Speakers - Jan. 10, 2014
Posted by Mary Ulich
on Jan 10, 2014
This week, our speakers represent 4 of the independent school options here in our Alpharetta community. Each school will have a display in the room, and each speaker will speak for 3-4 minutes about the school. In Alpharetta, we are blessed with outstanding public schools, but parents still want a choice and a voice in educating their children. This is an outstanding opportunity to learn about some of the options for education in our community.
Independent schools account for over 25 percent of our nation’s schools, enrolling 10 percent of all students. In our state, the Georgia Independent School Association (GISA) represents 72,480 students within 160 member schools. In Fulton County alone, GISA represents 44 schools serving almost 26,000 students. These are children who are educated in a GISA member school whose parents pay state and local taxes, yet who receive little to no educational services from their tax dollars. GISA schools provide annual tax relief for Georgia taxpayers. Considering the current annual student cost and extrapolating from the published Digest of Education Statistics, the state of Georgia and its taxpayers save over $745 million by those students attending GISA member schools in one single year. Although the tax relief effected by GISA member schools is substantial, GISA schools and independent schools throughout the United States support their communities in various additional ways.
Relieving our citizens of the burden of the per-student education cost, Georgia’s independent schools’ enrollment enables substantial tax savings to Georgia’s taxpaying citizens. Furthermore, communities throughout the state gain tax revenue from all property owners, regardless of where a child is educated. The local tax base would undoubtedly have no option but to grow considerably should the state’s current public schools have to absorb the student population enrolled in our independent schools. Independent schools meaningfully enrich communities throughout the nation, and the wealth of benefits that the Georgia Independent School Association’s member schools provide to our state are transparent and unmistakable.
Independent schools account for over 25 percent of our nation’s schools, enrolling 10 percent of all students. In our state, the Georgia Independent School Association (GISA) represents 72,480 students within 160 member schools. In Fulton County alone, GISA represents 44 schools serving almost 26,000 students. These are children who are educated in a GISA member school whose parents pay state and local taxes, yet who receive little to no educational services from their tax dollars. GISA schools provide annual tax relief for Georgia taxpayers. Considering the current annual student cost and extrapolating from the published Digest of Education Statistics, the state of Georgia and its taxpayers save over $745 million by those students attending GISA member schools in one single year. Although the tax relief effected by GISA member schools is substantial, GISA schools and independent schools throughout the United States support their communities in various additional ways.
- In an effort to prepare their students for a lifetime of responsible citizenship, independent schools encourage an unwavering commitment to community service opportunities in their policies and programs.
- Independent schools are geographically diverse; students do not have to live within a certain district in order to attend them, offering parents greater school choice. This, in turn, has historically increased property values within neighboring communities. GISA member schools promote enrollment from all segments of the community.
- Independent schools frequently offer their auditoriums, gymnasiums, sports fields, and other facilities for use as needed to their community at large.
- Independent schools are innovators in the field of education, setting high achievement standards and offering rigorous academic challenges. According to the College Board, students of independent schools consistently outperform public school students on the SAT and the NCES reports that a substantially higher percentage of independent school students apply to colleges.
Relieving our citizens of the burden of the per-student education cost, Georgia’s independent schools’ enrollment enables substantial tax savings to Georgia’s taxpaying citizens. Furthermore, communities throughout the state gain tax revenue from all property owners, regardless of where a child is educated. The local tax base would undoubtedly have no option but to grow considerably should the state’s current public schools have to absorb the student population enrolled in our independent schools. Independent schools meaningfully enrich communities throughout the nation, and the wealth of benefits that the Georgia Independent School Association’s member schools provide to our state are transparent and unmistakable.