Gov. Nathan Deal returns to his office after presenting his budget plan to the House Appropriations Committee, Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2013, in Atlanta. Gov. Deal told Georgia lawmakers his legislative agenda will be less elaborate because a still-weak economy is curtailing state spending. The Republican governor presented his changes to the state's current budget and a $40.8 billion spending plan for the coming fiscal year. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
The Republican governor was surrounded by legislators from both parties when he said Thursday that the threshold will be returned to a 2.0 grade point average. Lawmakers previously raised it to a 3.0 amid sagging lottery revenue projections, but Deal says an uptick in lottery proceeds allows for the flexibility.
Lower eligibility will increase HOPE spending by $5 million to $8 million annually, Deal said, and will benefit several thousand students. Enrollment in two-year technical programs has dropped since lawmakers raised the academic requirements.
The change will require a new act of the legislature, but officials at the Capitol say that is now a formality.
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