Lawmakers move scholarship bills
BOISE, Idaho – Several bills that would authorize college scholarships advanced Monday in the Legislature.
The Senate Education Committee approved a bill that would have the state support competitive scholarships for math, science and engineering students who planned to attend state colleges or universities and then promised to stay in the state for at least two years.
“We want to recruit scholars,” sponsor Sen. Gary Schroeder said in response to colleagues who questioned the wisdom of spending state money on out-of-state students. “We want to recruit people with really good minds and aptitudes to the state of Idaho.”
The state Board of Education would decide how to award the scholarships. Schroeder didn’t put any price tag on his legislation, saying it would take more time to determine how many scholarships would be awarded, and how much they would cost.
He acknowledged that there’s no way to insist that the scholars stay in Idaho after they finish their education – or that, while in Idaho, they contribute to the state’s economy.
“They can just ski for two years?” asked Sen. Tom Gannon, R-Buhl.
“They can do whatever they want, really,” said Schroeder, R-Moscow. “All you can do is encourage them. You’ve got to start somewhere.”
Schroeder’s colleagues apparently agreed, voting unanimously to send his bill to the floor of the full Senate.
Also on Monday, the House Education Committee gave preliminary approval to three scholarship proposals from Rep. Tom Trail, R-Moscow. He hopes to use some of the $214 million state surplus to set up a $10 million interest-bearing fund for need-based scholarships for Idaho students; to use $5 million for a loan fund for students, also based on need; and to use another $5 million for loans for students who promised to teach math and science in Idaho schools. A portion of the loan would be forgiven for each year that commitment was met.
Trail said Monday that the House Education Committee had voted to take a longer look at all three of the proposals.
“University presidents have been coming in and telling us education is getting harder and harder to access because of financial difficulties, especially for our good students from low-income families,” Trail said Monday. “We’re losing a chance to get some outstanding young people trained.”
Idaho offers some scholarships of up to $3,000 for Idaho high school seniors, but applicants must have high grades and scores to win them, and they’re very competitive. For the high school seniors who don’t qualify, there are some federal scholarships, some private grants, scholarships from the colleges themselves, and loans.
The House Education Committee will schedule hearings on Trail’s three scholarship bills; on another introduced by Rep. Ann Rydalch, R-Idaho Falls, to create a scholarship fund for energy studies; and on another from Rep. Sharon Block, R-Twin Falls, that would offer scholarships for students who promised to steer clear of drugs, alcohol and tobacco.
There seems to be a lot of support in the Legislature for scholarships right now, but “we’ll still have to come up with a convincing argument to (legislative budget writers) to get the funding,” Trail said.