College Aid Plan Widens U.S. Role in High Schools

NY Times ^ | January 22, 2006 | SAM DILLON

[neverdem]

When Republican senators quietly tucked a major new student aid program into the 774-page budget bill last month, they not only approved a five-year, $3.75 billion initiative. They also set up what could be an important shift in American education: for the first time the federal government will rate the academic rigor of the nation's 18,000 high schools.

The measure, backed by the Bush administration and expected to pass the House when it returns next month, would provide $750 to $1,300 grants to low-income college freshmen and sophomores who have completed "a rigorous secondary school program of study" and larger amounts to juniors and seniors majoring in math, science and other critical fields.

It leaves it to the secretary of education to define rigorous, giving her a new foothold in matters of high school curriculums.

Mindful of the delicate politics at play when Washington expands its educational role into matters zealously guarded as local prerogatives, senior Department of Education officials said they would consult with governors and other groups in determining which high school programs would allow students to qualify for grants.

"I do not see this, at all, as an expansion of the federal role," Sally L. Stroup, an assistant secretary of education, said in an interview. Washington, she said, would not impose a curriculum, just judge programs of study outlined by states. "Our job is to make sure that those are valid standards and valid programs," she said. Furthermore, states and communities can decide on their own whether their students will compete for the grants. "We don't force people to do anything," Ms. Stroup said.

But Terry W. Hartle, a senior vice president at the American Council on Education, the nation's largest association of colleges and universities, said the new program "involves the federal government in curricular matters..."

[neverdem]

Academic underachievers (Boys, discipline, dropouts, grades, medications, etc.)

[eleni121]

This could be a positive step...given the downward spiral in scores...and the need for more math and science majors.

[Lorianne]

I don't see how this will work unless parents and students can choose which high school to attend. Otherwise, seems like a good plan.

[EagleUSA]

...would provide $750 to $1,300 grants to low-income college freshmen and sophomores who have completed "a rigorous secondary school program of study" and larger amounts to juniors and seniors majoring in math, science and other critical fields.
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Why is it just LOW-INCOME? More redistribution of wealth? As if the taxpayers are not being hosed enough and the education system continues to get more and more money, and performs worse each year....the education system needs to be held accountable -- here again, another federal move that does not solve the problem, only throws money, as usual, at the symptoms.

[mtbopfuyn]

Egads, low income/illegal/minority is the answer to everything. How stupid was I not to have birthed the kids across the border, picked their names from a bowl of Alphabet soup, and sat on my rear collecting welfare.

[Timmy]

Government money only makes colleges MORE expensive and LESS accountable. Read Thomas Sowell's Inside American Education.

[Accygirl]

Because they need the money to send their children to college?

Considering how expensive colleges are today, a $1,000 grant might pay for a third a semester tuition at a good public university. The money isn't a handout, because good, lower income students wishing to attend college would still have to get a job/ other scholarships in order to pay for their tuition and room and board.

[EagleUSA]

The money isn't a handout...
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Then where does it come from? The tooth-fairy? Try the taxpayers.

[eleni121]

This article talks about high schools not colleges but....

"But Terry W. Hartle, a senior vice president at the American Council on Education, the nation's largest association of colleges and universities, said the new program "involves the federal government in curricular matters..."

................................................

and

other educrats who don't like this proposal.

Anything that can be done to reign in the wasteland of Leftism in America's colleges and its educrats is a good thing.

[dawn53]

We have a great program here, as they do in other states called "dual credit."

The student can take college courses while in high school and they count for college and high school credit. Tuition is free (the program is open to all high school students whether homeschool, private or public school), books are free for public school students. Basically, without a lot of effort, you can graduate from high school and earn your A.A. at the same time.

http://www.spcollege.edu/ac/dc/

Same school also has a high school right on the college campus. It's run a little different than the dual credit, in that you can take regular HS courses, then attend college courses in areas where you excel.

http://www.spcollege.edu/spchs/

[neverdem]

Sounds like a good idea. Thanks for the links!

[dawn53]

We, as well as several of our friends who had homeschooled, use the dual credit.

Our kids get AA's in their high school senior year, then transfer to University as a Junior.

Really, really cuts down on college costs. No tuition at all, just cost of books to get their AA. Florida also has a program (Bright Futures Scholarship) and if you transfer to a state university and have a decent score on your SAT or ACT, your tuition is paid in full to a state college, or the amount they would pay a state college can be transferred to a Florida private college (this is supported by lottery money.)

So basically, our college costs were tuition free. I'm not complaining.

We homeschooled for years and our property taxes that were paid in all those years toward public school, finally paid off when we got to the community college.

[Ole Okie]

giving her a new foothold in matters of high school curriculums.

I'm not intending to be critical, but isn't the plural of "curriculum" "curricula" rather than "curriculums"?

[neverdem]

I believe you're correct.

[ThisLittleLightofMine]

Why not let people pay for there own education, like I am. My cost is $400 for 5 credits at a community college, I am a stay at home mom married to a working husband. We struggle to make ends meet and pay for my education. I resent the redistribution of wealth to benefit "the supposed" needy. If we can do...so can they.

[Timmy]

The measure, backed by the Bush administration and expected to pass the House when it returns next month, would provide $750 to $1,300 grants to low-income college freshmen and sophomores who have completed "a rigorous secondary school program of study" and larger amounts to juniors and seniors majoring in math, science and other critical fields

I think it gives money to colleges. I'm agin it.

[EagleUSA]

I resent the redistribution of wealth to benefit "the supposed" needy. If we can do...so can they.
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Your point is well made. Sadly we live in a country now governed by politicians, not leaders. Politicians buy votes with our tax dollars, mainly by taking from the producers and giving to the non-producers. I am afraid our country is headed toward hitting a low-point that nobody will like, but it is going to take something major to wake the people up as to what is right, fair and correct for our country.

[Accygirl]

The money provided isn't enough to pay for tuition at a good college without the families or the students themselves chipping in, so I'd consider it more a "hand-up" than a "hand-out." I think that it's admirable that the Bush administration wants to help poor children, who work hard in high school, attend a good four year institution instead of a crappy community college. Such hard work should be rewarded instead of frowned upon.

As for middle class students, perhaps their parents should do a better job saving and investing for college. I finished college debt free, because my father was stingy as hell and saved up enough money to pay for tuition (plus room and board) at a good public university (UIUC).