Scholarship cuts and less HOPE for US students

In yet another tribute to impending budget cuts in America, Georgia's legislature is threatening to slash the HOPE scholarships that have previously been available to low-income students who maintain a B average while studying. The HOPE scholarship has guaranteed funding for a college education to all qualifying students in the state. Students must hail from low-income backgrounds and provide proof of substantial academic achievement while in college.

Now, however, students in need are having their scholarship rescinded as the state scales back on its education budget - a dismal echo of recent happenings in our own state, California. These changes mean that students who already work part-time jobs while in college may have to take time off or even drop out; some lack funds to pay off even a community college tuition. Most of these students have little to no family support, and many hail from non-English-speaking backgrounds. Changes to HOPE scholarship guidelines include not only cuts to the amount of funding available, but strict criteria of GPA and minimum SAT scores for students who wish to receive aid. These amendments make the situation increasingly difficult for students who receive no academic support at home and simply don't have access to SAT prep classes and materials. Check out this NPR story here:



Equity? Nice try, America. Let's see what you come up with next...President Obama's verbal support of educational opportunities across poverty lines would need to be translated into concrete actions right about NOW.