In 2022, New Mexico joined the list of states that adopted a statewide promise program, offering tuition and fee assistance for eligible students to pursue higher education. The New Mexico Opportunity Scholarship (NMOS) differs from existing programs by including part-time and summer enrollment, academic and workforce degrees, and older adult…

This report is in response to "LD 1995," a Supplemental Budget bill signed by the governor on April 20, 2022 establishing the Free College Scholarship. The law requires the Maine Community College System to submit a report to the Governor and the Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs on the use and success of the…

The Tuition Opportunity Program for Students subsequently renamed the Taylor Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS) was created by Act 1375 of the 1997 Regular Legislative Session. The first college freshman class to receive TOPS awards entered postsecondary education in the fall of 1998. Act 1202 of the 2001 Regular Legislative Session requires…

Earning a college degree has long been critical to unlocking many high-paying jobs -- and, as a result, to economic mobility and security. Increasingly, however, the traditional "norm" of a college student--one who enrolls straight out of high school, receives some support from their parents, lives on campus, and does not have…

In an effort to support college affordability in the region, the New England Board of Higher Education initiated the "Redesigning Student Aid in New England" project ("Redesigning Aid") in 2014. Funded by Lumina Foundation, "Redesigning Aid" combined custom state financial aid research with expertise of national…

This study considered the impact of state-level guaranteed tuition programs on alternative student-based revenue streams. It used a quasi-experimental, difference-in-difference methodology with a panel dataset of public four-year institutions from 2000-2012. Illinois' 2004 "Truth-in-Tuition" law was used as the policy of interest and the…

As tuition levels rise, predictability is an increasingly important consideration of college financing. In this article, the authors explore contemporary policy tools intended to enhance tuition predictability. They specifically consider guaranteed tuition plans. The authors begin their discussion by considering the prevalence of guaranteed…

The outcomes states gain from investing in postsecondary financial aid programs remain hotly debated, leading to great interest in developing programs that are both cost-effective and productive in helping states meet goals. In the 2012-13 academic year, states collectively provided approximately $11.2 billion in financial aid to students enrolled…

This resource guide on services available for students with disabilities at Florida's public universities begins with a summary of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, a list of recognized disability categories, regulations concerning the provision of auxiliary learning aids, and Florida statutes concerning postsecondary education of…

This document reports on a range of issues, tasks, and accomplishments of the Committee on Higher Education of the 72nd Texas Legislature of the State of Texas. The report opens by listing charges to the committee in the following areas: (1) tuition and fees and causes and effects of recent increases; (2) need for student financial aid; (3) role,…

A summary is provided of Alaska's student loan program for postsecondary education. After a brief program descriptions giving the purposes and terms of the program, a question-and-answer section covers purposes and amount of loans, when application should be made, the application process, eligibility and repayments. A schedule of payments and…

In 1986, the Florida State Legislature passed a law requiring teachers to demonstrate knowledge of their subject areas before being granted teacher certification. The state also provided funding for developing subject area examinations. The generic procedures for developing these examinations are outlined. During the first phase of the project, an…

Difficulties and rewards in using state assessment policy to benefit both students and the state are reviewed. The questions examined in this guide will help state policy makers know the questions they should ask about whether, what, and how well students are learning. Questions were developed from four seminars in 1989, 1990, and 1991 on…

This report analyzes the progress made in implementing the Illinois Board of Higher Education's policies on undergraduate education, with particular attention to the status of policy implementation concerning student achievement, scholarship, and general education. The report examines recent trends in the number of Illinois high school graduating…

This report to the California legislature describes the steps that the university and state university are taking to implement the state-mandated Human Corps programs of volunteer community service by college students. Information is provided on University of California and California State University activities. The Human Corps organization is…