Brown v. Board of Education Scholarship Awards Committee
June 1, 2005
The first meeting
of the interim of the joint subcommittee was held to review and implement
the amendments established by Senate Bill 1034 / House Bill 2588 (2005),
as well as to receive recommendations from the subcommittee charged to
review recipient applications for the Brown v. Board of Education scholarship
awards for the 2005-2006 academic year. Legislative members of the Committee
are Benjamin J. Lambert, III (chairman), Floyd H. Miles, Sr. (vice-chairman),
Henry L. Marsh, III, Thomas C. Wright, Jr., Clarke N. Hogan, and Watkins
M. Abbitt, Jr. Citizen Members appointed by the Governor are Patricia
Johnson Brown, Andrew I. Heidelberg, Donald E. Martin, Phyllistine Ward
Moseley, and Tameka Ferrell.
Background
As part of Virginia's
two-year commemoration of the 50th anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education,
the 2004 General Assembly enacted Senate Bill 230 establishing the Brown
v. Board of Education Scholarship Program and Fund (Program). The Program
is designed to assist persons who were enrolled in Virginia public schools
during Massive Resistance (1954 to 1964 when public schools were closed
to avoid complying with the Supreme Court decision) to obtain a high school
diploma, a General Education Development certificate, career and technical
education and training, or an undergraduate degree from a Virginia public
institution of higher education.
Initially, the scholarship program was funded at $50,000 during the 2004
Session; however, a benefactor donated $1 million to the scholarship fund
on the condition that the General Assembly would match their donation.
The General Assembly appropriated the funds, increasing the scholarship
fund to $2 million.
Senate Bill 1034
/ House Bill 2588
The members reviewed
the bill, which provides several technical amendments and substantive
changes, including prohibiting the use of funds to pay for a theological
education, as well as requiring the State Council of Higher Education
to assist the Committee in an advisory capacity rather than to administer
the Program.
Scholarship Application
and Review Process
During the 2004 Interim,
the Scholarship Awards Committee met several times for the purpose of
implementing the Program. The Committee conducted a comprehensive review
of the historical facts leading to the Brown decision, including Virginia's
role, as well as the provisions of Senate Bill 230 (2004), which established
the Program. The Committee conferred with representatives of the Department
of Education, the State Council of Higher Education, the Virginia Community
College System, public and private institutions of higher education, and
received testimony from citizens who were affected by the school closings
during Massive Resistance.
Applications for
the 2005-2006 academic year were distributed throughout the Commonwealth
by the Awards Committee during winter 2004.
Eligibility for the
scholarship is limited to current domiciled residents of Virginia. For
a complete listing of scholarship requirements and specific educational
programs that qualify, see the Committee website. A scholarship award
may be used only to pay the costs of tuition for:
- GED Program in
one year
- High school diploma
in one year
- Two-year degree
program in two years
- Four-year undergraduate
degree
- program in four
years
- Recognized five-year
undergraduate degree program in five years
Approximately 90
persons applied by the March 1, 2005, deadline for the 2005-2006 academic
year. To assist the Committee in reviewing the applications, the Chairman
appointed a subcommittee composed of legislative and nonlegislative citizen
members of the Committee, as well as representatives of affected state
agencies and public and private institutions of higher education with
expertise in academic counseling, college admissions, public and higher
education, adult education and literacy, career and technical education,
and student financial aid. The Committee voted to approve 48 applications
initially, and to grant preliminary approval to 42 applications contingent
upon satisfying the eligibility criteria as established by law.
The Committee also
agreed that applicants seeking a two-year degree, four-year degree, career
and technical education and training at approved institutions would be
awarded a scholarship to cover the costs of tuition for the 2005-2006
academic year and $5,500 was set as the maximum award. Applicants seeking
the GED certificate would be awarded a scholarship sufficient to cover
the costs of the GED test. Applicants seeking a high school diploma would
be awarded a scholarship to cover the cost of their enrollment in an adult
education program.
Other Business
The Committee decided
that applicants completing the GED will be advised of their eligibility
to receive a scholarship to continue their education at an accredited
public or private two-year or four-year institution of higher education.
A counseling and technical advisory team was established composed of representatives
of the Department of Education, the Virginia Community College System,
and public and private institutions of higher education to (i) counsel
and assist applicants, as well as interface with GED programs, public
schools, and institutions of higher education concerning the admission
and enrollment of scholarship recipients in order to ensure successful
transition and academic success. All scholarship recipients will be contacted
by the Committee's counseling and technical advisory panel for assistance
in setting educational goals and selecting an appropriate program.
March 1, 2006, was
established as the scholarship application deadline for the 2006-2007
academic year with applications to be available by October 2005.
Next Meeting
The next meeting
of the Committee will be in held in July to approve the remaining applications
for the 2005-2006 academic year, receive testimony from private career
schools and other interested parties, and complete the plans for the next
application cycle. The date of the next meeting will be posted on the
Committee website when available.
Chairman:
The Hon. Benjamin
J. Lambert
For information,
contact:
Brenda Edwards
DLS Staff
Website:
http://dls.state.va.us/brown.htm
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