ATLANTA -- Starting next year, Georgia students will have the chance to compete for a new, statewide scholarship program.
Monday afternoon, Gov. Nathan Deal announced the start of the REACH Scholarship Program, a need-based scholarship designated to help students who qualify for free or reduced lunches.
REACH, which stands for "Realizing Educational Achievement Can Happen," begins in 7th grade. Counselors nominate students who show academic promise, but are at risk of dropping out of school. The student is paired with a mentor and tracked through high school. If they satisfy a pledge to remain drug free and out of trouble, they will receive $10,000 over four years.
"I think that this is something that everybody recognizes will not only make our state's future better, but also create a better work force," Gov. Deal said.
The scholarships are funded entirely through private donations. AT&T was the first company to donate, pledging $250,000 to the fund.
The announcement comes as the future of HOPE scholarship hangs in the balance. Leaders at the Georgia Dome are locked in a debate of whether to enforce an income cap on students who could receive HOPE.
Within an hour of the governor's announcement, state Democrats fired back, calling REACH merely a diversion.
"Today's announcement of need-based aid is an effort to hide the true crisis that we face in respect to the HOPE Scholarship," said state Sen. Jason Carter.
"The lottery dollars that come into HOPE go out in a disproportionate way to the wealthiest Georgians," he added.
Democrats suggest students must have a household income of $140,000 or below to receive HOPE. Under their plan, that cap would adjust based on lottery revenue.
Republicans say the purpose of HOPE has always been to keep the smartest students in Georgia, regardless of family income.
"Proposing an income cap simply says that we're converting this from a merit-based program to a needs-based program," Gov. Deal said.
"I think the success of the HOPE Scholarship overall is that we've rewarded young people based on merit."