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Scholarship Cuts Hot Legislative Topic

NASHVILLE,? ?Tenn.? (?AP?) — ?A proposal to cut some students?' ?lottery scholarships in half is a hot topic this legislative session.

The plan,? ?suggested by a panel of state lawmakers,? ?would reduce by? ?50? ?percent the lottery scholarship awards for students who do not meet both standardized testing and high school grade requirements.

Right now,? ?students can get a scholarship worth? ?$4,000? ?for each of four years if they either earn a? ?3.0? ?grade point average in high school or score a? ?21? ?on their ACT college entrance exam.

The plan is estimated to generate about? ?$13? ?million in savings the first year and? ?$17? ?million each year thereafter.

But opponents of the plan say it's unnecessary because the lottery scholarship program currently has nearly? ?$400? ?million in reserves and tickets for the Tennessee Lottery's popular Powerball game have increased.by a dollar,? ?which will likely mean additional revenue.