Proposals to change the requirements for getting and keeping the lottery scholarship abound in the Tennessee legislature this year, with three-fourths of the students who start out with these scholarships losing them before graduation.
Currently, students need a 21 on the ACT or a 3.0 high school GPA to receive the scholarship, then must maintain a 2.75 GPA in their freshman year of college, rising to a 3.0 thereafter.
The Tennessean reports that the measure making the most headway is one to lower the overall college GPA requirement to 2.75, which would result in 1,600 more students retaining their scholarships, at a cost of $7M.
Perhaps a middle ground area would be more appropriate: leave the standards as they now are, but create a way for students to regain their scholarship eligibility after losing it, provided that they bring their GPA back up to the current standard. So, if a sophomore finished out the year with a 2.8, lost the scholarship, then reapplied at the end of his junior year having brought his GPA up to 3.2, he would regain eligibility.
At this point, once it’s lost, it’s lost forever, no matter what the circumstances or how much the student improves. Most reasonable people would concur that the policy is unforgiving; anyone who’s paid attention to how the GPA works understands that it’s harder to raise it substantially in later years. Such students do deserve a second chance.
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Speaking of which, I’m keeping my fingers crossed for Alpha today, as she heads in for her Calculus final at 10:00. However, she called yesterday to tell me that her prof has posted their grades so far, and she needs a whopping 57 (out of 100) to keep her ‘A’ in the class. She’s taken advantage of every extra-credit opportunity given, and has amassed a significant safety cushion in the process. Much of the extra credit has been working quiz problems on the board — something I would not have expected her to do, given that she’s rather shy and reserved most of the time.
Unquestionably, she’s learning a lot more than just academics, and it’s really neat to watch.
Shy and reserved like her mom?
It took her mom 20 years or so of concentrated effort to break out of it… and it still takes considerable effort.
Couldn’t tell it last night Netmom. I, and the folks that I have spoken too, all think that you did a superb job.
You came across as the person that knows what is going on and can be depended upon to continue to do a good job on the school board.
Hey, at least you don’t think that Andy Griffith should be elected to the school board, here in Mayberry.
daco..if you want to keep your identity under cover, I would suggest not making the same comment to the Observer..Focus on something else. And, the next time you try to quote someone.. get it right>