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REBECCA MEGHANI, NEWS EDITOR LILY PRUITT, ASST. NEWS EDITOR
Changes in funding for GA HOPE Scholarship Brayden Miller Staff Writer
law (GA House Bill 326)
fell flat considering that
that ushered in a series of
nothing
and
cuts to the scholarship in
provided to high achiev-
content-heavy textbooks
response to the unfortu-
ing students that they
are certainly intimidat-
nate economic situation
did not receive prior to
ing, one of the biggest
of the GA Lottery, which
the cuts. The only real
obstacles facing those
funds the scholarship.
change was a curtailment
pursuing higher edu-
These cuts narrowed
of the benefits less aca-
cation has always been
the scope of students el-
demically-accomplished
their finances. The GA
igible to receive benefits,
students would receive.
HOPE scholarship ex-
as well as reducing the
Then-House
ists to help prospective
amount of cash awarded
Leader Stacey Abrams,
students manage con-
to those still eligible. Af-
cerns about tuition pay-
ter these cuts, HOPE no
ments in student debt.
longer offered awards for
“Yeah, it’s a pretty big
mandatory fees or book
relief,” said Alex Gerlach,
costs and only covered
a freshman biology ma-
a portion of the tuition
jor. “Although its chal-
of a public, in-state col-
lenges encourage growth,
lege. In addition, the
school can be pretty
GPA required to quali-
stressful and busy. The
fy for HOPE increased
financial freedom HOPE
from 2.0 to 3.0, disqual-
offers me has basically
ifying nearly 9,000 for-
given me the opportunity
mer HOPE beneficiaries.
to commit to my studies
Needless to say, even
Though
large
was
actually
Minority
though supportive of the cuts, made less of an attempt to be optimistic. She phrased the issue as a grim necessity, as something that must be done
Courtesy of MGN
Brian Kemp
years later, another bill
by Deal, who spearhead-
worked and underpaid
was passed that returned
ed the original bill. The
staff of Georgia public
the HOPE GPA require-
issue of the HOPE schol-
school educators. This
ment back to 3.0 after a
arship would continue
coupled with the large
large quantity of students
to be picked at in the
increase
following years, though
capital for school re-
rarely in such a substan-
sources and Kemp’s stat-
tial way as the 2013 bill.
ed intention to do away
For instance, Stacy
with HOPE’s two-tiered
Evans’ failed 2018 guber-
award system could lead
natorial campaign struc-
to a new generation
tured around a promise
of
to reinstate HOPE to
high-achieving students
its former capacity and
who
make college tuition free
gent
The financial freedom HOPE offers me has basically given me the opportunity to commit to my studies in a way that really allows me to pursue my goals. -Alex Gerlach
of
available
well-cared-for
and
in a way that really allows
despite
me to pursue my goals.”
best attempts to frame
However, the HOPE
them in a positive light,
scholarship might not
these cuts were wildly
immediately to prevent
backed down from pur-
or the allowances made to
standing between them
have been as helpful as it
unpopular. Deal’s coali-
more severe cuts later on.
suing college education,
allow students who were
and higher education.
was intended to be in re-
tion attempted to market
The GA HOPE schol-
intimidated by the more
unable to sit for SAT or
Unfortunately, this is
cent years. Back in 2011,
the changes as encour-
arship
ACT testing because of
far from a permanent
a bipartisan coalition led
aging academic achieve-
thing of a hot- button
(GA House Bill 372).
COVID-19 lockdowns to
solution to the issues
by then-Governor Na-
ment
students.
political issue following
It is worth noting that
allow students to qualify
the HOPE scholarship
largely
the 2011 bill. Just two
this change was endorsed
for HOPE retroactively.
system might have. This
than Deal instituted a
This
the
coalition’s
from angle
became
some-
stringent
requirements
Claire O’Neill | Art Director
According
to
have
less-strin-
requirements
the
is only a spending plan,
Georgia Budget and Pol-
not a firm law. Current-
icy Institute, The HOPE
ly,
scholarship
budget
well-being is dependent
would not see any real
upon Brian Kemp’s plans
change until just recently,
for the state. If the gu-
when Gov. Brian Kemp
bernatorial office should
would allocate $61 mil-
change hands in the im-
lion in lottery proceeds
mediate future, the new
towards paying the tui-
governor may not place
tion of HOPE recipients
the same value on edu-
in his 2023-2024 spend-
cational funding. Addi-
ing plan, a budget plan
tionally, with the exis-
that promises many other
tence of GA House Bill
large windfalls for Geor-
326, strong legal prece-
gia’s
ailing
dent exists for slashing
education system. It in-
HOPE’s benefits to the
cludes a $2,000 pay raise
bone should the Geor-
for state-employed edu-
gia Lottery face another
cators and an increase of
ironic turn of fortunes.
more than $1billion for
Though this spending
the public school system.
plan is far from a guaran-
Kemp’s budget plan is
tee for the future of Geor-
poised to take a signif-
gia’s education system,
icant amount of strain
it is certainly enough
off the currently over-
to feel a little HOPE.
financially
HOPE’s
economic