WA Offers Low-Income Kids College Scholarships

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Debra Lau Whelan -- School Library Journal, 4/2/2008 2:00:00 PM

State legislators recently passed a bill, dubbed “College Bound,” as part of a recent string of initiatives to help low-income students obtain a college education. In order to qualify for the Washington College Bound Scholarship Program, seventh and eighth grade students must pledge to graduate from high school with at least a C average and not commit any felonies.

In return, the scholarship will provide funds to cover the cost of tuition, fees, books, and materials, minus the value of any other state financial aid received.

Approximately 3,200 students have registered so far out of the possible 56,000 eligible seventh and eighth graders statewide. Those who enroll must continue to meet the program’s low-income criteria when they apply for college admission. The deadline to enroll is June 1 for eighth graders.

Senator Phil Rockefeller (D-Kitsap County), a sponsor of the bill, says the state needs to do a better job in motivating and preparing students to participate and succeed in postsecondary education.

“As a matter of policy it makes sense for us to seriously work on the goal of removing the barriers of financial constraints in the pursuit of training and education after high school,” he says. “At the same time, the incentive for moving forward can be used to good advantage in motivating students to stay in and complete high school, get their diploma and then move on.”

Sherri Ballantyne, director of financial aid and veterans at Bellevue Community College, says the bill will benefit families and students of Washington State because it’s a reliable four-year funding source for students and families, and although there’s a grade point average requirement, it is not a merit-based scholarship.