Tennessee Education Association Applauds Lottery Scholarship Legislative Leaders
Tennessee Education Association Applauds Lottery Scholarship Legislative Leaders
With some $260 million currently in reserve - significantly more than the $50 million reserve amount required by statute - the Tennessee Education Lottery Scholarship Program could definitely benefit additional Tennessee students wanting to attend college in the Volunteer State. And the original sponsor of the legislation that ushered in the successful program - State Senator Steve Cohen (D-Memphis) - is hoping TEA members will help promote the opportunity.
"Support for education has always been one of my primary legislative objectives,"e said Cohen, who first floated the idea of possible lottery scholarship assistance as far back as 1984.
"I was especially concerned by the low numbers of Tennessee students pursuing higher education," said Cohen, "and taking note of programs around the country outside the Southeast where lottery money was going to finance college scholarships, I wanted Tennessee to be one of the first states in this region to implement the concept."
Despite years of opposition to the idea, Senator Cohen and other supporters persevered, introducing legislation in 2001 that brought the issue to a public referendum in 2002. Legislation initiating the current program passed the Tennessee General Assembly in 2003 with 58 percent voting in favor.
"Legislation currently alive in the General Assembly would raise the HOPE Scholarship award to $4,000 for students attending a four-year institution and $2,000 for students attending a two-year institution," said Cohen.
"Discussion is also taking place that could take interest earned from any reserve funds and increase the amount of the Aspire Award, perhaps as much as doubling the current amount, and the idea of using excess funds to strengthen Pre-K and after-school programs is still very much alive as well."e; TEA members can see the June edition of teach or go to www.teateachers.org for updates on these developments.
http://www.cohenforcongress.com/news-tea.html