Bill introduced to reward high school students prepped for college
BOISE — The House Education Committee decided Wednesday to allow a hearing on a bill that would reward high school students who are dual enrolled at a college with a two-year scholarship.
Rep. Ryan Kerby, R-New Plymouth, proposed giving high school students attending a public higher education institution a $1,000 scholarship per year for completing 10 or more credits in dual credit, advanced placement or any professional or technical credit courses. He said the scholarship could be used for up to two years of post-secondary schooling.
“Idaho has a 60 percent retention rate,” Kerby said. “Typically, 40 percent of the kids right now do not come back for the second year, and that’s one of the reasons we’re trying to get at with this two-year scholarship.”
As it stands, the scholarship would be available for use within four years of graduation, and Kerby said this was to accommodate students serving with the military or going on religious missions.
Additionally, students would only qualify for the scholarship if he or she attends a public college or university in Idaho.
“We want more kids to go to Idaho colleges, rather than going out of state,” Kerby said. “The reason for that is, businesses are telling us that if a kid will go to high school in Idaho and college in Idaho, they are more likely to stay in Idaho for work.”
To be eligible for the scholarship, students must also receive a merit-based scholarship at least equivament to the awarded amount, Kerby said.
“So, if you get this $1,000 for example, you will have to have another $1,000 scholarship from some other foundation,” he said. “We are trying to get kind of a public-private partnership going here.”
Kerby said he wanted to use this scholarship as incentive for students to take college level courses in high school and increase the rigor of high school so students are more prepared for college.
This proposal would also give students who completed an associate’s degree in high school the ability to receive a full ride scholarship to any public university in Idaho.
Some lawmakers questioned Kerby’s choice in making the scholarship available exclusively to students attending public high schools, because it would leave out home-schooled and privately schooled students.
Kerby said he made the choice to keep costs down because he wants to get his proposal through the legislature. Although, he said he has no issue with the proposal being changed during the legislative process.
“I would just be surprised if the homeschool or private school impact would be any percentage difference on the fiscal impact of this,” Rep. Steven Harris, R-Meridian, said.
Kerby estimated the proposal would cost about $1.6 million during its starting year, and $3.2 million the following year. He said these were numbers he calculated with the help of the Idaho State Board of Education.
Rep. Donna Pence, D-Gooding, proposed introducing the bill for a public hearing, and the committee voted unanimously in favor of the motion.
George Wood Jr. can be reached at [email protected]