Update: Arkansas House Passes Bill to Change Lottery Scholarship Award Amounts
By: KARK 4 News
Updated: February 18, 2013
Update (Monday, Feb. 18):
The Arkansas House of Representatives has passed HB 1295 to amend provisions of the Arkansas Scholarship Lottery.
The bill passed by a vote of 69-21.
Update (Wednesday, Feb. 13):
The House Rules Committee today voted to advance a bill calling for changes to the award amount structure for lottery scholarships.
The bill calls for the amounts to be tiered, starting at $2k for freshmen, up to $5k for seniors.
Original story (Tuesday, February 12):
Lawmakers are preparing to debate the first of several bills making changes to how students will receive their lottery scholarship money.
This first bill introduced would change the amount of money a student is awarded in lottery scholarship funding, basically a lower amount, to start out with.
Shane Broadway with the Arkansas Department of Higher Education says the award amount and eligibility criteria will have to change, no matter what.
"We've had more students apply and accept the scholarships than anticipated, and the revenue from lottery remains relatively flat," Broadway says.
The current award amounts are $4,500 for a four-year college and $2,250 for a two-year.
The new proposal would provide $2,000 for first-year, incoming freshman, whether it's at a four year or two year college, but as they return, that award amount will increase.
The Arkansas House of Representatives has passed HB 1295 to amend provisions of the Arkansas Scholarship Lottery.
The bill passed by a vote of 69-21.
Update (Wednesday, Feb. 13):
The House Rules Committee today voted to advance a bill calling for changes to the award amount structure for lottery scholarships.
The bill calls for the amounts to be tiered, starting at $2k for freshmen, up to $5k for seniors.
Original story (Tuesday, February 12):
Lawmakers are preparing to debate the first of several bills making changes to how students will receive their lottery scholarship money.
This first bill introduced would change the amount of money a student is awarded in lottery scholarship funding, basically a lower amount, to start out with.
Shane Broadway with the Arkansas Department of Higher Education says the award amount and eligibility criteria will have to change, no matter what.
"We've had more students apply and accept the scholarships than anticipated, and the revenue from lottery remains relatively flat," Broadway says.
The current award amounts are $4,500 for a four-year college and $2,250 for a two-year.
The new proposal would provide $2,000 for first-year, incoming freshman, whether it's at a four year or two year college, but as they return, that award amount will increase.
Comments
I am sad and I do understand where the lottery commission is coming from. There are alot of students who do get alot of single awards in addition to getting scholarships from the college itself. After the bills are paid they get this money to spend how they wish. When alot of students entering college have gotten very little or nothing. I think it needs to be taken into conderation more on what other scholarship that person has already gotten in scholarships this would in my opinion help more students go to college.
Shelia G.
February 18, 2013 at 2:54 pm
I understand you have to cut back on the amount but to go from $4,500 to $2,000 seems drastic. I thought the proposal was to reduce it to $3,800. I feel like a lot of kids will not even try to go if they know they will have to incur a lot of debt just to start their first year. This lottery is evidently not what most Arkansas citizens thought it would be. $2000 will not be enough to even pay for most dorm room and meal plans.
Kelley K.
February 13, 2013 at 3:48 pm
