During the 2017 Legislative Session, Lt. Governor Casey Cagle led the unanimous passage of a measure that will expand pathways to HOPE scholarship eligibility for Georgia’s high school students. Last week, Gov. Nathan Deal signed Senate Bill 186 into law.

“In only two short years, we have drastically increased opportunities for high school students to graduate with technical certifications and college credentials,” said Lt. Governor Cagle. “Thanks to Education and Youth Chairman Lindsey Tippins and the passage of SB 186, more students will gain access to the HOPE scholarship. We are working to build the most dynamic workforce in the United States and these additional resources will result in more students being job ready when they walk across the graduation stage.”

In 2015, Lt. Governor Cagle championed Senate Bill 2, legislation that modernized criteria for high school graduation by increasing access to college programs and credentials. In conjunction with Georgia’s network of College and Career Academies, thousands of students have been able to pursue post-secondary educational opportunities at any institution in our Technical College and University Systems.

Senate Bill 186 furthers Lt. Governor Cagle’s commitment to ensure Georgia’s students graduate high school career ready. Importantly, this measure creates additional opportunities for students who wish to continue their education by allowing students seeking an associate degree to be eligible for the HOPE grant and the ability to later be awarded a HOPE scholarship. A student is eligible when they receive a high school diploma through completion of a technical college diploma or certificate program, fulfilling all postsecondary academic education and technical education prerequisites for occupational certifications or licenses required to work in a given field.