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Bredesen considers making HOPE scholarships partly need-based
Gov. Phil Bredesen is considering proposing changes to the state’s HOPE lottery scholarship program to transition it from a purely merit-based award to partly need-based for incoming college freshman.
Bredesen’s proposal could include adding a family’s wealth into the consideration for what amount of a scholarship would be awarded.
Currently, a $4,000 HOPE scholarship is awarded to Tennessee high school seniors attending a four-year university in state and graduating high school with either a 3.0 GPA or a 21 on the ACT.
Bredesen calls that “elitist” because it helps students “who don’t need the help” or whose parents alone can pay their tuition.
In contrast, Bredesen is considering trying to change that purely merit-based system for HOPE Scholarships to include some need-based components.
One idea Bredesen floated was giving Tennessee high school seniors with 3.5 GPAs or better HOPE Scholarships with “no questions asked” about family finances.
“And then, stretch down a little lower into the twos on a need basis so that a kid who’s got a 2.6 or a 2.7 maybe who really needs the money could go,” Bredesen explained.
The lottery was authorized in a constitutional amendment that Tennesseans approved in 2002.
The constitutional amendment prescribes that the net proceeds from lotto revenues would go first toward providing “financial assistance to citizens of this state to enable such citizens to attend post-secondary educational institutions.”
Tennessee’s lottery, per the state constitution, was also supposed to be based on the lotteries in Georgia, Kentucky and Virginia.
Bredesen acknowledged that what he is considering proposing might not be constitutional.
“What I’m describing may not be possible, but I would like to see some way of using the money more efficiently and using it for the students who really are not going to go to college otherwise,” Bredesen said.
Part of the evidence presented Thursday at a budget hearing on higher education seemed to bolster Bredesen’s backing of the plan.
That evidence came from Dr. John Petersen, president of the University of Tennessee, who said that the majority of students who did not make the required GPA to retain their HOPE Scholarship remained in school.
“They don’t typically leave,” Petersen said, especially at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. “So what that tells you is that money isn’t the only thing.”
Petersen said the HOPE Scholarship program has succeeded in improving the rate of top high school students staying in Tennessee.
Bredesen said students who lose their HOPE Scholarships but stay in school illustrated to him that the awards were being granted to high school graduates who would be attending college regardless.
According to state higher education figures for 2006, 47 percent of lottery scholarship awardees had family incomes between $36,001 and $96,000.
Twenty-five percent of lottery scholarship recipients had family incomes higher than $96,000 and 28 percent had incomes $36,000 or below for 2006.
Besides Bredesen’s possible plan, one proposal for need-based students is to expand the state’s existing college program, the Tennessee Student Assistance Award. That award is on average $2,000 a year.
Robert Ruble, executive director of the Tennessee Student Assistance Corp., asked for about a $26 million expansion of TSAA funding Thursday.
That increased funding would allow the awards to be offered to more students for a program where demand outstrips supply. In the 2006-2007 school year, 143,696 low-income students applied, but only 19,863 — the earliest applicants — were accepted.
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Is Bredesen Flip-Flopping again?
Don't let the Constitution stand in your way of buying votes Phil.Why don't you come up with a plan that will give us more of what we need, Teachers and Nurses?
You are exactly right Id. From all of the articles I've read most students who make C averages in high school totally wash out in college. This is a gimmick to pander to voters and show how much he "cares" so they'll support him as he climbs to the next rung on the political ladder. Senator? Congressman???
WE need teachers and nurses and we/Brede$en control most of the schools in the state so what is he waiting for?He is assisting the drain with his Pre-K entitlement which he wants to expand.
Senator? Congressman? Helll Obama is considering Bredesen for VP if he gets the nomination.Phil is a flip flopper from the word go. It should be based on merit not income.Bredesen is a twit.
Bredesen for VP, hell president would be even better.
hmmm, changing the rules after saying one thing to get it passed? why is anyone surprised, it will become another wasteful entitlement program for the pols to continue to build the underclass. Unfortunate but true.
I'm sure we'll have no say and my daughter, who worked hard in high school and is working hard in college to keep her Hope Scholarship, will be one of the ones who will have to drop out of college so we can make sure and send a student who can't get by in high school to college. They'll party the scholarship away until they are tossed out. YOU ARE AN IDIOT PHIL BREDESEN - If a student can't make the grade in high school they WON'T MAKE IT IN COLLEGE! The Middle Class is tired of being screwed - leave the middle class students ALONE!!!
Sorry Phil, but I don't consider my child who makes straight A's elitist. I call him smart and deserving of a reward for his hard, hard work. Now you want to give it to the guy who sits next to him and sleeps through class? Can you just wait a year so I can get him through high school and keep him motivated? Not an easy thing for any income or parent these days.
It was about time for that other shoe to drop. This is EXACTLY why people were against an income tax. No matter what is said on the front end to sell the deal, once something is in place the government is free to tinker with it. Lotter scholarships start out requiring a B average- then well maybe a C if you are "in need
The hope scholarship was and should continue to be for those that have the ability but not the means to continue their education after high school. If a student didn’t make the effort in high school, why should they be given more to do nothing with in college? The Hope Scholarship works as is, it needs to be left alone!
It is not that most of us parents have a lot of disposable money. It just means that my child won't be burdened for years paying student loans. If you want more people to have the Hope scholarship money you don't have to lower the GPA requirement. Better yet, make the amount awarded based on the student's effort as evidenced by their GPA, i.e. 3.0 and above should get the full amount, 2.75 through 2.99 get 80%, 2.50 through 2.74 get 75%. Lower than a 2.5 gets nothing. The current practice of all or nothing is stupid!!!!! If you have a couple of bad semesters or you have tough classes (calculus, biochemistry), you lose it all. Anyone can keep a decent GPA if they are only taking fluff courses. We need medical careers people so give them a break.
I'm glad that Phil is looking fit & trim (in the photo) because obeisity is such a health risk during the holidays. I try to avoid obeisity.
Phil is exactly right. Why should the elitist be awarded when the need is so apparent for working students trying to survive college. I believe a 2.50 GPA is entry level, and dollars should be tiered. The higher the GPA the more money the student's receive. Most workplace support programs work that way.
Need Based in WHOSE opinion. Bredesen and a Host of others have allowed an inflated economy to divide more vastly than every before the very wealthy and the very poor. I you want to take PRIVATE schools out of the mix... maybe... For years I have been a loyal Bredesen supporter, over the last 18 months or so his disconnect to the average Tennessean is shining like the good silver laid out for a family holiday. Bredesen has NO clue what the HOPE means to those students and families dependent on it, and doesnt care. I agree that twit just maybe the final description of what started out as a governership that was rife with pride..... If you can afford to pay out right your tuition... DECLINE YOUR HOPE MONEY.
IF Brede$en gets his way will they change the name toLETS PRAY FOR A MIRACLE SCHOLARSHIP?
Why must we keep dumbing down our Future society and prop up the ones that don't try or really care?
We DO need to change the program -- we need to RAISE the standards for acquiring the money then with the money we save from not sending a lot of deadbeats to schools they cannot pass we should raise the amount given to each student
Scholarships based on merit reward the advantaged. All financial aid should be based on need. Schools should admit students in total disregard of their abilities to pay, then aid all those who cannot meet the costs. This enrolls quality students from a spectrum of backgrounds, enriching college for all.These lottery scholarships were simply a shill to get a lottery in Tennessee so that the state government could avoid creating an income tax for a few more years. Turn these scholarships into totally need-based, and create a state income tax on the wealthy (all individuals earning $100,000 & above) to eliminate the sales tax on food & clothing & to put more money into education in our most disadvantaged school districts.Whatsup, I hope that your daughter stays in school. If you & she cannot meet the costs, then you deserve some aid. The grades & A.C.T. requirement needn’t be lowered for these scholarships. Simply turn them from merit based to need-based. Don’t make them automatic for anyone who meets the numbers. Add a third number to the G.P.A. & A.C.T.: the parents’ income.(By the way, you give me a year, and there isn’t anyone whose A.C.T. I can’t get to 21.)
MJB once again you put your foot in your mouth. The lottery goes to a NEW ENTITLEMENT not into the general fund (like it should have) so has nothing to do with an income tax.
The scholarship is given to the student, not the parents. Bredesen is a panderer. If the scholarship be need-based then the criteria should be the net worth of the student, not the net worth or income of the parents. If a student is old enough to serve in the military then the measure of his need should be solely based on his financial status and not the parents.
Muzhik, almost all parents pay the lion's share of college costs. Unless a student demonstrates utter financial independence, the parents' & student's incomes dictate financial aid.
I have a better idea. Keep it merit based but extend it to adults without the arbitrary age limit!