Peach Tree Times

State Representative Robert Dickey, also known as Chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture and Consumer Affairs, expressed his gratitude towards Governor Kemp for signing House Bill 970 into law. The bill is set to update the funding mechanisms for the Realizing Education Achievement Can Happen (REACH) scholarship program.

Chairman Dickey emphasized the importance of the legislation by stating, "In sponsoring this legislation, my objective was to increase funding for the REACH scholarship in the hopes that it keeps young Georgians in the education pipeline and interested in seeking higher education." He also acknowledged the collaborative effort that led to the bill's success, saying, “I am thankful for the support of my legislative colleagues and Governor Kemp who helped bring this legislation to the finish line.”

The REACH Program, a needs-based mentoring and scholarship initiative, aims to provide young students with the necessary resources and support to graduate from high school and pursue higher education. Participating schools select promising students to participate in the program, helping them prepare for postsecondary education.

House Bill 970 introduces significant changes in the state and local funding methods for the REACH scholarship. It allows local areas to fund local schools and enables REACH scholars to receive a $10,000 scholarship. Moreover, the legislation mandates that participating school systems contribute $1,000 towards the scholarship, with the state providing the remaining $9,000 through the Georgia Student Finance Authority. Additionally, the bill expands the program criteria to include victims of human trafficking as eligible recipients of the scholarship.