The bill increases award amounts, requires school districts to notify students earlier of scholarship opportunities, and removes standardized testing as a prerequisite.
Last week, Gov. Mike Dunleavy signed a bill expanding a state scholarship program. Advocates say it will help more Alaska students qualify for and use the Alaska Performance Scholarship program, which gives money to Alaska’s high performing students to use at in-state universities.
Since the program was established in 2011, it’s paid out over $100 million to more than 11,000 students. Use of the scholarship has declined in recent years. In 2022, just 17% of Alaska high school seniors were eligible for the program. The same year, that rate was just 15% for the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District.
Additionally, the bill creates a new “step-up” provision that allows students to increase their scholarship amount if their grade point average improves in college. Students can also now use career and technical education courses toward eligibility. “The testing opportunities are limited on the Kenai Peninsula and our family lives 50 miles away from the nearest testing center,” she said. “There was one test available for my daughter to take as a senior and it was in the City of Seward. Luckily, we do live on the road system and we were able to leave home around 5 a.m. to drive through a snowstorm for her to take the test.
State Government Alaska Performance Scholarship
United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Gov. Dunleavy signs bill giving big boost to Alaska college scholarshipAward amounts for the college scholarship will increase by almost 50%, which supporters say should help keep more Alaska high school graduates studying in the state.
Read more »
Gov. Dunleavy signs bill to make Juneteenth an official state holiday in AlaskaThe day commemorates the end of slavery in the U.S., and has become a broader celebration of Black freedom and a marker of the struggle for equality.
Read more »
Alaska needs to keep up with changing technology and energy needs, Dunleavy saysAlaska needs more energy and lots of it, according to Governor Dunleavy’s speech at the Greater Fairbanks Chamber of Commerce luncheon on Tuesday.
Read more »
Alaska Supreme Court rules in favor of Dunleavy administration on homeschool caseThe court declined to rule on whether correspondence allotments could be used at private schools, sending the question back to a lower court.
Read more »
Alaska Gov. Dunleavy will be asked to pick fourth state Supreme Court justiceA wave of retirements on the Alaska Supreme Court is nearing its end.
Read more »
Dunleavy will be asked to pick fourth Alaska Supreme Court justiceBy February, Gov. Mike Dunleavy will have appointed four of the five Supreme Court justices, and the next opening isn't for years.
Read more »