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[RepTrail <RepTrail@infotrail.com>]

IDAHO'S PROMISE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

      The Idaho Promise Scholarship Program is almost a reality. The 
program received the Governor's endorsement in his State of the State 
speech plus $6,000,000 for funding.  The legislation was introduced last 
February in the Legislature by Sen. Bob Lee and myself, and it was passed 
and signed by the Governor.  I attended JFAC's hearing on the Program just 
after the Governor's speech.  We are asking for an initial $3,000,000 
supplemental appropriation so that the program can get on line almost 
immediately.

      I believe this Program is potentially one of the best policy 
decisions made by the Governor and the Legislature in the last 10 years as 
an investment in helping make post-secondary education more affordable to 
Idaho families.  Only 49% of Idaho high school graduates move on to higher 
education.  Nationally, 65% of high school graduates participate in some 
form of higher education opportunity.  Eighty percent of Iowa students go 
on to higher education.

      One of the objectives of the legislation is to provide some 
additional support for Idaho families to help pull together the financial 
package to send their children on to college.  The Legislature also wants 
to encourage a higher percentage of Idaho high school graduates to attend 
university, vo-tech, and community college programs.  Thirteen percent of 
Idaho students go to school outside of state.  Another objective of the 
legislation to try and keep some of the "best of the rest" at Idaho 
institutions.

      Listed below are some of the characteristics of the program:

1. The State of Idaho will provide a $500 scholarship per semester to any 
high school graduate who attains a 3.0 GPA (overall GPA).  The scholarship 
will be available for a total of 4 semesters or a total of $2,000.

2. Students must attend an accredited Idaho institution of higher 
education.  Any curriculum can be followed.  The only exception is that the 
scholarship cannot be used to study for the clergy.

3. Some universities will match the scholarship.  Dr. Hoover, President of 
the University of Idaho, told me that if the program were funded, the 
University of Idaho would match the State contribution. The combined total 
of the State scholarship with the University match would be $4,000!

4. High school graduates from private schools are eligible.  Home schoolers 
who achieve a 20 on the ACT qualify.  GED graduates can also take the ACT 
to qualify for the award.

5. A student must maintain a 2.5 GPA at the post-secondary level to keep 
the scholarship.

6. Students can take a break in their university program and then come back 
and re-qualify for the scholarship.

7. The scholarship program will be administered through the State Board of 
Education.

      We estimate that about 6,000 Idaho high school graduates will be 
eligible for the program.  We anticipate that when the supplemental 
appropriations are approved in late January, the program will be ready to 
roll. It is anticipated that high school graduates who graduate in late May 
and early June will be eligible to apply for the program and to utilize the 
first scholarship this coming Fall.  Once the final Legislative approval is 
given, I anticipate that the State Board of Education will be communicating 
with the Department and Education and that specific instructions will go 
out to school districts.

      Other states have had great success with similar programs.  The 
program is not an entitlement, and funds will be appropriate on a year to 
year basis.  It will be interesting to track and evaluate the results of 
the Idaho Promise Scholarship Program
.
Rep. Tom Trail/Dist. 6 ttrail@house.state.id.us






Rep. Tom Trail, district 5

  I would like constituents to contact me by e-mail me with their ideas, 
comments and recommendations.

ttrail@moscow.com

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