State Scholars Initiative

PRESS RELEASE:

State Scholars Initiative Program Aimed at Increasing Number of Students Taking Rigorous High School Courses

Missouri, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Wyoming Added to Previous List of 20 states

Contact: Jim Bradshaw(202) 401-2310 or jim.bradshaw@ed.gov

Four new states have been selected for participation in the State Scholars Initiative, a national business-education partnership effort designed to increase the number of students who take a rigorous curriculum in high school, the U.S. Education Department announced today.
The states are: Missouri, New Hampshire, South Dakota and Wyoming.

The four new states join 20 others previously chosen for participation. They include: Arizona, Arkansas, Connecticut, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, Washington, and West Virginia.

Under the State Scholars Initiative, each state will receive up to $300,000 during a two-year period to implement scholars programs in at least four school districts. Local business-education partnerships will work with students in those districts, encouraging them to take a rigorous course of study—one that will give them a boost no matter whether they go to college or straight to work.

The Scholars Core Course of Study includes:

• Four years of English.
• Three years of math (algebra I and II and geometry).
• Three years of science (biology, chemistry and physics).
• Three and a half years of social studies (U.S. history, world history, geography, economics or government).
• And, Two years of a language other than English.
  "Students who take rigorous courses in high school stand a far greater chance of succeeding in college and the workplace," said U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings. "We congratulate the states of Missouri, New Hampshire, South Dakota, and Wyoming for recognizing the potential of this program and the considerable benefit that it can provide young people."
  Besides the State Scholars Initiative, President Bush earlier this year launched two other significant programs designed to encourage students to take challenging courses in high school. In February, the president signed legislation setting aside more than $790 million in Academic Competitiveness Grants and National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent (National SMART grants).
  Those awards will encourage students to pursue rigorous classes in high school and college majors in high demand in the global economy, such as science, mathematics, technology, engineering and critical foreign languages.

Academic Competitiveness Grants will be available to students for their first and second academic years of college, while National SMART Grants will help support students in their third and fourth years of school.

In the State Scholars Initiative, a high-impact strategy is used to motivate students to tackle demanding high school courses that prepare them for college and careers. The program features business people making presentations to eighth-graders just before they select their high school courses.

Business volunteers help students understand the career options and monetary benefits of taking challenging courses. Students may receive academic support, incentives, and special recognition that help ensure their success, especially in the more difficult courses.

The State Scholars Initiative is funded by the Education Department's Office of Vocational and Adult Education, headed by Assistant Secretary Troy Justesen. The program is overseen by the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education in Boulder, Colo.

For more information on the State Scholars Initiative, see the program's Web site, which includes a brochure, fact sheet, newsletter, as well as links to state briefs and each of the participating states' Web sites at www.wiche.edu/statescholars.
Details on the Academic Competitiveness and National SMART Grants can be found at http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ope/ac-smart.html.
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Top Four College Grants / Scholarships for NJ students

1) Federal Pell Grants provide financial assistance to students enrolled in an eligible program as determined by a national formula. The amount of the award is based on (1) eligibility as determined by the Pell Grant formula, (2) the cost of the program, and (3) enrollment status.
Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG) is a federal grant program that provides additional grants to eligible students that pursued a rigorous program of study in high school on or after January 1, 2005. For more information on rigorous program click on Academic Competitiveness Grant.

2) Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG) is a federal program, which provides money to undergraduate students with financial need.
Tuition Aid Grant (TAG), a New Jersey program, which provides aid to full-time students who are New Jersey residents. N.J. county college students enrolled for 6-11 credits may be eligible for an award through the part-time TAG Program.
Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF) is a New Jersey grant program for students from educationally disadvantaged backgrounds who have exceptional financial need. It is available to New Jersey residents only.

3) NJ STARS: Starting with the class of 2004, New Jersey high school students who graduate in the top 20 percent of their New Jersey high school class may be eligible for NJ STARS.
NJ STARS covers up to five semesters of tuition and approved fees at your local community college. NJ STARS students must take at least 12 college-level credits each semester and can take up to 15 college-level credits each semester.
NJ STARS students have up to two years after graduating high school to enroll at a New Jersey community college.
NJ STARS students must be enrolled in an associate degree program at a New Jersey community college.
NJ STARS students must maintain continuous full-time enrollment at a New Jersey community college.
After their first year enrolled at a New Jersey community college, NJ STARS students must hold a 3.0 grade point average by the beginning of their second year to be eligible for scholarship renewal for the second year.
For more information on NJ STARS, call 1-800-334-NJCC or send email to info@njccc.org.

4) NJ TAG
New Jersey’s Tuition Aid Grant (TAG) program is one of the nation’s largest financial aid programs, and New Jersey ranks among the top states in providing aid for needy students. Depending on your need, a TAG award can cover close to the full cost of tuition at a public college or a portion of that cost. The program also offers sizeable awards to attend in-state private institutions. One in every three full-time New Jersey students receives TAG, and awards may be used at nearly all New Jersey postsecondary institutions, including community colleges, state colleges and private schools. To get the best idea of a family’s ability to pay higher education expenses, eligibility for TAG is determined by a review of many factors, such as family income and assets, family size and the number in college. The cost of attendance is also taken into consideration, so you should never feel that a school is beyond your reach just because it is more expensive.


The Part-Time Tuition Aid Grant (TAG) Program for County College Students began as a pilot program with the 2003-04 academic year. Within the limits of available funding, this program provides pro-rated awards to New Jersey county college students taking 6 - 11 credits per term, who are otherwise eligible for the Tuition Aid Grant Program. (To review eligiblity requirements, click "Student Eligibility")
The maximum 2006-07 award for students enrolled half-time (6-8 credits) is $419 per term. Students enrolled three-quarter time (9-11 credits) may receive a maximum of $628 per term.



For more information on other state-sponsored scholarships and financial aid programs, visit the New Jersey Higher Education Student Assistance Authority http://www.njccc.org/njstars.htm.

Other resources:
http://college.enotes.com/scholarships-loans/NJ Lists scholarships by state


Tuition Aid Grant Award Estimator - 2006-2007
https://www.hesaa.org/eadmin/tag0607/studentstatus.asp

The Nation's Report Card: by NAEP

Results of the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) 2005 twelfth-grade reading and mathematics assessments and the 2005 NAEP High School Transcript Study (HSTS) were just released.

The twelfth-grade reading and mathematics report provides national results on the performance of America's high school seniors on NAEP.

The Nation's Report Card: America's High School Graduates presents information about the types of courses 2005 high school graduates completed, how many credits they earned, and the grades they received. Information on the relationships between high school academic records and performance on the NAEP mathematics and science assessments is also included.

Both reports examine results for student groups including race/ethnicity and gender.

Reading findings include:
* Decline in scores and the percentages of students at or above Proficient and at or above Basic compared with 1992. There have been no significant changes at these levels since 2002.
* No significant change in the White-Black or White-Hispanic gap compared with previous years.

Mathematics findings include:
* Sixty-one percent performed at or above Basic, and 23 percent were at or above Proficient.
* NOTE: Due to changes to the framework for 2005, results can't be compared to previous years.

High School Transcript Study findings include:
* Graduates in 2005 completed more rigorous curricula than previous graduates.
* The overall grade point average (GPA) has been climbing since 1990 and was 2.98 in 2005.
* Graduates with stronger academic records obtain higher NAEP scores.

Full results are available at:
http://nationsreportcard.gov

Including 2005 twelfth-grade science results released earlier, at:
http://nationsreportcard.gov/science_2005/

To download, view and print the publications as PDF files, please visit:
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2007467
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2007468


To obtain hard copy of many IES products as well as hard copy and
electronic versions of hundreds of other U.S. Department of Education
products please visit http://www.edpubs.org or call 1-877-433-7827 (877-4-EDPUBS).