Expanding the postsecondary educational institutions eligible to participate in the Kansas promise scholarship program and increasing the maximum annual appropriation limit.
Impact
The bill is designed to enhance educational opportunities for students whose household income meets the specified thresholds, thus helping to alleviate financial barriers to college attendance. The Kansas promise scholarship will cover part of the tuition, fees, and necessary materials for students enrolled in eligible programs, supporting a workforce development strategy by targeting high-wage and high-demand fields. This may have significant implications on the cultivation of skilled labor in various sectors critical to the state's economy.
Summary
Senate Bill 24 aims to expand the Kansas promise scholarship program by broadening the range of postsecondary educational institutions eligible to participate and increasing the annual appropriation limit for the program. This bill allows not only community and technical colleges but also certain private institutions to offer promise eligible programs. Additionally, it adjusts the existing cap on funding to maintain support for students in need, which reflects an effort to make higher education more accessible for Kansas residents.
Sentiment
The general sentiment regarding SB24 seems to be positive among legislators and stakeholders advocating for educational access and workforce readiness. Supporters argue that the expansion will foster a more equitable education environment and better prepare students for the job market, while critics may raise concerns about the implications of funding limits and the potential oversight of private institutions included in the program.
Contention
Notable points of contention include discussions on the adequacy of funding and the appropriateness of including private institutions in the scholarship program. Some legislators may argue that the expansion could divert funds from public institutions, potentially compromising the quality of education provided. Ensuring the effectiveness and financial sustainability of the program, alongside monitoring the performance of participating institutions, will be crucial in addressing these concerns.
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.
Enacting the Kansas adult learner grant act to establish a grant program for adult learners to pursue certain fields of study, enacting the career technical education credential and transition incentive for employment success act to require school districts to pay for the cost of assessments for students to obtain an approved career technical education credential, designating military veterans and spouses or dependents of such veterans who were stationed in Kansas for at least 11 months as residents for purposes of tuition and fees at postsecondary educational institutions and expanding the eligible fields of study under the Kansas promise scholarship act.
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.
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.
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.
Expanding the tax credit for low income students scholarship program act to allow students enrolled in underperforming school districts to be eligible for a scholarship.
Expanding the eligible fields of study and establishing a maximum scholarship amount for certain private postsecondary educational institutions in the Kansas promise scholarship act.