PROPOSED RULES
COORDINATING BOARD
Original Notice.
Preproposal statement of inquiry was filed as WSR 02-08-052.
Title of Rule: Promise scholarship program.
Purpose: Implement changes to the promise scholarship as authorized by the 2002 legislature in SHB 2807.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: Chapter 28B.80 RCW and SHB 2807 as passed by the 2002 legislature.
Statute Being Implemented: SHB 2807 as passed by the 2002 legislature.
Summary: These proposed rules implement SHB 2807, which places the promise scholarship into statute. The key changes are:
(1) Allow students to qualify for the promise scholarship through use of SAT I and ACT scores;
(2) Allow students to use the promise scholarship award for attendance at certain schools in Oregon when the curriculum at the Oregon school is not available in Washington;
(3) Expands the list of recognized accrediting bodies;
(4) Clarifies the authorized use period.
Reasons Supporting Proposal: Fully implements SHB 2807 as passed by the 2002 legislature.
Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting, Implementation and Enforcement: John Klacik, 917 Lakeridge Way, Olympia, WA 98504, (360) 753-7851.
Name of Proponent: Higher Education Coordinating Board, public.
Rule is not necessitated by federal law, federal or state court decision.
Explanation of Rule, its Purpose, and Anticipated Effects: These proposed rules implement SHB 2807, which places the promise scholarship into statute. The key changes are:
(1) Allow students to qualify for the promise scholarship through use of SAT I and ACT scores.
| • | In addition to being in the top 15% of one's graduating high school class, students may also qualify to apply for the scholarship by achieving an SAT I score of 1200 or better on their first attempt or by achieving an ACT score of twenty-seven or better on their first attempt. |
| • | The Oregon schools must be located in specific counties that border Washington as enumerated in the proposed rules. |
| • | The list of expanded to include all the nationally recognized regional accrediting bodies. This will ensure that students will be able to use the promise scholarship award at all accredited degree granting institutions or their branches that are physically located in the state of Washington. |
| • | Clarifies that the use period for all students is limited to the first two years after high school graduation. |
Proposal Changes the Following Existing Rules: (1) Allow students to qualify for the promise scholarship through use of SAT I and ACT scores;
(2) Allow students to use the promise scholarship award for attendance at certain schools in Oregon when the curriculum at the Oregon school is not available in Washington;
(3) Expands the list of recognized accrediting bodies;
(4) Clarifies the authorized use period.
No small business economic impact statement has been prepared under chapter 19.85 RCW. These rules affect educational institutions and students, not businesses.
RCW 34.05.328 does not apply to this rule adoption. The Higher Education Coordinating Board is not one of the listed agencies subject to this statute.
Hearing Location: Higher Education Coordinating Board, 3rd Floor Conference Room, 917 Lakeridge Way, Olympia, WA 98504, on August 23, 2002, at 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: Contact Belma Villa by August 19, 2002, TDD (360) 753-7809, or by voice phone at (360) 753-7800.
Submit Written Comments to: John Klacik, Associate Director, Higher Education Coordinating Board, P.O. Box 43430, Olympia, WA 98504-3430, e-mail johnk@hecb.wa.gov, fax (360) 704-6251, by August 23, 2002.
Date of Intended Adoption: September 25, 2002.
July 2, 2002
John Klacik
Associate Director
OTS-5755.2
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 00-08-082, filed 4/4/00,
effective 5/5/00)
WAC 250-80-010
Purpose.
The Washington promise scholarship
program recognizes and encourages the aspiration for superior
academic achievement of high school students who attend and
graduate from Washington high schools. The program offers a
two-year scholarship for eligible students that may be used at
any accredited institution within the borders of the state. The
scholarship may also be used at certain Oregon institutions
offering programs not offered in Washington.
[Statutory Authority: Chapter 28B.80 RCW and 1999 c 309 § 611(6). 00-08-082, § 250-80-010, filed 4/4/00, effective 5/5/00.]
(2) "OSPI" means the office of the superintendent of public instruction.
(3) "High school" means a secondary institution in Washington state identified by the office of the superintendent of public instruction as qualified to confer high school diplomas to a graduating senior class.
(4) "Parent(s)" mean the biological or adoptive parent of the student applicant and the spouse of a biological or adoptive parent. In cases of divorce or separation the parent for purposes of reporting income and family size is the biological or adoptive parent who provided more than one-half of the applicant's support in the previous twelve months. The term parent does not include either foster parents or legal guardians.
(5) "Family size" is the number of people for whom the applicant's parent(s) provided more than one-half of the support in the previous twelve months.
(6) "Income," in most cases means the applicant parent's adjusted gross income (AGI) as reported on the previous calendar year's federal tax return. For the independent student, income means the student's adjusted gross income as reported on the previous calendar year's federal tax return.
(7) "Independent student" means a student whose biological parents are both deceased and there is no adoptive parent, or the student is a "ward of the court," or the student has been legally emancipated by court order. The board may also recognize a student as independent due to exceptional circumstances as recognized by the appeal committee.
(8) "Appeals committee" means a committee convened by the board to review petitions and requests by students for consideration of individual exceptional circumstances.
(9) "Median family income (MFI)" means the median income for the state of Washington, by family size, as compiled by the federal Bureau of the Census and reported annually in the Federal Register.
(10) "Income cutoff" means one hundred thirty-five percent of the median family income.
(11) "Academic year" means the fall, winter, and spring quarters or the fall and spring semesters between July 1st and June 30th.
(12) "Eligible student" means a person who:
(a) Graduates from a public or private high school located in the state of Washington; and
(b) ((Is in the top ten percent of his or her 1999
graduating class; or
(c))) Is in the top fifteen percent of his or her 2000 graduating class; or
(c) Attained a cumulative score of 1200 or better on the Scholastic Assessment Test I (SATI) on the first attempt; or
(d) Attained a cumulative score of 27 or better on the American College Test (ACT) on the first attempt; and
(((d))) (e) Has a family income less than one hundred
thirty-five percent of the state's median; and
(((e))) (f) Enrolls at least half time in an eligible
postsecondary institution in the state of Washington; and
(((f))) (g) Is not pursuing a degree in theology.
(13) "Eligible postsecondary institution" means:
(a) A public institution authorized by the Washington legislature and receiving operating support through the state general fund; or
(b) A postsecondary institution, whose campus or branch campus is physically located in the state of Washington, and who is accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting body. The recognized accrediting bodies are:
(i) ((The)) Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges or
a similar regional accrediting body as determined by the board;
(ii) ((The)) Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools;
(iii) ((The)) Accrediting Council for Continuing Education
and Training;
(iv) ((The)) Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and
Colleges of Technology;
(v) The Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools;
(vi) The National Accrediting Commission of Cosmetology Arts
and Sciences; ((and))
(vii) Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Higher Education;
(viii) New England Association of Schools and Colleges;
(ix) North Central Association of Colleges and Schools;
(x) Southern Association of Colleges and Schools;
(xi) Western Association of Schools and Colleges; or
(c) An accredited Oregon postsecondary institution that offers a program not offered in Washington and is located in either Columbia, Gilliam, Hood River, Multnomah, Clatsop, Clackamas, Morrow, Sherman, Umatilla, Union, Wallowa, Wasco or Washington county. The institution must be accredited by one of the accrediting bodies listed above; and
(d) Agrees to administer the program in accordance with the applicable rules and program guidelines.
(14) "Authorized use period" means the period of time the
eligible student has to complete using his or her scholarship.
((The board will determine the authorized use period for each
class of graduating high school seniors.))
[Statutory Authority: Chapter 28B.80 RCW and 1999 c 309 § 611(6). 00-08-082, § 250-80-020, filed 4/4/00, effective 5/5/00.]
(2) The deadline for the return of renewal applications will be set annually by the board.
(3) The board will determine the maximum number of years each class of graduating high school seniors has to complete usage of the scholarship.
(4) ((For the graduating classes of 1999 and 2000,)) The
authorized use period is limited to two consecutive years
following graduation. Students who were not eligible for the
first year of benefits, or who did not use the first year of
benefits, may reapply for the second year benefits, but may not
renew for a third year.
(5) Receipt of the scholarship is dependent upon the availability of funding.
[Statutory Authority: Chapter 28B.80 RCW and 1999 c 309 § 611(6). 00-08-082, § 250-80-070, filed 4/4/00, effective 5/5/00.]