By Jason Evans

Staff Reporter

jevans@thepccourier.com

LIBERTY — State Rep. Neal Collins is cosponsoring a bill that, if passed, would use lottery funds for helping teachers, instead of funding HOPE and LIFE scholarships.

During the Pickens County Legislative Delegation’s recent annual meeting, grassroots education advocate Denni Clardy Alexander asked Collins about the bill.

“Why would the Education Lottery Bill support taking scholarship money away from middle-class families and higher, when these are the only funds they can get for their children?” she asked.

His pre-filed bill would divert lottery funding from HOPE and LIFE scholarships toward teachers, Collins said.

He said the retention rates for the scholarships are among the reasons he is supporting the bill.

“HOPE and LIFE, they only have a retention rate of about 20

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