Post by momto4 on Jun 10, 2008 17:53:05 GMT -5
www.suburbanchicagonews.com/beaconnews/news/991444,2_1_AU06_SCHOLARS_S1.article
State: How do we keep State Scholars here?
June 6, 2008
By Elisabeth Kilpatrick ekilpatrick@scn1.com
When it comes to its top high school students, Illinois wants to reap what it sows.
A new bill aimed at keeping more of Illinois' State Scholars in the state for college is now waiting for the governor's approval after passing unanimously in both houses.
"We're definitely losing students to out-of-state schools, which is the last thing we want to be doing," said Sen. Linda Holmes, D-Aurora, the bill's chief Senate sponsor. "We're losing qualified people that could be in our work force."
The bill would require the Illinois Student Assistance Commission to conduct a study on the number of State Scholars who applied to in-state public colleges and universities in 2008 and 2009, as well as which schools denied admittance to the students. State Scholars are culled from the top 10 percent of the state's high school seniors, and selection is based on class rank and standardized test scores. Around Illinois, 18,178 State Scholars were selected for 2008.
The cost of the study should be minimal, ISAC spokesman Claude Walker said, since researchers already employed by the agency would do the work. The study would be completed by Jan. 1, 2010, at which point ISAC would make a presentation on how to keep more students in-state.
Still, Walker said that it may be difficult to hang on to students who are lured by specialized programs and full scholarships at schools across the country. State Scholars don't receive scholarship money right now, although a bill that would award each winner a $1,000 scholarship has been approved and is awaiting funding, Walker said.
"These are highly competitive students who are being sought-after by the best schools in the nation," he said.
Around the Fox Valley, many high schools have found their State Scholars for this year are looking to stick around. At Kaneland High School, only three of the school's 30 State Scholars had plans to go out of state for college, counselor Cynthia Violett said.
Of the 41 State Scholars at West Aurora High School who announced their college plans, 25 planned to stay in-state, spokesman Mike Chapin said. He pointed to the affordability of in-state tuition as a major factor in keeping even the best students here.
"I think a number of our college-bound students stay close to home because college costs are a real issue for their families," he said.
State: How do we keep State Scholars here?
June 6, 2008
By Elisabeth Kilpatrick ekilpatrick@scn1.com
When it comes to its top high school students, Illinois wants to reap what it sows.
A new bill aimed at keeping more of Illinois' State Scholars in the state for college is now waiting for the governor's approval after passing unanimously in both houses.
"We're definitely losing students to out-of-state schools, which is the last thing we want to be doing," said Sen. Linda Holmes, D-Aurora, the bill's chief Senate sponsor. "We're losing qualified people that could be in our work force."
The bill would require the Illinois Student Assistance Commission to conduct a study on the number of State Scholars who applied to in-state public colleges and universities in 2008 and 2009, as well as which schools denied admittance to the students. State Scholars are culled from the top 10 percent of the state's high school seniors, and selection is based on class rank and standardized test scores. Around Illinois, 18,178 State Scholars were selected for 2008.
The cost of the study should be minimal, ISAC spokesman Claude Walker said, since researchers already employed by the agency would do the work. The study would be completed by Jan. 1, 2010, at which point ISAC would make a presentation on how to keep more students in-state.
Still, Walker said that it may be difficult to hang on to students who are lured by specialized programs and full scholarships at schools across the country. State Scholars don't receive scholarship money right now, although a bill that would award each winner a $1,000 scholarship has been approved and is awaiting funding, Walker said.
"These are highly competitive students who are being sought-after by the best schools in the nation," he said.
Around the Fox Valley, many high schools have found their State Scholars for this year are looking to stick around. At Kaneland High School, only three of the school's 30 State Scholars had plans to go out of state for college, counselor Cynthia Violett said.
Of the 41 State Scholars at West Aurora High School who announced their college plans, 25 planned to stay in-state, spokesman Mike Chapin said. He pointed to the affordability of in-state tuition as a major factor in keeping even the best students here.
"I think a number of our college-bound students stay close to home because college costs are a real issue for their families," he said.