HOPE Scholarship Study Commission determines recommendations for legislature

ATLANTA, GA (Nov. 13) - The HOPE Scholarship Study Commission will recommend to the Georgia General Assembly in January, eliminating payment for books and fees next year, saving more than $827.3 million dollars in lottery money over a five year period. In addition, the Commission members will further recommend implementing a standard 3.0 grade point average requirement for students entering college as freshmen in the 2008-09 academic year. Currently, students must have a "B" average to receive the HOPE Scholarship.
   "After months of looking at various options to save preserve the merit-based focus of the HOPE Scholarship program, we have decided that this is the best way to save money and still give our best and brightest students the opportunity to attend the public Georgia college of their choice tuition-free," Sen. Bill Hamrick (R-Carrollton), co-chair of the Commission said. Private college student currently receive a $3,000 grant to pay a portion of their tuition costs.
The Commission members also began looking further down the road to preserve the popular program, and a majority of the Commission members agreed that tying the Scholastic Achievement Test (SAT) and/or the American College Test (ACT) to the eligibility requirements is the best option. 
   "Governor Perdue supports tying the SAT/ACT to the HOPE Scholarship eligibility requirements and it is obvious that there is support for doing that among the Commission members," Sen. Hamrick said. "There also seems to be broad support for doing this from the general public, so it probably is something we as a legislature will consider next year."
   Commission members also discussed tying soon to be implemented "end of course" tests to the requirements, increasing the required grade point average (to possibly 3.2 or 3.5), or just giving flat grants of a set amount to each student.
"These are all things that we will look at as a legislative body," Sen. Hamrick said. "The Commission was brought together to study the issue and make recommendations to the members of the Georgia General Assembly, and that is what we will do."
   A final report of Commission recommendations should be ready in mid-December, and the legislators serving on the Commission will begin drafting legislation shortly thereafter.
   "This is going to be one of the top five issues for the legislature next year," Sen. Hamrick continued. "It is important to all of us to keep the popular HOPE Scholarship program going for years to come. Senator (Zell) Miller left our children a wonderful legacy, and it is incumbent on us to protect it and see that it is there for our grandchildren and their grandchildren."