Necessary steps to save HOPE

Published 12:35 am Sunday, February 27, 2011

Since its founding in 1993, Georgia’s lottery-funded HOPE Scholarship Program has emerged as one of the state’s most popular programs.

In fact, it has proved too popular, with expenses — which include the HOPE college scholarships, a pre-kindergarten program and HOPE grants for those seeking a technical certificate or diploma — having outstripped all of the revenue. The program is expected to have a $380 million shortfall in 2012 and a $420 million shortfall in 2013 if nothing changes.

But Gov. Nathan Deal has proposed several far-reaching changes to avert those deficits, and they seem to have attracted bipartisan support for legislators who realize they may be painful but necessary.

Under Deal’s plan, HOPE would no longer cover books, fees or remedial classes. And while it once covered full tuition at government colleges and universities for any students maintaining a 3.0 grade point average, it would in the future cover just 90 percent of tuition for most of those students. That percentage could drop in future years if lottery revenues do not increase.

To get full tuition paid, a student would have to maintain a 3.7 grade point average and have a combined SAT score of at least 1,200 or an ACT score of at least 26.

These steps will make it more difficult for many students to get a full-tuition ride in college, but they seem prudent. The General Assembly should carefully consider Deal’s proposal. They may find details they can quibble about, but it is clear they will have to act soon if they wish to save HOPE, and this seems like a good plan to develop.