An Alternate Solution to the Georgia HOPE Scholarship Debate

According to The Georgia Student Finance Commission, The HOPE scholarship was established in 1993 and has since then provided funding to over 700,000 students in Georgia. Full tuition, fees, and a book allowance of $300 per year are provided to the qualifying student who attends a Georgia public college or university and maintains a B average. Only $3,000 per year is provided to the student who chooses to attend a private college or university. The student who attends the public college may choose to attend part-time or full-time whereas the student attending a private college must be enrolled full-time. The funding is provided for up to 12

There is another option that will keep HOPE within its budget and extend vitality. Eliminating the book allowance and other fees is another alternative. According to figures from the Carl Vinson Institute would save the state an average of $93 million a year over the next five years. Eliminating the book allowance could save the state at least another $56 million a year. This is the better solution because it will not affect the requirements for the scholarship or exclude any eligible students because of their income. Low-income students will have the option of applying for the Federal Pell Grant and using these funds to pay for their student fees and books. According to the 2003-2004 U.S. Department of Education Student Guide, the Pell Grant is a needs based grant that awards each qualifying student up to $4,000 a year. The Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant is another needs based grant for undergraduates with exceptional financial need and gives priority to students who receive Federal Pell Grants. Eligible students can receive between $100 and $4,000 a year depending on when they apply, their need, the funding level of the school they are attending, and the policies of the financial aid office where they attend school. The Federal Work Study Program provides jobs for undergraduate and graduate students with financial need, allowing them to earn money to help pay education expenses. This is an excellent opportunity for the student to pay off educational expenses while gaining experience in his prospective field of interest.

Democrats have suggested that HOPE become a more needs based scholarship. This possible solution would allow the scholarship to go to the recipients who ne

Some topics in this essay:
Commission HOPE, Governor Perdue, Study Program, , Hamrick HOPE, College Board, Vinson Institute, Bellamy SAT, Grants Eligible, Pell Grant, book allowance, hope scholarship, sat scores, eliminating book allowance, private college, eliminating book, lottery revenues, sat score, adding sat, minimum requirement, fees book allowance, grant based grant, based grant,