The passage of S2280 is poised to have a significant impact on how educational financial aid is structured in Rhode Island. By clarifying the separation between College Crusade Scholarships and other forms of aid, it not only reinforces the integrity of the Rhode Island Promise Scholarship system but also enhances opportunities for students who may rely on multiple sources of funding. This legislative change would support the goal of increasing accessibility to higher education for students from diverse backgrounds, particularly those who may be economically disadvantaged.
Summary
Bill S2280, titled 'The College Crusade Scholarship,' seeks to make amendments to the existing provisions regarding the College Crusade Scholarship Program in the state of Rhode Island. Specifically, the bill proposes that scholarships awarded directly from this program are not to be classified as federal or financial aid when considering eligibility for the Rhode Island Promise Scholarships. This distinction is crucial because it allows participants of the College Crusade program to benefit from both scholarships without them affecting their overall financial aid eligibility related to the Promise Scholarships.
Contention
Although the voting record for S2280 shows unanimous support with 36 votes in favor and none against, potential points of contention may arise in further discussions or implementations of the bill. Stakeholders in the education sector, including financial aid advisors and advocacy groups, may have differing opinions on how this bill will impact the overall educational landscape, especially concerning equitable access to resources for all students. The specifics of enforcement and eligibility checks for scholarships may also be areas where further debate occurs.
Changes the name of The College Crusade Scholarship to the Onward We Learn Scholarship and provide that those scholarships would not be considered federal or financial aid with regard to the Promise Scholarship or Hope Scholarship Pilot Program.
Changes the name of The College Crusade Scholarship to the Onward We Learn Scholarship and provide that those scholarships would not be considered federal or financial aid with regard to the Promise Scholarship or Hope Scholarship Pilot Program.
Requires any remaining funds in the enacted budget from the Rhode Island Promise Scholarship program or the Rhode Island Hope Scholarship program to be reimbursed to the onward we learn for any scholarships paid on behalf of Rhode Island College students.
Requires any remaining funds in the enacted budget from the Rhode Island Promise Scholarship program or the Rhode Island Hope Scholarship program to be reimbursed to the onward we learn for any scholarships paid on behalf of Rhode Island College students.
To create the Alabama Fits All Scholarship Program; require the State Board of Education to contract with a program manager to administer the program; to authorize the program manager to establish scholarship accounts on behalf of eligible students; to prohibit a program manager from accepting scholarship funds in certain circumstances; to require fiscal safeguards and accountability measures; to require eligible schools and service providers to meet certain standards to be eligible to receive scholarship funds; to authorize the program manager to distribute scholarship funds; to require the State Board of Education to provide limited oversight of the program manager, including an appeal process for the program manager's administrative decisions; to prohibit certain regulations of eligible schools and eligible service providers; to require criminal history background information checks for employees and officers of a program manager; to provide for program funding; and to require the program manager and the board to submit reports on the program to the Legislature.