Georgia: Deal reveals proposed changes to HOPE scholarship

photo Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal

Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal introduced legislation today to preserve the state's HOPE scholarship programs.

Among other changes, Deal proposed:

* Beginning this fall, students with a 3.0 GPA attending Georgia public colleges and universities will receive 90 percent of the standard tuition rate.

* Eliminating funds for books, eliminate funding for remedial classes, cap eligible hours at 127 and ensure that HOPE scholars are prepared for college-level work by requiring these students to take a certain number of rigorous high school courses.

* Eliminating the use of HOPE Grant funds for remedial classes.

* Creating the Zell Miller scholarship program, named for the governor who created HOPE. Under the new legislation, Zell Miller scholars will include the top 10 percent of HOPE scholars under the present system based on both a 3.7 GPA and a 1200 SAT or 26 ACT score. Sen. Charlie Bethel, R-Dalton, said the governor's proposal is something to work with.

"I'm still working through it just like everybody else, but I think it's definitely a positive framework to work from," he said.

For complete details, read tomorrow's Times Free Press.

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