October 19, 2004

BOARD OF HIGHER ED GIVES GREEN LIGHT TO ADAMS SCHOLARSHIP

Board gives final okay to central component of Romney’s Legacy of Learning plan

BUZZARDS BAY – The Board of Higher Education today gave final approval to the John and Abigail Adams Scholarship Program, which was first proposed by Governor Mitt Romney in his January State of the State Address as part of the Legacy of Learning initiative.

The compromise plan, hammered out by Romney’s education team and members of the Legislature, will provide four years of free tuition at the University of Massachusetts or at any of the nine state or 15 community colleges to top student achievers.

The merit-based scholarship program will complement the $95 million in needs-based aid the state already spends each year on students from low-income families.

“This is a scholarship program open to everyone on the basis of merit – black or white, rich or poor, whether you live in the city or a suburban community,” said Romney. “It is designed to stimulate high achievement on the MCAS test, encourage our young people to go to school in Massachusetts and help families with the cost of sending their children to college.”

Beginning with the class of 2005, the Adams scholarship will be open to all public school students who score in the Advanced category in either the English or math section of the MCAS test and at least in the Proficient category on the other section by the end of their junior year. To qualify, the student’s MCAS scores must also rank in the top 25 percent of their school district.

Students who receive the Adams scholarship must complete their college studies in four years or less and maintain a 3.0 grade point average. Last academic year, average tuition at state colleges was $977 and $740 at community colleges. At UMass, the average tuition was $1,575.

“The Adams scholarship sends the right message to our students,” said Education Commissioner David P. Driscoll. “Our students should strive every day to accomplish more than just passing the MCAS exam. This scholarship will open important opportunities for some of our very best students who may otherwise have been unable to continue their educations after high school.”

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