Georgia's HOPE and Pre-K programs are hugely successful and popular. HOPE has improved the academic achievement of the University System of Georgia and the Department of Technical and Adult Education, and Pre-K is helping prepare our next generation for educational challenges of the future. These programs are contributing to a brighter and more prosperous economic future for the state and are helping open the doors of opportunity to all Georgians. However, the growth in the number of students eligible for the HOPE Scholarship and Grant and the increased costs of education have created a situation that may result in having insufficient lottery money to support these programs.

Senate Resolution 220 created the Improvement of the HOPE Scholarship Joint Study Commission. The stated purpose of the commission was to "undertake a study of the conditions, needs, and issues" related to the HOPE scholarship program and "recommend any action or legislation which the commission deems necessary or appropriate to improve the HOPE scholarship program for the future," thereby assuring "the continuing and future availability of sufficient funds for HOPE scholarships." The goals of the commission were to preserve, protect, and improve this nationally recognized program, its core values of academic achievement, and the promotion of equal opportunity and economic prosperity. The commission's report on its findings and recommendations were made in fall 2003. [Commission Report]

The University of Georgia's Carl Vinson Institute of Government, with assistance from legislative staff support services, staffed the study.