HOPE Scholarship Woes Continue to Grow

I do think that the cap should be a bit higher if re-instituted because I know of many that would reach that cap, but are struggling and will not be able to afford college for their children. I do not consider $100,000 incomes "the haves."

I guess one thing I do like about Hope is the fact of it being merit based. My child has the same shot at it as the child whose parents work the system and report no income, yet their child has a brand new car, etc. Seems some of them have more means than I do. :dunno
 
It would be interesting to see how many kids would be affected at a cap of $100,000 and again at say $150,000.

And I just read some more details about the HOPE ... is it really a "free ride" with a 3.7 and above? And there is no income cap of any kind? That's insane.
 
unionmom said:
It would be interesting to see how many kids would be affected at a cap of $100,000 and again at say $150,000.

And I just read some more details about the HOPE ... is it really a "free ride" with a 3.7 and above? And there is no income cap of any kind? That's insane.
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No income cap. I did not know that myself. I would have to pull out the paperwork again, but I know that limits were instituted this year for fees (which add up to more than the class!) and books.
I do not know of limits/retrictions for the preK program. I believe that is paid in full for all.
 
ShoeDiva said:
unionmom said:
It would be interesting to see how many kids would be affected at a cap of $100,000 and again at say $150,000.

And I just read some more details about the HOPE ... is it really a "free ride" with a 3.7 and above? And there is no income cap of any kind? That's insane.
Click to expand...
No income cap. I did not know that myself. I would have to pull out the paperwork again, but I know that limits were instituted this year for fees (which add up to more than the class!) and books.
I do not know of limits/retrictions for the preK program. I believe that is paid in full for all.
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Right ... fees and books are not covered by HOPE. Given what the original intent was for HOPE, there absolutely needs to be an income cap. Exactly where to place that cap is the tricky part.

Yes, pre-k is paid in full. I know that you say your teacher friends have told you differently but with both of my kids' kindergarten classes I can easily tell you which kids did not go to pre-k without ever knowing anything about them or their file. I do think that there needs to be some type of control on it and an income cap seems acceptable there, too. I does become very clear early on in the year which parents have their kids in the program for the right reasons and which ones don't, though.
 
unionmom said:
ShoeDiva said:
unionmom said:
It would be interesting to see how many kids would be affected at a cap of $100,000 and again at say $150,000.

And I just read some more details about the HOPE ... is it really a "free ride" with a 3.7 and above? And there is no income cap of any kind? That's insane.
Click to expand...
No income cap. I did not know that myself. I would have to pull out the paperwork again, but I know that limits were instituted this year for fees (which add up to more than the class!) and books.
I do not know of limits/retrictions for the preK program. I believe that is paid in full for all.
Click to expand...
Right ... fees and books are not covered by HOPE. Given what the original intent was for HOPE, there absolutely needs to be an income cap. Exactly where to place that cap is the tricky part.

Yes, pre-k is paid in full. I know that you say your teacher friends have told you differently but with both of my kids' kindergarten classes I can easily tell you which kids did not go to pre-k without ever knowing anything about them or their file. I do think that there needs to be some type of control on it and an income cap seems acceptable there, too. I does become very clear early on in the year which parents have their kids in the program for the right reasons and which ones don't, though.
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Exactly. I have no idea and when you add in all the other stuff there are still many costs to be paid. Last semester my husband (who is working on his masters) paid more in fees and books than for the classes. Last year they implemented a huge fee hike. I do get his books used and than sell them back, but I know many struggle with those prices. :faint

My GF's could be somewhat out of the norm, but they have had many instances where the kiddos that had moms (or a family member with them) come in reading words verses those that still do not know their colors. (hee hee true, there was a bit of um,complaining about that) I am sure many use it as a babysitting service, but even at that I have no idea what they are teaching for the little ones not to come into kindergarten with some basic knowledge. :dunno
 
My kids hit kindergarten knowing all of their colors, counting up to 100, shapes, how to write all of the letters of the alphabet, how to write their names, etc. There are kids that hit kindergarten not knowing any colors or even how to write their own first name. I feel sorry for those kids because it is clear that their home life is not setting them up to succeed in school or in life. :(
 
unionmom said:
My kids hit kindergarten knowing all of their colors, counting up to 100, shapes, how to write all of the letters of the alphabet, how to write their names, etc. There are kids that hit kindergarten not knowing any colors or even how to write their own first name. I feel sorry for those kids because it is clear that their home life is not setting them up to succeed in school or in life. :(
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I do too, but I also question the issue of if they are going to preK, why do they come in not knowing that stuff? I just do not get that.
(I made sure my son could spell and write his last name. (on top of the other basic stuff) I figured he better, because they probably couldn't :)) )
 
ShoeDiva said:
unionmom said:
My kids hit kindergarten knowing all of their colors, counting up to 100, shapes, how to write all of the letters of the alphabet, how to write their names, etc. There are kids that hit kindergarten not knowing any colors or even how to write their own first name. I feel sorry for those kids because it is clear that their home life is not setting them up to succeed in school or in life. :(
Click to expand...

I do too, but I also question the issue of if they are going to preK, why do they come in not knowing that stuff? I just do not get that.
(I made sure my son could spell and write his last name. (on top of the other basic stuff) I figured he better, because they probably couldn't :)) )
Click to expand...

Sorry I wasn't clear ... without fail, the kids that did not know the most basic of basics did not go to pre-k. Sure, the level of the kids coming in from pre-k is vastly different, too. I know that the teachers that my kids had were awesome but I can't say the same for all of the pre-k teachers that I have run across. And now, there is soooooooo much paperwork that the pre-k teachers have to do on each child all during the day it is a miracle that they have time to teach them anything.
 
unionmom said:
ShoeDiva said:
unionmom said:
My kids hit kindergarten knowing all of their colors, counting up to 100, shapes, how to write all of the letters of the alphabet, how to write their names, etc. There are kids that hit kindergarten not knowing any colors or even how to write their own first name. I feel sorry for those kids because it is clear that their home life is not setting them up to succeed in school or in life. :(
Click to expand...

I do too, but I also question the issue of if they are going to preK, why do they come in not knowing that stuff? I just do not get that.
(I made sure my son could spell and write his last name. (on top of the other basic stuff) I figured he better, because they probably couldn't :)) )
Click to expand...

Sorry I wasn't clear ... without fail, the kids that did not know the most basic of basics did not go to pre-k. Sure, the level of the kids coming in from pre-k is vastly different, too. I know that the teachers that my kids had were awesome but I can't say the same for all of the pre-k teachers that I have run across. And now, there is soooooooo much paperwork that the pre-k teachers have to do on each child all during the day it is a miracle that they have time to teach them anything.
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Hmmm, that is interesting. I am going to ask my GF's about that. Why would they not go to preK, yet not have a parent working with them? (I know some parents forgo the preK to work with and spend time with their children themselves, but to keep them home and not work with them does not seem to make sense.)
PreK teachers are not immune to the paperwork. :huh What each teacher has to do for each child is absolutely ridiculous. (and if a child has an EIP, IEP, 504 plan or anything else..good grief!) I have no clue to when they are supposed to do all that and teach at any level.
 
unionmom said:
It would be interesting to see how many kids would be affected at a cap of $100,000 and again at say $150,000.

And I just read some more details about the HOPE ... is it really a "free ride" with a 3.7 and above? And there is no income cap of any kind? That's insane.
Click to expand...
No it is not a free ride. The books are high cost items and there are fees. It is still hard for some kids to make it even with a job.
 
Just a few highlights of the new Bills on the Hope:

http://www.ajc.com/news/georgia-government/hope-bills-filed-1315580.html
Senate Bill 336 would reinstate a cap on family income for students to be eligible for HOPE, starting at $140,000 per family. A cap existed when the program began, but was quickly lifted after the lottery proved financially successful.

Senate Bill 335 would erase a new 3.0 GPA requirement for technical college students receiving grant money through the HOPE program

Senate Bill 334 would eliminate an SAT requirement for the state's new Zell Miller program, which was launched last year

Senate Resolution 722 would put to public vote a proposal to add a student representative to the state Board of Regents,
 
newsjunky said:
Just a few highlights of the new Bills on the Hope:

http://www.ajc.com/news/georgia-government/hope-bills-filed-1315580.html
Senate Bill 336 would reinstate a cap on family income for students to be eligible for HOPE, starting at $140,000 per family. A cap existed when the program began, but was quickly lifted after the lottery proved financially successful.

Senate Bill 335 would erase a new 3.0 GPA requirement for technical college students receiving grant money through the HOPE program

Senate Bill 334 would eliminate an SAT requirement for the state's new Zell Miller program, which was launched last year

Senate Resolution 722 would put to public vote a proposal to add a student representative to the state Board of Regents,
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Thanks for the info. Do you know how it works if it does change? Would the kids that already have Hope under this years requirements lose it next year, or would they be grandfathered in?
 
ShoeDiva said:
newsjunky said:
Just a few highlights of the new Bills on the Hope:

http://www.ajc.com/news/georgia-government/hope-bills-filed-1315580.html
Senate Bill 336 would reinstate a cap on family income for students to be eligible for HOPE, starting at $140,000 per family. A cap existed when the program began, but was quickly lifted after the lottery proved financially successful.

Senate Bill 335 would erase a new 3.0 GPA requirement for technical college students receiving grant money through the HOPE program

Senate Bill 334 would eliminate an SAT requirement for the state's new Zell Miller program, which was launched last year

Senate Resolution 722 would put to public vote a proposal to add a student representative to the state Board of Regents,
Click to expand...
Thanks for the info. Do you know how it works if it does change? Would the kids that already have Hope under this years requirements lose it next year, or would they be grandfathered in?
Click to expand...
I was just trying to add this info it may contain some of what you need to know. I don't think any of it is set in stone. My grandkid would also be affected. Now you know one of the reasons I am so concerned.


Another article about the original topic: Hope Budget gets higer and payments to students get lower
http://www.ajc.com/news/georgia-government/hope-budget-goes-up-1316173.html
 
ShoeDiva said:
I do think that the cap should be a bit higher if re-instituted because I know of many that would reach that cap, but are struggling and will not be able to afford college for their children. I do not consider $100,000 incomes "the haves."

I guess one thing I do like about Hope is the fact of it being merit based. My child has the same shot at it as the child whose parents work the system and report no income, yet their child has a brand new car, etc. Seems some of them have more means than I do. :dunno
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$100,000 in 1995 dollars would be about $140,000 today, just like in the bill mentioned above.
 
There is a Marine Staff Sergeant here I work with occasionally with. He is in the Marine Reserves. He used his GI Bill at Columbia University after he came off active duty. It covered his tuition and other expenses. Under the new GI Bill, he also received a housing allowance that took care of his rent. He said because of the GI Bill, he was able to afford to go to one of the most expensive universities in the country and graduate without owing a dime towards his education.

I only bring this up because it's another alternative for many eligible high school graduates. While on active duty, they can take college classes part-time and the military pays 100% of the tuition. If they fail a class, they have to pay the tuition to that class back to the military, which I think is fair.
 
Foxmeister said:
There is a Marine Staff Sergeant here I work with occasionally with. He is in the Marine Reserves. He used his GI Bill at Columbia University after he came off active duty. It covered his tuition and other expenses. Under the new GI Bill, he also received a housing allowance that took care of his rent. He said because of the GI Bill, he was able to afford to go to one of the most expensive universities in the country and graduate without owing a dime towards his education.

I only bring this up because it's another alternative for many eligible high school graduates. While on active duty, they can take college classes part-time and the military pays 100% of the tuition. If they fail a class, they have to pay the tuition to that class back to the military, which I think is fair.
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I think it is a great opportunity and very fair to have to pay it back if you fail. :thumbsup
 
Foxmeister said:
There is a Marine Staff Sergeant here I work with occasionally with. He is in the Marine Reserves. He used his GI Bill at Columbia University after he came off active duty. It covered his tuition and other expenses. Under the new GI Bill, he also received a housing allowance that took care of his rent. He said because of the GI Bill, he was able to afford to go to one of the most expensive universities in the country and graduate without owing a dime towards his education.

I only bring this up because it's another alternative for many eligible high school graduates. While on active duty, they can take college classes part-time and the military pays 100% of the tuition. If they fail a class, they have to pay the tuition to that class back to the military, which I think is fair.
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I agree Fox.
 
My point is, there are options for kids who want to go to college to be able to afford it without the HOPE Scholarship. The big question is; what are they willing to do to get there?

I went to college on the GI Bill.
 
Foxmeister said:
My point is, there are options for kids who want to go to college to be able to afford it without the HOPE Scholarship. The big question is; what are they willing to do to get there?

I went to college on the GI Bill.
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You did, but that is not an option for many, an alternative for some, but not all. :dunno
 
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