enforcement settings.

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One More Fact 💡

Across Georgia, graduation season is marking a major milestone for students and families. Graduation is a moment of celebration, but it is also a call to courage. The future will be shaped by those willing to work, risk, learn and keep going.

Theodore Roosevelt captured that spirit in his famous “Man in the Arena” quote:

“It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena…”

That is a fitting reminder for graduates. A good education should prepare young people to enter the arena of life with discipline, confidence and purpose. As graduates step forward, we should celebrate not only what they have accomplished, but what they now have the freedom to pursue.