Friends and Neighbors-

Today, I'll answer the question: Is the HOPE scholarship going away? I'll be sending out a series of legislative updates during the legislative session (January - April). Next update: So, tell me, why should I care about the state budget? To be followed by: Will you be retired to the beach when GA 400 is finally widened?

BRIEF HISTORY (AND SOME FACTS YOU PROBABLY DIDN'T KNOW)

In 1992, Georgia voters approved a state constitutional amendment allowing a lottery. The referendum passed statewide 52 percent to 48 percent. The lottery was approved to fund HOPE scholarships, a voluntary pre-kindergarten program for four-year-olds and educational technology.

- Initially, the HOPE program was limited to students with a "B" average, included a family income cap of $66,000, and granted awards for only the first two years of public college or $500 towards Georgia private colleges. The restrictions were placed because of concerns that Georgians might not strongly support the lottery as evidenced by the lukewarm referendum vote.

- The lottery's success led to expansions (over the years) in coverage, including four years of college, $3000 yearly towards private college tuition, retroactive coverage for homeschooled students after their first year of college, a second chance for those that lose eligibility (and non-traditional students) after their sophomore year (with a "B" average).

- Add-ons to the program account for 4 percent of current HOPE funding. Add-ons include loans to encourage students to enter the engineering field and remain in Georgia, loans for education-related costs to teachers to encourage them to remain teaching in Georgia, educational assistance to children of law enforcement officers disabled or killed in the line of duty and a limited number of special scholarships for the Georgia Military College (with postcollege National Guard service requirements).

- Income limits were amended to $100,000 in 1994 and completely removed in 1995. All expenditures for educational technology were eliminated in 2003.

Georgia students HOPE awarded Average award

1993 42,000 $21 million $496

2003 196,000 $323 million $1591* *GA tuition costs remain below national average

HOW HAS THE HOPE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM PERFORMED?

Much research has been performed on the HOPE program both in Georgia and by other states seeking to duplicate its success.

- Overwhelming public support exists for the Georgia Lottery. Because of HOPE, more Georgia residents attend college in-state and the overall caliber of students entering Georgia colleges has increased. Half of HOPE recipients decide to stay in Georgia because of the HOPE.

- A quarter of HOPE recipients say they would not have been able to attend college without HOPE. The percentage of HOPE recipients attending technical colleges is 52 percent.

IS THE HOPE SCHOLARSHIP GOING AWAY?

Absolutely not. But something has to change. Increasing college enrollment, rising tuition costs and flattening lottery participation call for modifications. Either participation has to be curtailed or award levels limited - or both. I expect the legislature to approve a combination this session. And whatever the Georgia Assembly approves won't be the end of change for the HOPE program. Georgia's population is growing, surrounding states have implemented lottery systems which drains off border-state participants (Tenn.'s began today), more Georgians are choosing to attend Georgia colleges, college tuition costs are rising. These trends may remain or turnaround, but change is inevitable.

PROPOSED CHANGES FOR 2005 (BY BIPARTISAN SENATE/HOUSE HOPE SUBCOMMITTEE)

- Change eligibility requirements from a "B" or 80 percent average to a 3.0 average. This reduces the number of participants because it's mathematically easier to attain an 80 percent than a 3.0.

[For example, if a student takes three high school classes and obtains a 75 percent ("C"); 80 percent ("B"); and 85 percent ("B"), that student's academic average would be 80 percent. The same student would have been awarded a 2.0 (75 percent or "C"); a 3.0 (80 percent or "B"); and 3.0 (85 percent or "B"). His final average would be a 2.67, which would not qualify under proposed changes.]

- Eliminate $300 yearly book allowance (less than half of actual book costs) and other student activity fees. Award HOPE scholarships only to those that do not already have a bachelor's degree.

THE GOVERNOR PROPOSES AN ADDITION

Governor Perdue's recommendations closely mirror the committee's, but he suggests including a modest SAT requirement. The Governor proposes a 900-SAT minimum for eligibility to receive the HOPE scholarship for the full first year. For students that qualify with a 3.0, but not with a 900-SAT, he suggests offering the scholarship for one semester only. If the student maintains a 3.0 after one semester, the scholarship would be continued. In other words, provide an incentive for a higher SAT, but don't eliminate anyone on SAT alone.

I also support including an SAT requirement for eligibility. A study of the 180 Georgia school districts shows that grades are assigned unevenly across the state. Some school districts have a much higher percentage of students that initially qualify for HOPE, but have low average standardized test scores. Some of these same school districts have a much higher percentage of students that lose the HOPE after the first year.

More importantly, though, using grades alone to determine HOPE eligibility sends exactly the wrong message to high school students. It sends the message that what counts is not how difficult the class or challenging the material. It says that what counts is "getting" the grade for HOPE eligibility. High school students all over Georgia choose the standard Spanish class over the Honors Spanish class and forego AP (advanced placement) courses because of an imbalanced HOPE incentive geared towards grades versus becoming more prepared students.

As a member of the House Education Committee, I'm acutely aware that Georgia needs to encourage K-12 academic rigor to raise student achievement as well as student success after high school.

An SAT requirement would provide a balance. Academic rigor in high school statistically leads to better SAT scores. And better SAT scores statistically lead to greater college success. Is it a perfect correlation? Of course not, and neither are academic grades perfectly correlated with true achievement. Any broad, statewide scholarship program based on merit needs to include incentives to Georgia's students to stretch and challenge themselves - so that they can become as good as they can be. That's good for Georgia.

Here are some facts to consider. More than 80 percent of HOPE recipients who scored below 900 on the SAT lose their HOPE scholarship after the first year of college. Forty-two percent of HOPE scholars with 900-or-above on the SAT lose HOPE after the first year.

- Sixty percent of HOPE scholars below 900 on the SAT are required to take remedial coursework. Only 8 percent of HOPE scholars with SATs above 900 are required to take remedial coursework.

-Over 63 percent of HOPE scholars below 900 on the SAT do not graduate from any college in Georgia within 6 years, while 60 percent with 900-or-above graduate within 6 years.

- Compared with scholarship eligibility requirements in other states, those in Georgia tend to be less strict. Georgia's HOPE program is substantially larger than other states as well (next largest state's program is half the size in funding and students).

FINALLY

I'm confident the HOPE scholarship will be broadly available to your children and grandchildren when they earn it. I'm confident the legislature will make incremental changes this year to match the lottery revenues to scholarship awards. And whatever legislative bill finally gains passage this year, it will mark another continuing evolution in the HOPE program.

As always, I welcome your thoughts on this and other legislative topics. I keep our District's perspective on the forefront of my mind during session, which began last week. Thank you for allowing me to serve you in the Georgia House of Representatives.

Best-

Jan Jones
State Representative - District 38
Forsyth and Fulton