BILL REQ. #:  H-2085.2 

READ FIRST TIME 03/05/03.   

     AN ACT Relating to changing the focus of the promise scholarship; amending RCW 28B.119.010; adding a new section to chapter 28B.119 RCW; creating a new section; and providing an expiration date.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The legislature finds that some students have a potential for success in postsecondary education that is not reflected in their grades or test scores from high school. The legislature further finds that these students may be more likely to consider pursuing postsecondary education if there were additional financial assistance to encourage them. Therefore it is the legislature's intent to include in the Washington promise scholarship program, on a pilot basis, an opportunity for principals to nominate high school graduates who would not otherwise be eligible for a promise scholarship but who have overcome personal or financial barriers and show promise to succeed if given the opportunity to pursue a postsecondary education.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 28B.119 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) Beginning with the graduating class of 2004 and ending with the graduating class of 2006, each principal of a public or approved private high school under chapter 28A.195 RCW may nominate a limited number of students to receive a Washington promise scholarship under this section. Nominations shall be for students who have demonstrated strength of character in overcoming physical, personal, cultural, or financial barriers to their educational success and give evidence of a desire and commitment to complete a postsecondary educational program or degree. The academic and financial eligibility criteria in RCW 28B.119.010 do not apply to students nominated under this section.
     (2) The higher education coordinating board shall establish a planning committee to develop criteria for and assist with the selection of Washington promise scholars under this section. For ease of administration, the board may use the planning committee established in RCW 28A.600.130 and develop similar nomination and selection processes as those used in administering the Washington scholars program under RCW 28A.600.100 through 28A.600.150. The board shall collaborate with the Washington association of secondary school principals, other state education agencies, and private education organizations in fulfilling its responsibilities under this section.
     (3) The Washington association of secondary school principals shall submit to the higher education coordinating board the names of graduating senior high school students who have been nominated by their principals under this section.
     (4) Each year the higher education coordinating board, with the assistance of the planning committee in subsection (2) of this section, shall select five graduating students residing in each legislative district in the state from the students nominated under this section. Selected students are eligible to receive a Washington promise scholarship.
     (5) The higher education coordinating board shall conduct an evaluation of the scholarships granted under this section and report to the education and higher education committees of the legislature by December 1, 2006, with recommendations on whether to continue or revise the eligibility for promise scholarships created in this section.

Sec. 3   RCW 28B.119.010 and 2002 c 204 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
     The higher education coordinating board shall design the Washington promise scholarship program based on the following parameters:
     (1) Scholarships shall be awarded to students graduating from public and approved private high schools under chapter 28A.195 RCW and students participating in home-based instruction as provided in chapter 28A.200 RCW who meet both an academic and a financial eligibility criteria, or who are selected to receive a scholarship under the process in section 2 of this act.
     (a) Academic eligibility criteria shall be defined as follows:
     (i) Beginning with the graduating class of 2002, students graduating from public and approved private high schools under chapter 28A.195 RCW must be in the top fifteen percent of their graduating class, as identified by each respective high school at the completion of the first term of the student's senior year; or
     (ii) Students graduating from public high schools, approved private high schools under chapter 28A.195 RCW, and students participating in home-based instruction as provided in chapter 28A.200 RCW must equal or exceed a cumulative scholastic assessment test I score of twelve hundred on their first attempt or must equal or exceed a composite American college test score of twenty-seven on their first attempt.
     (b) To meet the financial eligibility criteria, a student's family income shall not exceed one hundred thirty-five percent of the state median family income adjusted for family size, as determined by the higher education coordinating board for each graduating class. Students not meeting the eligibility requirements for the first year of scholarship benefits may reapply for the second year of benefits, but must still meet the income standard set by the board for the student's graduating class.
     (2) Promise scholarships are not intended to supplant any grant, scholarship, or tax program related to postsecondary education. If the board finds that promise scholarships supplant or reduce any grant, scholarship, or tax program for categories of students, then the board shall adjust the financial eligibility criteria or the amount of scholarship to the level necessary to avoid supplanting.
     (3) Within available funds, each qualifying student shall receive two consecutive annual awards, the value of each not to exceed the full-time annual resident tuition rates charged by Washington's community colleges. The higher education coordinating board shall award scholarships to as many students as possible from among those qualifying under this section.
     (4) By October 15th of each year, the board shall determine the award amount of the scholarships, after taking into consideration the availability of funds.
     (5) The scholarships may only be used for undergraduate coursework at accredited institutions of higher education in the state of Washington.
     (6) The scholarships may be used for undergraduate coursework at Oregon institutions of higher education that are part of the border county higher education opportunity project in RCW 28B.80.806 when those institutions offer programs not available at accredited institutions of higher education in Washington state.
     (7) The scholarships may be used for college-related expenses, including but not limited to, tuition, room and board, books, and materials.
     (8) The scholarships may not be awarded to any student who is pursuing a degree in theology.
     (9) The higher education coordinating board may establish satisfactory progress standards for the continued receipt of the promise scholarship.
     (10) The higher education coordinating board shall establish the time frame within which the student must use the scholarship.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4   This act expires June 30, 2008.