HOPE Scholarship Faces Uncertain Future

ATLANTA - Georgia legislative leaders will have to make decisions soon on the HOPE scholarship program. Demand for the scholarships has been outpacing lottery revenue to pay for the program.

There's agreement that changes will be needed to keep the merit scholarships in place, but the scholarship is very popular and changes will carry political risk.

The HOPE scholarship has become a mainstay on campuses like Georgia State University.

The scholarship provides full tuition, plus money for books and fees for students who maintain a B average.

Student government leader James Dutton and others say the scholarship makes a big difference and an incentive to make top grades.

The HOPE scholarship now serves about 20,000 Georgia students annually, but the program faces a $244 million dollar projected shortfall this year and a $317 million shortfall next year.

Demand for the scholarships is outstripping lottery revenue which pays for the program.

Legislative leaders have been told that the HOPE scholarship has reserves to cover the expected shortfall, but the reserves will be depleted in coming years if something isn't done.

Big questions will have to be answered in the next general assembly session. Will the HOPE scholarship face more restrictions or will other sources of funding be found?

Potential steps include raising academic eligibility requirements and reducing the time period for tuition grants from four to three years. No final recommendations have been made.

Book allowances under the HOPE scholarship are set to be reduced next year.

Some have suggested returning to family income limits, which were part of the HOPE program when it started, but there appears to be no interest among legislative leaders for reinstating income caps.