Changes in the HOPE scholarship have received lots of attention. At the same time, Georgia Governor Nathan Deal has made changes to Georgia's popular lottery-funded pre-kindergarten program.
Georgia Pre-K is very popular, with 84,000 four-year-olds attending the free program each year. Studies show it is producing results: fewer children are dropping out, being held back, or ending up in special education classes.
Since Pre-K is funded by the Georgia Lottery, it faces the same financial problems that HOPE did. However, since it is not part of a state statute like HOPE is, Governor Nathan Deal can make changes without passing a bill.
His first proposal included cutting the school hours to a half day and reducing teacher salaries by 30%, changes that upset many educators and parents. Deal revised his plan to maintain full-day pre-K while making other cuts. Here, from the Governor's press release, are the changes to Georgia Pre-K.
- The school year will be reduced from 180 to 160 days.
- Class size will be increased to 22 students from 20. Since all Georgia Pre-K classes have a paraprofessional in the room, the student/teacher ratio will max out at 11 to 1.
- An additional 2,000 Pre-K slots will be added, bringing Georgia Pre-K enrollment to 86,000 children.
- Schools will receive 94 percent of the operating funds they currently receive.
- Pre-K teachers will receive 90 percent of their current salaries.
Read more about the Georgia Pre-K Program here.