Establishing a Kansas education opportunity scholarship program to replace the Kansas ethnic minority scholarship program.
Impact
The implementation of SB544 will significantly amend existing statutes related to scholarship funding in Kansas. The new legislation aims to ensure that academically talented ethnic minority students receive equitable access to financial aid, scaling support to potentially cover up to 75% of average tuition and fees for full-time in-state students. This change is expected to help offset the financial burdens that may deter minority students from pursuing or completing their education in-state.
Summary
Senate Bill No. 544 aims to establish the Kansas Academic Excellence Scholarship Program, which is designed to replace the existing Kansas Ethnic Minority Scholarship Program. The bill seeks to promote higher education accessibility for academically talented minority students in Kansas, addressing concerns over the retention of such students within state educational institutions. By providing financial assistance to eligible scholars, the program aspires to enhance diversity and support the educational aspirations of these students.
Contention
Notable points of contention surrounding the bill may include discussions of how effectively it will address the needs of different ethnic minority groups and whether the allocation of funds will be equitable among these groups. Stakeholders are likely to scrutinize how the new scholarship program will function in practice, particularly regarding application processes and eligibility criteria. Additionally, given the historical context of funding disparities, advocates may express concern over the sufficiency of appropriated funds to meet the program's objectives.
Establishing a scholarship task force to study scholarship programs and creating the Kansas academic excellence scholarship program to replace the Kansas ethnic minority scholarship program.
Establishing the Kansas blueprint for literacy and a literacy advisory committee, directing the board of regents to appoint a director of literacy education, requiring the board of regents and board of education to collaborate on a literacy micro-credential, providing university presidents and deans of education oversight over postsecondary literacy courses, requiring a plan to establish centers of excellence in reading, requiring the board of education to submit annual reports to the legislature on literacy goals; establishing the Kansas education opportunity scholarship to replace the Kansas ethnic minority scholarship, removing limits on Kansas nursing service scholarship awards and modifying the interest rate terms and repayment obligations for such awards, eliminating the requirement to subtract other aid from the state payment for the AO-K program, modifying financial limitations on Kansas hero's scholarship awards and broadening eligibility requirements for such awards.
Abolishing the nursing scholarship program and creating the Kansas healthcare service scholarship program to include part-time students and expand the list of eligible programs.
Establishing uniform interest rate provisions for service scholarships administered by the Kansas board of regents that have repayment obligations as a part of the terms and conditions of such scholarship and authorizing the Kansas board of regents to recover the costs of collecting such repayment obligations and charge fees to cover the costs of administering such scholarship programs.
Expanding the eligible fields of study and establishing a maximum scholarship amount for certain private postsecondary educational institutions in the Kansas promise scholarship act.
Removing the Kansas residency requirement for eligibility for a Kansas promise scholarship and modifying the definition of part-time student under such program.
Expanding the postsecondary educational institutions eligible to participate in the Kansas promise scholarship program and increasing the maximum annual appropriation limit.
Establishing the Kansas trade service scholarship act and making appropriations to the state board of regents for fiscal year 2025 to provide grants to community colleges, technical colleges and the Washburn institute of technology for capital improvements, repairs and maintenance of trade program buildings.
Requires public institutions of higher education to provide student-athletes who lose athletic scholarships because of injuries sustained while participating in athletic program with equivalent scholarships.