----"Here in GA you get free tuition from the lottery if you're grades are above X."

[Prosper]

Grades qualifying for any type of educational assistance is wrong. It perpetuates the income gap and poverty class. The National Interest is served by free education. A rapidly accelerating progressive income tax code sustained by a dedication to higher paying wages would finance prosperity. Realigning with taxes the value of stocks dependent on earnings would stabilize and sustain prosperity. Consumerism is the only solution to providing living wages. There are zero waste and emission factories now. That debunks that poverty is necessary for clean air. There is no justification for any kind of discrimination regulating access to education. The right wing has ingrained its perception that assistance is bad. The country can increase wages and GDP without pollution.

[Ilsa]

1. A B average is required to get assistance

under the state plan. It also applies to students attending trade schools. If you keep your grades up in trade school, you get help with tuition.

[mike_c]

2. my daughter got her BS at UGA...

...on the HOPE scholarship. It's merit based so anyone can get it if they maintain a B average or better. There are other criteria, of course, but financial need is not a factor. I went through grad school on fellowships and research/teaching stipends, and they too were awarded to students who maintained good academic progress, regardless of financial need (although in my case I was in dire financial need and graduated with substantial debt). Am I correct in assuming that's the sort of thing you mean by "Grades qualifying for any type of educational assistance is wrong?"

I completely agree with you that the national interest is best served by free education for all, but I don't think that necessarily precludes merit based scholarships. Students attend school to learn, so it's appropriate to reward those who demonstrate academic achievement.