TWIN FALLS, Idaho (AP) — A new state scholarship program designed to help adults return to college is only being used by 28 residents so far, but Idaho officials say the program is still ramping up.
The Times-News reports lawmakers approved the Idaho Opportunity Scholarship for Adult Learners earlier this year, and the program started in July. That meant adults had just weeks to decide if they were interested in going back to college so they could apply for the scholarship before the fall semester began.
“We recognized it would take a little while to ramp this up,” Idaho State Board of Education spokesman Mike Keckler said Friday. “People had a very short window in which to apply for fall semester.”
Keckler says 113 people have applied so far, but most weren’t eligible to receive the funds.
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The scholarship is meant to encourage adults who have completed some college to return and finish. State residents must have earned at least 24 credits with a 2.7 grade point average.
The award provides up to $3,500 annually and is renewable for up to four years. So far, the state has awarded a total of $77,875 — far less than the $2.7 million yearly cap.
State officials have been working for years to encourage more high school students to continue their education, and for adults who’ve completed some college to return and finish.
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Information from: The Times-News, http://www.magicvalley.com