Bright Flight (Missouri Scholarship)
Encyclopedia
Bright Flight is a Missouri
merit-based scholarship in the amount of $1750 per annum (formerly $2000 and later $1500) to Missouri's qualifying graduating high school seniors who enroll in a Missouri accredited college or university. From June 2004 to July 2005, 8390 students were enrolled in the Bright Flight program, which totaled over $15 million in state expenditures.
in 1986, students have not seen an increase in awarded monies since Bright Flight's introduction. Many students and higher education officials have observed that tuition expenses at the University of Missouri
, for example, were below $2000 in 1987 and thus were fully covered by Bright Flight at its introduction. In 2006, following a period of increases in tuition expenses that easily outpaced inflation
, Bright Flight covered only a fraction of the more than $7000 a typical student spent on tuition at the University of Missouri.
and Senate
by sponsors Representative Edward Robb and Senator Jason Crowell, respectively, propose to double the scholarship amount to $4000. The purpose of the legislation will be to increase the attractiveness of Missouri higher level institutions for top qualifying Missouri high school graduates.
The next hearing for HB 1428 will be held on January 31, 2006, before the Higher Education Committee. A hearing was recently held January 24, 2006, before the Education Committee for Senate Bill 662. The Effective Date for SB 662 has been set at August 28, 2006, or the beginning of the fall term for many Missouri universities.
Co-sponsors for HB 1428 include: HOBBS, NOLTE, FLOOK, BROWN (50), DARROUGH, CORCORAN, LAMPE, COOPER (158), ZWEIFEL, SANDER, MOORE AND GUEST.
In order for either bill to become law, it must be approved by both the House and the Senate before facing final approval from the governor, Matt Blunt
, who recently increased Higher Education spending by 2%.
HB 1231, sponsored by Representative Jim Avery (95) and co-sponsored by Representative Jane Cunningham (86), would provide Bright Flight to students attending an out-of-state institution for programs not offered by Missouri schools. It was referred to the Higher Education Committee on January 19, 2006, however, a hearing is not scheduled.
On August 12, 2010, state budget cuts reduced the amount from $2000/year to $1500/year.
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
merit-based scholarship in the amount of $1750 per annum (formerly $2000 and later $1500) to Missouri's qualifying graduating high school seniors who enroll in a Missouri accredited college or university. From June 2004 to July 2005, 8390 students were enrolled in the Bright Flight program, which totaled over $15 million in state expenditures.
Qualifications and renewal
- To qualify for Bright Flight, a student must be in the top 3% of his or her state-wide high school class as determined by normalized tests, the ACTACT (examination)The ACT is a standardized test for high school achievement and college admissions in the United States produced by ACT, Inc. It was first administered in November 1959 by Everett Franklin Lindquist as a competitor to the College Board's Scholastic Aptitude Test, now the SAT Reasoning Test...
and SATSATThe SAT Reasoning Test is a standardized test for college admissions in the United States. The SAT is owned, published, and developed by the College Board, a nonprofit organization in the United States. It was formerly developed, published, and scored by the Educational Testing Service which still...
composite scores. To date, a score of 31 or above on the ACT or an SAT-equivalent score qualifies, but the score needed changes every year. It is not unheard of for a 27 to qualify. A score of 31 will be needed to qualify for the 2008-2009 school year. - Students must maintain at least a 2.5 GPA in college and full-time student status to renew the scholarship, which can be renewed for up to five years for a maximum compensation of $8,750.
- Students must not be pursuing a degree in theologyTheologyTheology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
or divinityDivinityDivinity and divine are broadly applied but loosely defined terms, used variously within different faiths and belief systems — and even by different individuals within a given faith — to refer to some transcendent or transcendental power or deity, or its attributes or manifestations in...
. - Bright Flight students must attend school continuously, that is, they cannot cease attending school unless they worked for a non-profit organization or held a government job/served for the armed services. Academic interruption must not exceed 27 months.
History
Appropriated by the Missouri General AssemblyMissouri General Assembly
The Missouri General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Missouri. The bicameral General Assembly is composed of a 34-member Senate, and a 163-member House of Representatives. Members of both houses of the General Assembly are subject to term limits...
in 1986, students have not seen an increase in awarded monies since Bright Flight's introduction. Many students and higher education officials have observed that tuition expenses at the University of Missouri
University of Missouri
The University of Missouri System is a state university system providing centralized administration for four universities, a health care system, an extension program, five research and technology parks, and a publishing press. More than 64,000 students are currently enrolled at its four campuses...
, for example, were below $2000 in 1987 and thus were fully covered by Bright Flight at its introduction. In 2006, following a period of increases in tuition expenses that easily outpaced inflation
Inflation
In economics, inflation is a rise in the general level of prices of goods and services in an economy over a period of time.When the general price level rises, each unit of currency buys fewer goods and services. Consequently, inflation also reflects an erosion in the purchasing power of money – a...
, Bright Flight covered only a fraction of the more than $7000 a typical student spent on tuition at the University of Missouri.
Recent developments
Congruent bills HB 1428 and SB 662, introduced in the Missouri HouseMissouri House of Representatives
The Missouri House of Representatives is the lower chamber of the Missouri General Assembly. It has 163 members, representing districts with an average size of 31,000 residents. House members are elected for two-year terms during general elections held in even-numbered years.In 1992 Missouri...
and Senate
Missouri Senate
The Missouri State Senate is the upper chamber of the Missouri General Assembly. It has 34 members, representing districts with an average population of 160,000...
by sponsors Representative Edward Robb and Senator Jason Crowell, respectively, propose to double the scholarship amount to $4000. The purpose of the legislation will be to increase the attractiveness of Missouri higher level institutions for top qualifying Missouri high school graduates.
The next hearing for HB 1428 will be held on January 31, 2006, before the Higher Education Committee. A hearing was recently held January 24, 2006, before the Education Committee for Senate Bill 662. The Effective Date for SB 662 has been set at August 28, 2006, or the beginning of the fall term for many Missouri universities.
Co-sponsors for HB 1428 include: HOBBS, NOLTE, FLOOK, BROWN (50), DARROUGH, CORCORAN, LAMPE, COOPER (158), ZWEIFEL, SANDER, MOORE AND GUEST.
In order for either bill to become law, it must be approved by both the House and the Senate before facing final approval from the governor, Matt Blunt
Matt Blunt
Matthew Roy Blunt served as the 54th Governor of Missouri from 2005 to 2009. Before his election as governor, Blunt served ten years in the United States Navy, was elected to serve in the Missouri General Assembly in 1998 and as Missouri's Secretary of State in 2000.A Republican, Blunt was elected...
, who recently increased Higher Education spending by 2%.
HB 1231, sponsored by Representative Jim Avery (95) and co-sponsored by Representative Jane Cunningham (86), would provide Bright Flight to students attending an out-of-state institution for programs not offered by Missouri schools. It was referred to the Higher Education Committee on January 19, 2006, however, a hearing is not scheduled.
On August 12, 2010, state budget cuts reduced the amount from $2000/year to $1500/year.
External links
- Missouri Senate bill homepage to increase scholarship amount to $4000 annually: **SB 662