Author: Jennifer Lee

Jennifer Lee is the senior policy analyst for higher education at GBPI, where she focuses on state policies that provide Georgians greater opportunity to complete a higher education credential regardless of race, ethnicity and family income.

Legislation Curbs Growth of Dual Enrollment Costs | Bill Analysis: House Bill 444 (LC 33 7896S)

Budget and Taxes Higher Education Jennifer Lee Reports

Legislation Curbs Growth of Dual Enrollment Costs | Bill Analysis: House Bill 444 (LC 33 7896S)

/ by Jennifer Lee | 1 Comment on Legislation Curbs Growth of Dual Enrollment Costs | Bill Analysis: House Bill 444 (LC 33 7896S)

Download PDF Updated on May 8, 2019: Though House Bill 444 did not pass during the 2019 legislative session, the Georgia Student Finance Commission (GSFC) used its regulatory authority to change Dual Enrollment payment rates to colleges. GSFC eliminated awards for books and fees. The program used to pay colleges for tuition, mandatory fees and […]

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College Affordability Creates Hurdles for Many Students

Higher Education Jennifer Lee Presentations

College Affordability Creates Hurdles for Many Students

/ by Jennifer Lee

The following is a summary of a presentation on College Affordability delivered by GBPI Higher Education Analyst Jennifer Lee. Increasing college completion among low-income students is a necessity for Georgia and a higher education goal for GBPI. Financial challenges create a large barrier to college completion for many students, particularly for students of color and […]

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Dual Enrollment Explained

Blog Higher Education Jennifer Lee

Dual Enrollment Explained

/ by Jennifer Lee | 3 Comments on Dual Enrollment Explained

Georgia’s Dual Enrollment program allows high school students, grades 9 through 12, to enroll in college courses and earn college credit while in high school.  Students and their families do not pay for tuition, fees or books. They are only responsible for course-related fees and transportation. The program has operated in various forms since the […]

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Georgia Lawmakers can Maximize Lottery Effectiveness

Fact Sheets Higher Education Jennifer Lee

Georgia Lawmakers can Maximize Lottery Effectiveness

/ by Jennifer Lee

The Georgia Lottery is intended to support a more educated Georgia where everyone gets a good early start to their education and an affordable path to a college degree. Too many lottery dollars sit idle. The state averages more than $53 million in lottery surplus every year which builds up the reserves instead of supporting […]

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3 Ways Georgia Can Make College More Affordable

Higher Education Jennifer Lee Reports

3 Ways Georgia Can Make College More Affordable

/ by Jennifer Lee

Download PDF In a few short years, more than 60 percent of Georgia jobs will require some postsecondary education1. Georgians with a bachelor’s degree earn nearly $17,000 more than those with some college or an associate degree and in excess of $22,000 more than those with a high school diploma only2. But many Georgians are […]

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Overview: 2020 Fiscal Year Budget for Lottery-Funded Programs

Budget and Taxes Higher Education Jennifer Lee Reports

Overview: 2020 Fiscal Year Budget for Lottery-Funded Programs

/ by Jennifer Lee

Download PDF Governor Brian Kemp’s proposed 2020 budget includes an additional $47.7 million in lottery funds, bringing the total for Georgia’s lottery-funded pre-Kindergarten and HOPE financial aid programs to $1.25 billion. About $870 million is for HOPE and $379 million is for pre-K. The biggest changes to HOPE in the governor’s budget are a 3 […]

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Overview: 2020 Fiscal Year Budget for Higher Education

Budget and Taxes Higher Education Jennifer Lee Reports

Overview: 2020 Fiscal Year Budget for Higher Education

/ by Jennifer Lee

Download PDF Governor Brian Kemp’s proposed 2020 budget of $2.58 billion for the university system and $373 million for technical colleges includes money for enrollment growth and merit pay, employee recruitment and retention. The proposed 2019 amended budget adds $35 million for an aviation academy at Chattahoochee Technical College and $3.6 million to meet the […]

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College Need-Based Aid Presents Opportunity to Propel More Low-Income Georgians to Middle Class

Higher Education Jennifer Lee Reports

College Need-Based Aid Presents Opportunity to Propel More Low-Income Georgians to Middle Class

/ by Jennifer Lee

Download PDF During the 2018 legislative session, the Georgia Legislature passed House Bill 787 with a provision authorizing the Georgia Student Finance Commission to create the state’s first broad need-based aid program for university system students. Critical next steps include deciding the structure of a need-based aid program and adequately funding it. Lawmakers now have […]

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Georgia’s Lottery: ‘Reserving’ a Big Prize for Education

Fact Sheets Higher Education Jennifer Lee

Georgia’s Lottery: ‘Reserving’ a Big Prize for Education

/ by Jennifer Lee

This year marks the Georgia Lottery’s 25th anniversary and the two main educational programs it supports: public Pre-Kindergarten and HOPE scholarships and grants. The lottery raised billions of dollars during its 25 years for education and helped hundreds of thousands of students attend college and Pre-K. Lottery proceeds also helped pay for capital outlay projects, […]

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College Students Face Food and Housing Insecurity

Blog Higher Education Jennifer Lee

College Students Face Food and Housing Insecurity

/ by Jennifer Lee

Many Georgia college students struggle to secure consistent housing and food, according to a recent study by the Hope Center for College, Community, and Justice based at Temple University. Thirty-nine percent of college students surveyed faced housing insecurity, and 37 percent faced food insecurity. That means students had a challenging time paying for food, rent […]

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