Scholarship money pulled for some
Carolyn Clair says her daughter had earned scholarship money for graduating early from Odessa High in 2009. But instead, state budget cuts have left her high and dry.
Clair’s daughter, Shelby Meyers, received $2,000 from the Early High School Graduation Scholarship, plus another $1,000 for gaining 15 college credit hours before she earned her diploma in July 2009, nearly a year ahead of schedule, Clair said.
After two years, Meyers still had $1,300 remaining on the scholarship, which she thought she could use this fall when she transferred to Weatherford College from McLennan Community College in Waco. But her mother said that when Meyers went to register, she learned that the money had been cut off, a result of the state legislature defunding the early graduation scholarship.
“That money was awarded, so why isn’t in an account somewhere waiting for kids to use it?” Clair said.
Dominic Chavez, spokesman for the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, which administers the early graduation scholarship, said most students who received the money use it shortly after they start college. So few students would have scholarship money left over when the legislature’s defunding of the program goes into effect Sept. 1.
“Two thousand dollars is nice, but, typically, it doesn’t go that far,” he said. “Technically, there could be students who thought there was money in the bank. Unfortunately, that money’s not there.”
But Clair said her daughter tried to use scholarship money her first year out of school, but was unable to do so because Odessa High officials hadn’t gotten paperwork turned in on time. And she has been unable to get reimbursement for that first year.
Plus, the scholarship gave students until six years after high school graduation to use the money.
The early graduation scholarship program cost the state $12 million over the past two years, Chavez said. It was used by 6,700 students in 2009 and 6,200 more last year.
Clair said she has spoken to representatives from the office of state Rep. Tryon Lewis, R-Odessa, in hopes of getting reimbursed for what she had to spend because of the delay in paperwork. But until she gets the money, she may have to cut back on the number of classes her daughter can take.
Clair, a former Ector County Independent School District teacher, is fearful other students may find out later on that they don’t have scholarship money.
“There’s gonna be a lot of kids that don’t find out until they get dropped from their classes,” she said.
Chavez said the higher education board has worked to try to get the word out about the possible elimination of scholarships, part of a statewide 15-percent cut in higher education funding. Earlier this year, high school counselors were warned that the scholarships may not be available this fall, and a freeze on applications for new money was implemented in March.
The board also worked to notify students with letters to tell them about the scholarships. But Chavez admits they might not have reached everyone.
“Whether we notified them four months ago or four weeks ago, they’re not pleased,” he said.
