A bill that would allow more Georgia technical college students to qualify for the HOPE Grant passed a House budget subcommittee for higher education Wednesday morning.
House Bill 372 would make students eligible for the award if they maintain a 2.0 grade-point average. The current mandate is a 3.0, but the change would mark a return to what existed before lawmakers overhauled HOPE in 2011 to prevent it from running out of money.
Gov. Nathan Deal has endorsed the change, which responds to criticism that the higher requirement caused too many students to drop out or not enroll in the Technical College System of Georgia.
The grant is predominantly used by technical college students.
The HOPE Scholarship, which is mainly used by University System of Georgia students, would keep the 3.0 GPA requirement.
The bill was filed by Rep. Christian Coomer, R-Cartersville, one of Deal’s floor leaders. Other sponsors include Rep. Stacey Evans, D-Smyrna.
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