Dire Prediction about PROMISE

The Legislature could ultimately deny close to half the West Virginia students who now qualify for the PROMISE scholarship any help affording college if it fails to cap the annual awards, state officials tell The Associated Press.

Officials warn that without limiting scholarships to $4,500 a year, the only remaining option for arresting costs is to ratchet up the minimum composite ACT score, AP reports.

"That option would require PROMISE to hike the minimum ACT composite score from 22 to 24 during the next school year, a move that would eliminate nearly a third of the high school seniors who landed the merit-based scholarship for this school year," the article said. "But that route would need an additional increase of the minimum score, to 25 the following year. That would deny PROMISE to nearly 42 percent of this year's scholars."

Higher Education Policy Commission Chairman Brian Noland cited estimates "showing that PROMISE will be short $1.4 million during the upcoming budget year without major changes," AP reports. "That funding gap is projected to grow annually, reaching $16 million by 2014."

Gov. Joe Manchin has proposed the $4,500 cap, but his bill faces an April 1 deadline to pass from the Senate to the House. The Senate Education Committee expects to take up the bill today.

Chairman Robert Plymale "questioned whether PROMISE had run out of options," AP reports. "He suggested that lawmakers could adjust the proposed cap, or close the $1.4 million hole projected for the upcoming year if the bill fails."

AP also notes that "Nearly 45 percent of the PROMISE scholars attend West Virginia University, the most expensive public school at $5,100 a year." The Charleston Daily Mail reports that if the annual scholarship is capped, "and doesn't increase to keep up with ever-rising tuition expenses, more students likely will choose smaller schools with lower tuition."