In Georgia, any student who has a 3.0 is eligible for a scholarship. Student eligibility is based on high school grades or college GPR after the student's freshman year in college. The rest will be divided among tuition grants for technical schools and technology in K-12 classrooms. Guidance counselors are supportive of the measure, saying that it will benefit hardworking students who don't receive straight As. They might not be eligible for other scholarships, based on academics or athletics, or some other talent like music.
Students are excited about the possibility of receiving additional scholarship money.
Palmetto High School junior Lindsay Moore, a 'B' student, said that it would be nice to be rewarded for her hard work. Although she has one more year in high school, she already knows which university she wants to attend. She said that she has the grades to get into Clemson University, but she's not sure if she is eligible for scholarships. Moore is a model of the kind of student that lawmakers want to target with HOPE scholarships. The Senate lottery bill has been sent to the House, which is debating its own lottery bill.