Blog: Dermot Cole
Parnell proposes scholarship plan for high school students earning good grades
Published Tuesday, October 6, 2009
•Gov. Sean Parnell thinks that every student should be able to earn a scholarship for tuition at post-secondary schools in Alaska by achieving good marks in high school.
The $400 million plan he released today is called the Governor's Performance Scholarship or GPS for short.
"To qualify, students will have to take four years of math, language arts and science, in addition to three years of social studies," an announcement form the governor's office said.
“We’ve seen too many young people leave high school without graduating and too many young people need remedial help after graduating high school,” Governor Parnell said. “I want to set the bar higher for our high school students to promote preparedness.”
Earn straight A's and a student would get a 100 percent tuition scholarship, while a B student would get a 75 percent scholarship and a C student would get a 50 percent scholarship.
The scholarship could be used at the University of Alaska or any certified in-state job training organization.
“By giving more students the opportunity to earn a scholarship like this and by requiring it to be used at an in-state institution, we are building a better-trained workforce for Alaska and giving young people hope for their future,” Parnell said.
The plan would be funded with earnings from a $400 million account he wants to create.
The $400 million would be set aside from the Constitutional Budget Reserve, which contains $8 billion.
Sounds like a great plan! This will give all the students a chance to exceed and be rewarded for it. And look at that, doesn't involve changing any of the schools into "academies".
It also requires what most colleges want to see, and that is 4 years of the core courses in reading, writing, math, and sciences.
Great idea! My two boys are A+ and will be college bound this year and next. With the economy the way it is, we are not able to help with college financially and are encouraging them to go for every single grant and scholership available to pay for tuition, and expenses. AND< getting a job now and saving $$$. Providing them with a safe place to live and great food to eat is all we can swing.
Wrong appoarch.
We should go back to the loan program where the student loans are forgiven after working for a period of time within the State of Alaska following graduation. Where the student goes to school should be a requirement of the program. Working in the state should!
This only benefits the already bloated UA bureaucracy.
power_of_the-o, It'll benefit the students and families who qualify for the program, not just UA. It's nice to see something offered for those who work hard and earn it. I much prefer this program to all of the handout and entitlement programs that are based solely on race or financial status. This sets a visible and standard goal, rather than working your butt off to earn A's and then hope you get a scholarship. Kids will know if they achieve a set standard, they will receive a specific reward. I like it.
Power of the O, what kind of hippie welfare idea is that? Why are you against rewarding people who deserve it?
So what if they drop out or flunk out. How about requiring a pay back. Even straight A students have been know to blow it their freshman year. Too often they decide to major in wildlife and not studies.
It's obvious that this is a horrible idea. First of all I was a C student but that included honor classes at a good high school where I choose the hard teachers I knew would teach the good stuff. With this option I would go to some small podunk school and take the fluff classes and get my A for the free ride. Not every school or teacher at the schools are the same. Like I said I was a C student but believe me I've found out that with my little A.A. Degree I am a lot smarter than many with a B.A. or even a masters. Since I'm on my soap box, politicians are too far out of loop to even understand today's high school students, even our President being young and hip has no clue. And parents, hate to tell you this but you that are the closest to your kids are probobly farthest from the true person they are.
From the time a student enters school in first grade til 12th grade, a wage for a 'c' and above should be paid in cash to keep a students interest. More money for a better grade, I think that all students would understand and welcome this approach.
Tugboat, I think the wage plan would be asking for abuse. I know places that have tried paying kids to study which helps in at-risk areas where kids have to get afterschool jobs to get by but a straight payment for grades program would result in entitlement issues out the a** and would definitely discourage people from taking challenging classes. This scholarship program is a vast improvement over the chump changed they offered to the top 10% of their graduating class but may prove to be very difficult to sustain without a major source of income like the Lotto in other states (and even they are struggling now)
This is an excellent idea. I have many students who do well, but really can't afford a college education or even a training program. Parents make too much for them to qualify for Pell Grants, and they don't quite make the grade for the AK Scholars program or other scholarships. Many end up with a large student loan debt and it takes them forever to work themselves through school while working full time. Even if you "just" borrow $10,000 over 4 years that's a lot to pay off. This program will see the state reap tons of benefits -- in many sorts of ways -- in the years to come. I'm a total liberal, but thus far I like this governor. His ideas are good ones for all of the state, not just for business.
All great ideas! We should do scholarships for excellence, mediocrity, and failure.
What is his plan for those students with a learning disability? Are they to be neglected because they can't
compete with the rest of them?? How can one attain a college degree without the knowledge and ability to do so??
Outdoorsman, your argument would be more compelling if you knew which words to capitalize and how to punctuate your sentences.
First of all I did say I was a C student. Second, I'm not an english teacher, not that it matters anyways the way the worlds going in a few years all launguage will just be a mix of grunts and huhs from the "gangsta" kids with the pants around their knees.
What I love about this approach is that it A) is based on merit, B) gives our kids a reason to excel, and C) is directed to any certified in-state post-secondary education. Students have incentive, people get trained in all the fields we need (not just at college) keeps the money in-state, and builds our overall workforce.
And for those of you who think that somehow it is a subsidy for UA, here's your wonderful opportunity to show your entrepreneurial capabilities and build your own post-secondary educational business! Come on - you'll have a assured funding base and will compete against what you feel is a bloated inefficient organization - surely you could manage to create a lean, cost-efficient for-profit company, make some serious bucks, and still be less expensive and provide a better education than UA!
(Sarcasm intended - while I expect loud responses in words, I expect only the sounds of crickets in January when it comes to actions like that. But I'll be happy to be proven wrong - show me...)
This seems like a way to give students who are already able to excel another leg up while those who can't get less. That would be fine if it were not State money which is supposed to be shared equally among all citizens.
Anyone like to bet on whether or not every home-schooler gets all As from now on?
I think this is a great start! Although I would of loved to see the president spend trillions of dollars on getting kids in collage or trade school. Today a High School Degree means that you qualify for a job in a department store or fast food restaurant. It is time to stop thinking that school should stop after High School graduation.
I love this! What a fantastic way to reward hard work!
CoolRun, today a PH.D means you will be working in a store or fast food restaurant. With close to 20% of the labor force unemployed, under employed, working part time and no hope for a job in the future; you'll need more than an education. face it, this is just another free give away for the State University system. A straight A student should be able to get scholarships to much better universities in the lower 48. Wonder what will happen when the money dries up and you are in your second year of college and the legislature says sorry no more free tuition.
Sounds like a good plan to me... though I'm not sure rewarding a C average with a 50% scholarship is setting the bar high enough. Make it count-- 100% for A, 50% for B.
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