Georgia Legislature Passes New HOPE Bill 

On the last day of the legislative session, the Georgia General Assembly passed a bill that would change several provisions of Georgia’s HOPE program. Most of the changes are designed to maintain the financial soundness of the program. Last year, a study commissioned by the legislature found that future lottery revenues would not be sufficient to meet the growing costs of HOPE, unless preventive measures were taken. 

“I am pleased that the members of the General Assembly have reached agreement on this important issue,” said Shelley Nickel, executive director of the Georgia Student Finance Commission (GSFC), the state agency that administers HOPE. “This is a good bill, and it reflects the legislators’ strong commitment to preserving HOPE for years to come.” 

If signed into law by Governor Sonny Perdue, the legislation would tighten HOPE academic eligibility requirements, tie future payments for books and fees to revenue levels, implement more frequent checking of students’ academic progress, establish an oversight committee to monitor all lottery-funded programs, and more. 

• Academic eligibility requirements.  To be eligible for a HOPE Scholarship, students will have to graduate from high school with at least a 3.0 grade point average (GPA) on a 4.0 scale. The first students to be affected will be the high school graduating Class of 2007. High school GPAs will be calculated by GSFC using high school transcript data.  

• Book Allowance.  For now, HOPE will continue to pay a book allowance of up to $300 per academic year (for students at public institutions). In the future, the allowance may be reduced, based on the Lottery for Education’s year end balance. The first year the year end balance is lower than the year prior, the book allowance will be reduced to $150. The second year the year end balance is lower than the year prior, the book allowance will be eliminated. (Students eligible for Pell grants will not be affected by these cuts.)

• Student Fees.  Beginning Fall 2004, HOPE payment of mandatory fees (for students at public institutions) will be capped at the level paid on January 1, 2004. Fees may still be increased by colleges and universities, with students paying the difference. However, the third year the lottery’s year end balance is lower than the year prior, HOPE payment of student fees will be eliminated. 

• Hour Cap.  Effective Fall 2004, there will be a cap on the hours students can receive the HOPE Grant (for students enrolled in certificate and diploma programs). Students will be able to use the grant a total of 63 semester or 95 quarter hours, with an overall HOPE credit hour cap of 127 semester hours or 190 quarter hours for students pursuing degrees.  All hours earned beginning the summer 2003 school term will be applied toward the cap.

• HOPE for Half-time Students at Private Institutions.  Effective Fall 2004, HOPE scholarship recipients at private colleges and universities can attend school half time (at least 6 to 11 semester hours) and receive a HOPE payment of $1,500 per academic year. 

• Academic Progress.  Effective July 2004, academic progress of HOPE scholarship recipients will be checked more frequently. Progress of full-time students is currently checked at the end of 30, 60, and 90 semester hours. Those checks will be continued, and another yearly check, each Spring, will be added. Part-time students will be checked after they receive HOPE for three terms.  

• Accel.  Accel is a new program that benefits high school students enrolled in dual enrollment classes. Effective Fall 2004, the lottery will pay for students taking college courses while earning college and high school credit. All hours associated with those courses will count towards the HOPE hour caps of 127 semester hours or 190 quarter hours.

• Oversight.  The bill establishes a joint legislative committee to monitor HOPE, Prekindergarten, and other programs that receive lottery funds.   

“Only time – and lottery revenues – will tell if further changes are needed down the road,” said Nickel. “In any case, the legislation passed today is a good foundation, and I am confident that the Governor, the legislature, and the new oversight committee will take whatever action is necessary to preserve the fiscal integrity of the program. HOPE will continue to reward academic excellence and make a college education more affordable for future generations of Georgia students.” 

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