Monday, January 23, 2006                                                       For More Information:

                                                                                                Rep. Nathan Reichert, 515-281-3221

REICHERT SPONSORS BILL TO INCREASE

IOWA’S COLLEGE-EDUCATED WORKFORCE

& REDUCE YOUTH CRIME & DRUG USE

Des Moines, Iowa – State Representative Nathan Reichert of Muscatine joined 14 colleagues in the House today to unveil a bill to increase Iowa’s college-educated workforce and reduce crime and drug use among our state’s youth.  The program, modeled after Indiana’s successful 21^st Century Scholars program, rewards students who fulfill a pledge to maintain good grades and citizenship through high school with free tuition at Iowa colleges after graduation.

The bill, which will be filed today, targets 7^th and 8^th grade students who are eligible for free and reduced price lunches or part of the foster care system.  The student would sign a pledge with their parent or guardian to remain crime free, drug free and tobacco free and maintain a C average through high school.

If the student keeps the pledge through their senior year of high school, he or she would receive free tuition at one of Iowa’s state universities, community college, or the state tuition amount applied to an Iowa independent college.  Students would also be required to apply for federal financial aid. 

“The 21^st Century Scholars program will help students learn personal responsibility, involve parents in their child’s education, and reward students who commit to hard work and good citizenship,” said Reichert. “This program will provide hope to thousands of students and families who may not be able to afford education after high school.”

Since starting the program in 1990, Indiana’s college continuation ranking jumped from 40^th to 9^th in the country.  The 21^st Century Scholars program was launched in Indiana by Senator Evan Bayh, who was governor at the time.  Governor Jim Doyle of Wisconsin is proposing a similar initiative this year. 

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FOR MORE INFORMATION on Indiana’s 21^st Century Scholars program,

contact Dan Pfeiffer at 202-224-6807 or go to www.scholars.in.gov.

21^st Century Scholars
Fact Sheet

Why Iowa needs the 21^st Century Scholars Program:

• Higher education means higher wages (Source: Iowa Workforce Development)
  • Iowans with less than high school diploma can expect $9.81 per hour
  • A high school graduate can expect to make $13.66 per hour
  • A community college graduate can expect to make $16.30 per hour
  • A baccalaureate or graduate degree can expect $25.97 per hour
• Only a quarter of Iowa's population has a bachelors degree, which is below the national average and the lowest in Midwest
  (Source: Institute for Tomorrow's Workforce)
• Iowa ranks 37 nationally in people over 25 with a bachelor’s degree
  (Source: US Census Bureau)

How the Scholars program works:

·        Eligibility: 7^th and 8^th grade students that qualify for free and reduced price lunches or part of the foster care system. 

·        Pledge: Students sign a pledge with their parent or guardian to maintain good grades and citizenship (see pledge details below)

·        Free Tuition: If the pledge is fulfilled through a student’s senior year, he or she would receive free tuition at one of Iowa’s state universities, community college, or the state tuition amount applied to an Iowa independent college. 

The 21^st Century Scholars Pledge:

• To graduate from high school with a high school diploma.
• To achieve a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0 on a 4.0 scale in high school.
• To not use alcohol, illegal drugs or commit any crime.
• To apply for admission to an Iowa college, university, technical or trade school as a high school senior.
• To apply for state and federal student financial aid.

21^st Century Scholars -- Success in Indiana:

• 40th to 9th in national rank of college continuation
• 89% of participants said the program reduced the chances that they would drop out of school.
• 86% of participants indicated the Scholars program helped prepare them for college life.
• 82% of participants indicated the program helped them refrain from substance abuse.
• 74% of participants reported the program helped get their parents more involved in their education.