The HOPE scholarship and a Democratic policy of engagement
Gov. Nathan Deal, center, with Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle, left, House Speaker David Ralston, right, and House Democratic Leader Stacy Abrams of Atlanta behind the governor. Vino Wong, vwong@ajc.com
The most daring political statement at the state Capitol last week was contained within a photograph.
The shutter caught Gov. Nathan Deal in mid-phrase as he outlined the cuts he thinks have to be made in order to preserve the HOPE scholarship program.
The governor was the centerpiece in a sea of white Republicans — with the exception of the face positioned just over Deal’s left shoulder. It belonged to Stacy Abrams of Atlanta, the sole African-American in the frame and the new House Democratic leader.
Abrams’ presence, on behalf of her Democratic caucus, guarantees swift passage through the House this week.
But her endorsement caught insiders and outsiders by surprise. David Lucas, D-Macon, one of the most senior members of the caucus, had already filed a bill that would return HOPE to its 18-year-old roots — as a lottery-funded, college scholarship program for families living below a certain income level.
The Deal plan would turn the HOPE scholarship into a lump-sum grant, covering 90 percent of tuition for high school graduates with a 3.0 grade point average and above. Only graduates with a 3.7 GPA and an SAT score of 1200 would get a full ride.
That’s not a formula beneficial to young African-Americans, who often perform more poorly on standardized tests. “What we have done is give HOPE to the affluent families who can already afford to send their kids to college, and deprive poorer white and black kids an opportunity to break out. Bad policy,” former Gov. Roy Barnes wrote to his contacts.
There is a strategy in boxing and other martial arts that says if a blow can’t be avoided, the next best tactic is to step into it – and absorb the assault before it can achieve its full momentum.
Abrams argues that this is what the situation called for. “A bill is going to pass. I thought it best that we have a seat at the table,” the Atlanta lawyer, who first came to the Legislature in 2007, said in an interview. “This is a Democratic program.”
Republican dominance in the House now allows the GOP to pass legislation at will. But the HOPE program, established under Gov. Zell Miller, is so popular that altering it remains a dangerous proposition.
By giving Deal enough Democratic support to call the effort bipartisan, Abrams said she won concessions on a number of issues. Among them:
– HOPE will still cover remedial classes for those attending Georgia’s technical colleges. Republicans had planned an across-the-board ban.
– “Proprietary” colleges and universities — such as DeVry University and ITT Technical Institute — remain eligible for HOPE dollars. The Deal administration had talked about shutting out these schools, whose local campuses are attended disproportionately by minority students in Georgia.
– The basic HOPE scholarship is still determined by a 3.0 GPA only. No mandatory SAT or ACT scores were added.
– The funding of a 1 percent loan program to help students cover the gap left by shrinking HOPE awards and tuition costs that are certain to rise. That’s important to historical black colleges and universities in Georgia, whose students often aren’t eligible for HOPE.
“The easiest thing for Stacy would have been to sit back,” said a grateful state Rep. Doug Collins, R-Gainesville, who is carrying the HOPE bill for the governor.
Abrams said she won her caucus’ approval before she joined Deal on the stage. But a quickly issued press release, saying her support was “conditioned on reaching an accord on key provisions,” indicated some heartburn among the Democratic rank-and-file.
Abrams wasn’t the only Democrat on the stage with the governor. There, too, was state Rep. Calvin Smyre of Columbus, who positioned himself out of camera range.
But Smyre, a former chairman of the state Democratic party, defended Abrams’ approach — and her limited options. “That’s something that external people don’t understand — those outside the Gold Dome,” he said.
With HOPE scholarships outpacing the lottery revenue that funds them, Smyre said the Legislature had only three options: 1) Impose an across-the-board reduction in awards; 2) return to an income-based system; or 3) award scholarships in amounts based on GPA or SAT scores.
Republicans refused to consider Options 2 and 3.
Smyre said Democrats can add more tweaks. He intends to concentrate on strengthening the 1 percent loan program. “In my opinion, we’ve got to keep the dialogue going about the safety net,” he said.
Other Democrats object to the proposed reduction of operating hours for the pre-kindergarten classes fueled by lottery money — arguing that half-day classes would require some parents to quit their jobs to stay at home with their kids.
More objections are likely to be raised in the Senate, where — though again vastly outnumbered — Democrats are led by the razor-tongued and rarely compromising Robert Brown, D-Macon.
His style contrasts greatly with Abrams, who confesses she is no bomb-thrower in the style of Newt Gingrich. Her strategy is to engage and cut deals where she can.
“If you’re going to be a bomb-thrower like Newt Gingrich, you have to be the leader of an ideologically cohesive group. And you have to care more about politics than policy,” Abrams said.
- By Jim Galloway, Political Insider
For instant updates, follow me on Twitter, or connect with me on Facebook.
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
66 comments Add your comment
counselor
February 27th, 2011
1:13 pm
Henry,
I understand what you are saying but if you don’t take the most difficult courses some of the more competitive schools like UGA and Georgia Tech may not accept you. Many students who graduate HOPE eligible lose HOPE in college because they did not push themselves in high school. It is a juggling act for both parents, students, and counselors. Shouldn’t counselors encourage students to take difficult course work?
Concerned Parent
February 27th, 2011
1:28 pm
When the lottery was first proposed, I was adamantly against it for two reasons. 1) the states that had tried it at that point were unsuccessful in consistently using the funds for the educational purposes on which their lotteries were sold to their citizens. I therefore thought it was doubtful that GA would continue to only use the funds for education. I have been pleasantly surprised, however, that due to restrictions that were put in place, the funds have actually been used for education. The information posted here about a 35% funding requirement that is not being met, though, now has me concerned.
2) The second reason I was against the lottery was because I thought it was immoral of a state to effectively target (because they are the least knowledgeable and most vulnerable of its citizens) the poor people of its state to spend money on what is by definition a losing proposition (gambling). I still believe this to some extent although I don’t know in fact how heavy a burden this has been on the poor. If anyone has any statistics, please post them.
Nevertheless, because it exists and there is nothing I can do to end it, and the money is there for a good purpose (education), I definitely intend to take advantage of the funding to help my children get a good college education. I like the idea of setting a higher standard for the top students to aim for (the 3.7 GPA and Zell Miller scholarship). The funds for a scholarship based on high achievement (the Hope) should not be used for remedial purposes when there isn’t enough money available overall. The Pre K program, though, seems very important for the children who need it and we need to make sure those children do not get left out. We need to make whatever policy changes are necessary to prevent that.
Last, the AP classes need to count extra, as they do in the regular GPA, toward whatever requirements there are for the Hope. It is bad policy to penalize students for taking tougher courses.
daddo
February 27th, 2011
2:41 pm
All of u folks who want to get your 35 percent of lottery proceeds back to HOPE and pre-k simply do not understand how a lottery works. Get your 35 percent and be prepared to gut both programs. Would u rather have a percentage or money? Fact is the more money the lottery gives AWAY the more money they make for hope. Would u rather have 35 percent of $100 million or 25 percent of $200 million? U can’t have both. Do the math.
All Georgia Band
February 27th, 2011
2:54 pm
@ Last Man Standing — before you deem HOPE an entitlement program, please learn what an “entitlement program” is. It certainly is not state-sponsored gambling profits injected into higher education. Also, it is not sponsored by taxes, but LOTTERY tickets that no one has to buy but anyone may buy. And, your example using APS is mis-placed as well. Your attempt at being cheeky simply displayed your ignorance. If you read anything other than the back of your eyelids you’d know which demographic funded HOPE more than any other their purchases of a ‘hope and a dream’ ticket: working poor African Americans. But, don’t take my word for it — ask somebody to look it up for you. And, did that special place of being the primary purchaser of lottery tickets get this group any special treatment for scholarships? NO. And, it will remain thus so — particularly in this economy. Next time, throw the bomb at yourself and do us all a favor.
Nicole
February 27th, 2011
5:08 pm
Foghorn – maybe if you had gone to Pre-K your post would have been more grammatically correct. Just sayin’.
And Pre-K teachers aren’t complaining about our pay being low. We know its low and trust me, we’re not in it for the money. How would you react if your boss came up to you tomorrow and said “We’re cutting your hours in half but you still have to do the same amount of work.” I can’t imagine you would be happy about it, no one would or should for that matter.
Question Man
February 27th, 2011
6:34 pm
Is anyone looking at the significant savings that can from reduced cash compensation (salary and bonuses) for the Lottery’s senior management? If any of senior management leave, isn’t there a great pool of talent that would love to take their place?
Just a taxpayer
February 27th, 2011
8:09 pm
This is an abomination and a bunch of red herrings. The Regents have been allowing tuition to increase in Georgia at a rate of 3 times the inflationary rate. Talk about COLA. And every time they raise the tuition, HOPE pays. HOPE has been the piggy bank of the Regents. They approve the tuition increase, HOPE gets billed and then the Regents (or their family members) get a nice contract from one of the State of Georgia Schools.
Another thing is, why isn’t the HOPE grant program getting cut? This program pays 100% of tuition for every student at a State technical school. These are the students that are graduating with a less stringent diploma requirement than those students on HOPE Scholarship.
Everyone knows that HOPE isn’t a bottomless pit of money, but our legislators and Governor should hold the Regents accountable for the approval of increases in tuition that have occurred since the inception of HOPE. Last year Perdue tried to make the State Higher education bodies take furloughs. What he didn’t do was cut off the spigot of HOPE funds – furloughs with HOPE funding equals no furloughs.
Diogenes
February 27th, 2011
10:30 pm
A 1200 SAT score is way too low. The test is scored on a 2400 pt scale now. I can understand a 1200 on the 1600 pt scale being worthy of a full ride…but not on a 2400pt scale. The threshold should be more like 1800 or so.
marm
February 28th, 2011
12:46 pm
Henry is right. I heard other students redicule my child for taking AP classes and struggling to keep up with the work, while they got all A’s taking easier classes and qualifying easily for that 3.0. Your report card 3.0 does not calculate the same way for HOPE. If you encourage students who take the AP classes and exam, make it truly worth their while if they take the exam and get a 3 or above; something more tangible than a paper that says you’re an AP Scholar.
Oh Please
March 1st, 2011
8:39 am
GIVING AWAY money for college expenses makes the cost of education go UP for everybody. That is simpleton economics!! If someone out there is “need based” there is the pell grant for that. Raising the GPA requirement causes GRADE INFLATION. Now EVERYONE will have a 4.0. The Hope Scholarship de-incentivizes saving for college. Sorry to inform you all but these days its less about learning in college…. more about, I’m gonna tell the instructor my car wouldn’t start, my uncle’s niece cousin died, and I had a toothache with gangrene to get to take that test next week and not tomorrow.
Seems Georgia’s whole leadership exists to see how bad they can mess up the lives of regular Georgian’s and how much $$ they can make in big land deals due to their power, position, and influence.
GAWD. gimme a break
Kathy
March 1st, 2011
11:04 pm
Just as one could expect…NO distictinon made between the HOPE scholarship(3.0 GPA) and the HOPE Grant.
Drop outs get $500 through the HOPE Grant if they get their GED…which is likely at a tech school. The tech school offers 30 hr. certificate programs paid for with HOPE GRANT, and the GED or tech student is NOT accountable for finishing or any grades with the HOPE Grant funding. Why are we giving $500 GED gift to use for a certificate course that is ALREADY paid for under the HOPE GRANT?
As far as half day pre k’s go….Remember, the Local Boards of Edication can pick up the tab for the other four hous…and they might even be able to charge parents….just like they charge to educate kis who come from “out of district.”
I just think that there is a reason why the HOPE Grant is NOT feeling any of the cuts….perhaps it is because decision makers and their heirs(legacy) do not believe there is enough room in Georgia for too many educated folks. After all, it is much easier to rule the ignorant and poor than it is to lead the educated in any society.
Kathy
March 1st, 2011
11:31 pm
@scott: I have taken the time to write all law makers on the education committee in both the Senate and the House side. In my comments I included that it may be that the company running the lottery get a “smaller take” on each ticket they sell. Meaning, they get less of a profit. I included a few ideas based on observation, research, and experience.
I hope everyone takes the time to put their thoughts and/or ideas into an email and send it to any or all legislators.
BTW: I see that I am the second Kathy to post….sorry for any confusion…
@ those who think SAT scores are a good idea to calculate into receiving HOPE Scholarship…two year colleges, which are tech or community colleges, no longer requires SAT scores so that would be an added expense for those who may already be strapped for cash. Also, even though it is not as popular, we should be careful not to Exclude ACT scores when having any SAT conversation..
Kathy
March 1st, 2011
11:37 pm
Just one more thing….has anyone thought about the RISING cost of college? The Board of Regent knows that there is $$$$$ in this here land of Georgia….by way of the lottery.
Thus, these guys can charge anything they want for classes, books, activity, and technology fees…
BECAUSE, they know the money will come from the HOPE pot of GOLD!
Also, Books are so outrageiously expensive….we buy the course book for sometimes as much as $200 and we MIGHT get $100 back IF the bookstore buys it back.
Why don’t we look to cap on college tution and books based on income?
HOPE splits what few Democrats are left | OnlineAthens Blogs
March 2nd, 2011
5:03 pm
[...] the AJC’s Jim Galloway reported last week, House Minority Leader Stacey Abrams opted to come to the table on HOPE reform rather than kick and scream about it, negotiating a few minor changes in exchange [...]
D
March 3rd, 2011
11:19 am
In order for the HOPE scholarship to be beneficial to anyone it must first be fiscally sound with that said, I don’t believe however that currently we have the people in place to examine it and make solid decisions to sustain HOPE we really need strong people in finance/accounting to provide the structure for HOPE to thrive individuals whose decision are not based on what’s popular or will this cost me the next election.
HOPE HAS BECOME A POLITICAL PAWN. STOP THE POLITICAL POSTURING STOP FIXING THE SYMPTOMS AND MAKE HOPE FISCALLY SOUND. So that it is able to help as many Georgia students as possible.
Kathy
March 3rd, 2011
1:20 pm
The HOPE Grant has an impact on the amount of funds available for the HOPE scholarship and pre k programs.
That being said, I have often wondered where the “interest” on the lottery funds goes…..If we have hundreds of millions from lotter sales, where is the money and what is the interest, and where is the interest spent? Could it be politicians want to keep the money up at the state to fund “pet projects” with the interest the money earns????