• 1991-92: Gov. Zell Miller promotes the idea that lottery proceeds should go for college scholarships. Lawmakers approve law setting up how lottery proceeds may be spent.

• 1993-94: First group of high school graduates receives the HOPE scholarship, which pays for the first two years of college tuition.

• Program is started to provide a full scholarship to Georgia Military College.

• 1994-95: Scholarship expanded to cover four years.

• Income cap is raised from $66,000 to $100,000.

• Scholarship adds allowance for mandatory fees and books.

• Grant for private college students doubled to $1,000 a year.

• 1995-96: Scholarship expanded to allow public college students whose grades slip to earn back HOPE after sophomore year.

• Income cap removed.

• PROMISE and HOPE teacher scholarships added.

• Grant for private college students increased to $1,500 a year.

• 1996-97: Grant for private college students increased to $3,000 a year. For the first time, those students are required to have at least a B average.

• Program is approved to provide engineering scholarships at private Mercer University.

• 1997-98: Private college students whose grades slip allowed to earn back HOPE after sophomore year.

• 1999-2000: Total costs for program exceed $200 million annually.

• 2000-01: Pell Offset removed, allowing low-income students to receive both federal Pell Grants and HOPE.

• Limit is removed on the number of certificates or diplomas that HOPE will pay for a student to earn at technical colleges.

• Gov. Roy Barnes tries to limit HOPE student fees but backs down after student complaints.

• State lowers requirements for PROMISE scholarship for prospective teachers.

• 2001-02: Program costs exceed $300 million annually.

• State again lowers requirements for PROMISE scholarship for prospective teachers.

• 2002-03: Program costs exceed $350 million annually.

• 2003: State commission begins studying ways to bring HOPE costs under control