Atlanta
(2012-02-06)
Listen Now:
null
The Governor says the Realizing Educational Achievement Can Happen or REACH scholarship will be privately funded and will kick off with a $250,000 donation from AT&T. He says the program will start in the Douglas, Rabun and Bulloch County School systems and will expand based on additional funding.
"We believe it will give us an opportunity to demonstrate to other school systems around the state that this is a program they should be interested in participating in, so it will start small and hopefully it will grow rather quickly."
Deal says the program will be aimed at middle students who are eligible for free and reduced lunches. students will have to maintain a certain grade point average until they graduate high school and be required to sign a contract that they remain crime, drug and behavior issue free. The Governor says if they meet those requirements they will receive a tuition scholarship of $2,500 per year to any HOPE eligible institution.
"I think this is something that everyone in our state recognizes will not only make our state better but will create a better workforce."
But Senate Democrats say the REACH program is a diversion from discussions to repair the HOPE Scholarship program. Democrats have proposed a $140,000 dollar income cap for HOPE that they say is needed to keep the program afloat. But the Governor says HOPE should remain merit-based.
© Copyright 2012, WABE
