Excerpts from the Georgia Student Finance Commission on 3/3/11
A bill that dramatically overhauls the cash-strapped HOPE scholarship was approved by the state House this week. The bill would cut the scholarships to 90 % for all but the brightest students and eliminate paying for books, fees and remedial classes. Students graduating from high school with a 3.7 HOPE GPA and a minimum of 1200 SAT score or 26 ACT score would be eligible for full tuition. Those maintaining a 3.0 HOPE GPA would be eligible for 90% of tuition. The plan would also trim HOPE for students attending private colleges in Georgia from $4000 to $3600. Additionally, students whose grades slip while in college below the minimum thresholds would have only one chance to win the scholarship back. This bill must still be approved by the state Senate.