Lottery-funded scholarships not meeting goals

[polly_mer]

Lotteries across the US have been affected by Covid-19 shutdowns.

Arkansas lottery-funded scholarship total amount down for 2020

The Georgia Hope scholarships have not met their goals, even before Covid-19.

New Mexico lottery scholarship funds down, but attributed to lower sales after huge jackpots.

Florida students may be unable to qualify for lottery-funded scholarships due to cancelled testing

[mamselle]

My Econ 101 professor pointed out that lotteries are essentially a tax on the poor, since they are the ones who primarily bet on/invest in/fund lotteries.

I decided I'd never participate in one, or apply for/accept funds from a lottery-funded grant, so I never have.

In a just world, they would be better-fenced and there would be better counseling for those prone to gambling additions as well.

So, maybe it's a good time to look at alternatives.

M.

[polly_mer]

The best alternative is cutting the number of students slots available at the state institutions to what can be funded and only allowing that number of students in.  Setting real standards on college admissions to those who will benefit from a college education would fix the numbers quickly.

However, that means far fewer faculty positions and a lot of folks who are stuck where they were born because the K-12 systems are so bad that they don't produce college-ready graduates.

Putting extra money into education is far better spent below the college level.