Missouri Senate

Introduced

SCHOLARSHIPS FOR TWO-YEAR POST-SECONDARY SCHOOLS: The Commissioner of Higher Education will establish scholarships for use at public community colleges or vocational or technical schools. Scholarships may also be used at a two-year private vocational or technical school that meets certain requirements, as described in the act. The scholarship amount will be based on the cost of tuition and fees at public community colleges, vocational, or technical schools. To qualify for a scholarship, a student must: have attended a public high school in Missouri for at least three years prior to graduation; have made a good faith effort to secure other sources of funding; have earned a GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale in high school; be enrolled full time at a public community college, public vocational school, public technical school, or private vocational or technical school, as described in the act; and maintain a grade point average of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale while enrolled and receiving a scholarship.

SCHOLARSHIP FOR FOUR-YEAR SCHOOLS: The Commissioner of Higher Education will establish scholarships beginning in academic year 2009-2010 for certain public four-year institutions, as described in the act, for students who previously received a scholarship under the A+ Schools Program during the 2008-2009 academic year, previously received a scholarship to a two-year school under this act, or completed a designated Associate's Degree and enrolls in an approved institution within nine months of completion. Additional eligibility requirements include: a good faith effort to first secure other sources of funding; maintaining full-time enrollment; and maintaining a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale while receiving the scholarship. A student cannot receive a scholarship for more than six semesters.

If a student has a grade point average that falls below a 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, the student will be granted a one semester grace period. The student will lose eligibility if the student cannot subsequently raise his or her GPA to a 3.0.

Scholarships under this section will be subject to appropriation. If appropriations are insufficient to provide scholarships for all eligible students, scholarships to students attending two-year schools must be fully funded before scholarships can be distributed to students attending four year schools. In addition, scholarship amounts can be prorated if necessary.

The Commissioner of Higher Education must develop a procedure for evaluating the effectiveness of this program, which will be conducted biannually. The results of the evaluation must be sent to the Governor, Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate.

MICHAEL RUFF