Heads Up Students: Changes to Lottery Scholarships?
By: J.R. Davis
Updated: February 18, 2013
House Bill 1295, which is up for a vote later today in the state house, would change the amounts students are awarded under the Academic Challenge Scholarship.
If passed here's how it break down:
Four Year Schools
Freshman $2,000
Sophomores $3,000
Juniors $4,000
Seniors $5,000
Two-Year Schools
$2,000/year
Former Lt. Governor and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Bill Halter, who spearheaded the creation of the lottery scholarship in 2008, isn't happy about the proposal.
Halter released the following statement:
This legislation will make it significantly more difficult for Arkansas students to achieve a higher education," said Halter. "With virtually no warning to tens of thousands of parents and students, this bill fundamentally changes the program to the point where it will reduce the number of Arkansas students able to enter a state college or university. It's a bad idea for students and parents and it's a bad idea for Arkansas."
"The fact that more students have received the scholarship than was initially projected is an enormous success that deserves to be built upon rather than cut," said Halter. "Arkansans approved the scholarship lottery to offer greater opportunities for higher education in our state."
"This bill ignores the expectations of Arkansans who voted overwhelmingly for the scholarship lottery that passed with clear majorities in every legislative district in Arkansas," said Halter.
"We must do more to expand opportunity for Arkansans and to strengthen our workforce to help build and attract better paying jobs. This legislation undercuts all of these goals," said Halter.
