[Stmonicaparent-list] College Bound program

Wed Feb 13 12:52:10 PST 2008

Dear St. Monica School Parents,
The information below may be of interest to some of you for the future.  I
wanted to make you aware of this exciting opportunity!
Sincerely,
Pam Dellino, St. Monica School Principal 

For more information:  Kris Betker, 360.753.7817, or krisb at hecb.wa.gov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  February 1, 2008

New program helping 7th and 8th graders set their sights on college

OLYMPIA- Washington middle-school students who dream of going to college but
worry their families won't be able to afford it have a new promise from the
state: Work hard in school, keep your grades up, stay out of trouble, and a
four-year scholarship could be yours. 

The College Bound Scholarship offers an incentive for students and families
who otherwise might not consider college an option because of the cost. The
scholarship covers college tuition, fees and books for students from
low-income families who sign a pledge in 7th or 8th grade promising to
graduate from high school and demonstrate good citizenship, and is
guaranteed for students who meet the eligibility criteria. 

About 56,000 students are eligible to apply this year. Eighth grade students
must apply by June 1, 2008, while this year's seventh graders will have
until June 1, 2009.  Family income must be 65 percent or less than the
state's median family income at the time the student graduates from high
school.  (Currently, 65 percent of the median family income is $38,300 for a
family of four).

Higher Education Coordinating Board Executive Director Ann Daley said the
College Bound program holds the promise that "all children in Washington,
regardless of family income, will have an opportunity to attend college."

According to Daley, the scholarship will help address Washington's critical
need to educate more students to higher levels, while also helping the state
keep pace with demographic trends that show an increase in the number of
students from low-income families.

"The state's need for highly educated and highly skilled workers is growing
rapidly," Daley said. 

"In addition, low-income students will represent 33 percent of the high
school graduating class within 10 years.  Without assistance, the vast
majority of these students are unlikely to enroll in or even aspire to
attend college." 

Washington currently ranks 32nd nationally in the percentage of low-income
students who participate in postsecondary education.

The new scholarship program was proposed in Gov. Chris Gregoire's 2006
Washington Learns report following an 18-month study of the state's
education system.

During the 2007 legislative session, Senate Bill 5098 established the
College Bound Scholarship in statute.  The governor and Legislature
allocated $7.4 million to pay for the first two years of the program,
beginning in 2012.  

The scholarship program also is consistent with key components of the HECB's
recently completed 2008 Strategic Master Plan for Higher Education in
Washington.  Among other strategies, the new 10-year plan calls for making
college more affordable and easier to access and creating higher
expectations for K-12 students. 

Most students who qualify for the College Bound Scholarship will likely also
qualify for the State Need Grant, which helps Washington's lowest-income
undergraduate students pursue degrees.  The need grant - the state's largest
financial aid program - is expected to serve about 72,000 students in
2007-08.  The College Bound Scholarship is intended to fill the gap between
the State Need Grant and the actual cost of college, while also offering a
measure of certainty for younger students who would otherwise fear they
won't be able to afford college.

Daley said the College Bound program will help students begin to prepare for
college at an earlier age - which studies have shown is critical to their
success in postsecondary education.

"This scholarship has the potential to change thousands of lives," Daley
said.

She said the HECB has received about 860 applications from students who are
taking the pledge.

"It is inspiring to look at stacks of envelopes, hand-addressed by 7th and
8th graders, who are realizing that a college education will help open the
door to their dreams."  

The College Bound Scholarship program is similar to Indiana's 21st Century
Scholars program, which was created in 1990 to help more families afford a
college education for their children.  The Indiana program has helped make
that state a national leader in the percentage of students who go on to
college - moving from 40th to 9th in the nation.

The 21st Century Scholars program is available to every child who qualifies
for the free or reduced lunch program and who signs a written pledge to
graduate from high school with passing grades and to avoid drugs and
alcohol.  In exchange, students are provided with a full college scholarship
to the public university of their choice or with an equivalent scholarship
to be used toward tuition at any private university in the state. 

Note:  Seventh and eighth grade students can apply now for the scholarship,
either online through the HECB Web site, at:
<http://www.hecb.wa.gov/collegebound> www.hecb.wa.gov/collegebound  Eighth
graders MUST apply by June 1, 2008.

Attached are a list of local media contacts, as well as a brief fact sheet
on the program:

<<Local Media Contacts.doc>> <<Issue Brief.doc>> 

Kris Betker

Communications Director

Higher Education Coordinating Board

360-753-7817 (office)

360-701-5900 (cellular)

 <file:///\\www.hecb.wa.gov> www.hecb.wa.gov

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