Rhode Island Department Of Children, Youth And Families Scholarship Program
Impact
Upon enactment, H7176 will amend Title 16 of the General Laws regarding education and create a new chapter specifically dedicated to this scholarship program. The bill mandates that the General Assembly allocate necessary funds annually for the program and allows for additional charitable donations. The scholarship will cover costs such as tuition, room, board, and mandatory fees, making it vital for supporting students who may have limited financial means. The program emphasizes that recipients must meet specific eligibility criteria, including full-time enrollment and timely completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Summary
House Bill 7176, introduced in January 2022, establishes the Rhode Island Department of Children, Youth and Families Scholarship Program. The objective of this bill is to provide financial support to students who are in the care and custody of the Department of Children, Youth and Families, allowing them to attend Rhode Island College without the burden of tuition and mandatory fees. This initiative seeks to promote higher education among vulnerable youth populations by ensuring they have access to post-secondary education, which is critical for their personal and professional development.
Contention
While the bill has been largely supportive in nature, there are potential discussions surrounding the adequacy of funding and the capacity of Rhode Island College to accommodate incoming scholarship students. Concerns may arise from various stakeholders about whether the scholarship adequately covers the diverse educational costs faced by students or if there are sufficient resources for the college to effectively administer the program. Effective communication and collaboration between the Rhode Island Department of Children, Youth and Families and educational institutions will be crucial for the success of this initiative.
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.