Two local colleges sign on to REACH

ATLANTA - The governor's office Friday announced several more Georgia colleges, including two in our area, have signed on to the REACH Scholarship program. The privately funded REACH is designed to be needs-based.

Piedmont and Young Harris colleges are among the group that have pledged to double the REACH grant for students who choose their campuses.

Cedric Johnson with the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute says while well intended, it's hard to tell if REACH will really make a difference.

"Well these colleges who are signing on to this initiative are basically committing to doing something that they were going to be doing anyway in regards to their financial aid," Johnson said.

"For one, we don't know how many students will actually be a part of this program, and two, we can't be sure that the actual overall pot of money for this financial aid program is actually growing," Johnson said.

He said the Institute believes a better way to address financial aid for college is for the state to increase its commitment to higher education in the budget.

According to the Governor Nathan Deal's Office, the commitments will help cover the average gap between other needs-based scholarships and the full cost of attendance.

"These institutions' decisions to get involved with REACH will give a lifeline to a world-class education for deserving students who have worked hard but still need a helping hand in affording college," Deal said.

"The leadership and decisions of these schools to get on board with this program further extends our promise to helping young people attain the education they deserve," Deal added.

REACH, or Realizing Educational Achievement Can Happen was announced last month.