Press release [Nov. 17, 1997]

L I N K S- CSP Home - Hope Press Release
RELEASED WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 1999
Council Finds HOPE Does Not Cause Grade Inflation
ATLANTA The HOPE Scholarship program does not cause grade inflation, or reduce minority enrollment in the university system, according to a Council for School Performance study released today. In a recent meeting, the Council for School Performance approved two analyses related to the HOPE Scholarship--the first study found that potential negative side effects of the HOPE Scholarship do not appear to have materialized; the second study showed a clear relationship between student expectations for college and knowledge of the HOPE Scholarship.
The first of the Council studies examined the impact of the HOPE Scholarship on high school and college students. Rather than finding negative effects from the scholarship program, the Council research showed that, since the establishment of the HOPE Scholarship, Georgia high school graduates attending University system institutions are better prepared academically than their pre-HOPE counterparts. The percentage of students taking AP exams and the percentage with the college prep diploma has increased, while the proportion requiring remedial coursework has decreased. At the same time, minority enrollment has risen since HOPE began.
The second of the Council studies concerning HOPE summarized the second year of a statewide survey of Georgia students and their parents. The survey revealed that parents and students are learning more about the HOPE Scholarship, and those with greater knowledge of the program's requirements are more likely to expect to attend a four-year college. The study also found that the parents of children expecting to attend four-year college are more involved in their children's school activities, more likely to talk about post-high school plans with their kids, and more likely to discuss the family's ability to pay for higher education, than are the parents of students planning only to finish high school or to attend a technical or vocational school.
"We have argued that if you change incentives as the HOPE Scholarship does, you can change behavior. The Council study shows that students are working harder to get the HOPE Scholarship," said Dr. Gary Henry, research director of the Council for School Performance and director of the Applied Research Center at Georgia State University, which houses the Council. "Students and their parents are also investing the time to learn about HOPE, and this knowledge is significantly influencing their plans for the future."
"The Council reports show that the HOPE Scholarship affects Georgia students at all levels of education-from middle school through high school and in college. This research should clear up any concerns that HOPE might be causing negative effects, such as grade inflation," said Glenn Newsome, executive director of the Georgia Student Finance Commission, the agency that oversees the HOPE Scholarship.
Both studies are part of the Council for School Performance's continuing examination of the educational programs funded by the Georgia Lottery for Education. The Council also produces annual school and school system performance reports on Georgia's public schools. Council publications are available on the
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