This article is from the source 'washpo' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/md-politics/hogan-creates-a-scholarship-for-students-who-graduate-early/2016/01/27/4a3175e0-c513-11e5-9693-933a4d31bcc8_story.html
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Hogan offers scholarships for students who graduate high school early | Hogan offers scholarships for students who graduate high school early |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan wants to reward public high school students who graduate early by giving them college scholarships, a move he said would make higher education more accessible even as it saves the state some money. | Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan wants to reward public high school students who graduate early by giving them college scholarships, a move he said would make higher education more accessible even as it saves the state some money. |
| But educators and Democratic legislative leaders questioned whether the program — which Hogan (R) created by executive order Wednesday — is really in the best interest of all students. | |
| The Maryland Early Graduation Scholarship Program would provide up to $6,000 for tuition and expenses at two-year community colleges, for-profit schools and public or private four-year universities in Maryland. | The Maryland Early Graduation Scholarship Program would provide up to $6,000 for tuition and expenses at two-year community colleges, for-profit schools and public or private four-year universities in Maryland. |
| Maryland would join about a half-dozen Republican-majority states, including South Dakota, Arizona, Idaho, Utah, Indiana, Minnesota and Kentucky, that offer a financial incentive to students who graduate early. | |
| “The best and most important part of this program is that it makes college more affordable and more accessible for Maryland students and families,” Hogan said in a statement. “It’s also a smart use of tax dollars. By encouraging high-achieving students to complete high school a year early, the state can reallocate what would have been spent on a student’s last year of public high school, and help with the first year of college instead.” | “The best and most important part of this program is that it makes college more affordable and more accessible for Maryland students and families,” Hogan said in a statement. “It’s also a smart use of tax dollars. By encouraging high-achieving students to complete high school a year early, the state can reallocate what would have been spent on a student’s last year of public high school, and help with the first year of college instead.” |
| [High school graduation rate hits all-time high; 82 percent finish on time] | [High school graduation rate hits all-time high; 82 percent finish on time] |
| The state spends about $7,400 per public school student each year, and officials estimate that about 1,000 students a year would be eligible for the scholarship. That means that instead of spending $7.4 million on those students’ last year of high school, the state would spend $6 million — a savings of $1.4 million. Local jurisdictions would save the rest of the per-pupil cost. | The state spends about $7,400 per public school student each year, and officials estimate that about 1,000 students a year would be eligible for the scholarship. That means that instead of spending $7.4 million on those students’ last year of high school, the state would spend $6 million — a savings of $1.4 million. Local jurisdictions would save the rest of the per-pupil cost. |
| The program elicited skepticism from some educators and lawmakers who questioned the fiscal impact on the state, the limited number of students who would be eligible and the possible disadvantages of a 16-year-old entering college early. | The program elicited skepticism from some educators and lawmakers who questioned the fiscal impact on the state, the limited number of students who would be eligible and the possible disadvantages of a 16-year-old entering college early. |
| House Speaker Michael E. Busch (D-Anne Arundel) said the governor’s program does not address the needs of the vast majority of high schoolers, who graduate in four years. “There are a lot of good kids out there who are just as deserving,” Busch said. | |
| Democratic legislative leaders are asking state Attorney General Brian E. Frosh (D) whether Hogan has the legal authority to create the program. Funding for it would have to be approved by the General Assembly, where Democrats hold a large majority in both chambers. | |
| Hogan spokesman Doug Mayer said the governor opted to use an executive order in hopes of launching the scholarship program by this fall. “If it encourages more students to graduate early, it’s a good thing,” he said. | Hogan spokesman Doug Mayer said the governor opted to use an executive order in hopes of launching the scholarship program by this fall. “If it encourages more students to graduate early, it’s a good thing,” he said. |
| [This U.S. senator wants to hear your college debt story] | [This U.S. senator wants to hear your college debt story] |
| Montgomery County Board of Education member Patricia O’Neill wasn’t so sure. She said a fourth year of high school is important, both for academics and student maturity. “I don’t see the rush,” O’Neill said. “I want kids well prepared for college and well prepared if they are choosing to go into the world of work and career.” | |
| She noted that students who may be bored with the typical high school curriculum have the option of taking rigorous Advanced Placement courses or in many cases becoming dually enrolled in colleges as they progress through senior year. | She noted that students who may be bored with the typical high school curriculum have the option of taking rigorous Advanced Placement courses or in many cases becoming dually enrolled in colleges as they progress through senior year. |
| Advocates of early graduation programs say they help students pay for college, reduce school overcrowding and let teachers focus on students who need extra help, all while saving taxpayers money. | |
| And they are popular: When lawmakers in Texas stopped funding its early-graduation scholarship program in 2012, there was an outcry from families counting on the scholarship. | |
| In Indiana, which has run a similar program for the past five years, about 1,000 students have received $4,000 scholarships. Stephanie Wilson, a spokeswoman with the Indiana Commission for Higher Education, said the state saved about $216,000 through the program this year. The state’s economy also benefits, she said, because students graduate college and enter the workforce sooner. | In Indiana, which has run a similar program for the past five years, about 1,000 students have received $4,000 scholarships. Stephanie Wilson, a spokeswoman with the Indiana Commission for Higher Education, said the state saved about $216,000 through the program this year. The state’s economy also benefits, she said, because students graduate college and enter the workforce sooner. |
| “Anything that will help students with money and help motivate students to stay focused is a good idea,” said Bob Giordani, the associate vice president for enrollment management at Towson University in Baltimore County, a public university. | “Anything that will help students with money and help motivate students to stay focused is a good idea,” said Bob Giordani, the associate vice president for enrollment management at Towson University in Baltimore County, a public university. |
| [How Jeb Bush wants to shake up education, pre-k through college] | [How Jeb Bush wants to shake up education, pre-k through college] |
| Critics say the programs don’t serve enough low-income and minority students, and some states don’t have enough safeguards to make sure students who graduate early are academically ready for college. They also worry that rushing students into college could affect the college dropout rate — in 2013, 41 percent of first-time, full-time undergraduates did not complete a degree in six years. | |
| Some education advocates said states should focus on boosting high school graduation rates, which are 86.4 percent across Maryland but considerably lower in some parts of the state. | Some education advocates said states should focus on boosting high school graduation rates, which are 86.4 percent across Maryland but considerably lower in some parts of the state. |
| “I like the spirit of innovation, but I wonder who this program will help,” said John Gomperts, president and chief executive of America’s Promise Alliance, which wants to raise high school graduation rates to 90 percent by 2020. “Throughout the state, students from low-income families, students with disabilities and students of color graduate at rates significantly lower than their more advantaged peers. I’m most interested in innovations that will help those students who need it the most.” | |
| A spokesman for the Maryland State Education Association, which has been embroiled in a battle with Hogan over education funding, said the teachers’ union is worried about how K-12 funding might be impacted by the scholarship program. | |
| “If the $6 million comes from K-12, that’s a huge concern for us,” spokesman Stephen Hershkowitz said. “It goes to the issue of public dollars following individual students.” | |
| At Frostburg State, in western Maryland, as many as 10 to 12 students a year enter after graduating early — a small fraction of a freshman class that totals 900 to 1,000 a year. | At Frostburg State, in western Maryland, as many as 10 to 12 students a year enter after graduating early — a small fraction of a freshman class that totals 900 to 1,000 a year. |
| “They’re very accelerated and ready to move on,” said Wray Blair, associate provost for enrollment management. “They want to get to that next part of their academic career.” | “They’re very accelerated and ready to move on,” said Wray Blair, associate provost for enrollment management. “They want to get to that next part of their academic career.” |
| Hogan also announced several pieces of education-related legislation Wednesday, including a tax credit to businesses and individuals who donate to private and public schools; a state partnership with businesses to train students for technology jobs through a six-year program that blends high school, college and work experience; and a program that would allow college graduates to finance student loans when undertaking a home mortgage. | Hogan also announced several pieces of education-related legislation Wednesday, including a tax credit to businesses and individuals who donate to private and public schools; a state partnership with businesses to train students for technology jobs through a six-year program that blends high school, college and work experience; and a program that would allow college graduates to finance student loans when undertaking a home mortgage. |
| Lindsey Layton and Donna St. George contributed to this report. | Lindsey Layton and Donna St. George contributed to this report. |