Middle school lauded for keeping kids in school
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By David [email protected]
Superintendent Brett Boggs told the school board Monday night he found out about the recognition Friday.
The school has been recognized for its outstanding effort to increase the number of students enrolled in the Indiana Twenty-first Century Scholars Program.
The Indiana Twenty-first Century Scholars Program was created by the state of Indiana in 1990 to eliminate the financial barrier to college and encourage students to stay in school, work hard academically, graduate high school, and take the steps necessary to get to and through college. It has become one of Indiana's most successful dropout prevention strategies.[[In-content Ad]]The Indiana Twenty-first Century Scholars Program is for students in grades sixth through eighth who qualify for free or reduced meals, are United States citizens and fulfill program requirements. Indiana Twenty-first Century Scholars are guaranteed the cost of up to four years of undergraduate college tuition to attend an eligible Indiana public or private college, university or proprietary institution. The program also provides support so the student, his or her parents or guardians and the student's school can work together to help the student be successful as he or she continues their education.
"There isn't anything better we could do for kids than this," said Boggs. "It will give kids the opportunity to go to college they might not otherwise have."
To be part of this program a student must agree to the Indiana Twenty-first Century Scholars Pledge. Students must pledge to graduate with an Indiana high school diploma from an Indiana school recognized by the Indiana Department of Education; achieve a cumulative high school grade point average of at least 2.0 on a 4.0 scale; not use illegal drugs or alcohol, or commit a crime; apply for admission to an eligible Indiana college, university or proprietary institution as a high school senior; and apply on time for state and federal financial aid.
The 2010 senior class of Tippecanoe Valley High School had only eight students enrolled in the Indiana Twenty-first Century Scholars program, seven of whom met the program requirements and were awarded a scholarship.
This year's senior class has 13 eligible students, followed by 30 in the junior class, 24 in the sophomore class, 55 in the freshman class, 72 in the eighth-grade class and 50 in the seventh-grade class.
In last year's sixth-, seventh- and eighth-grade classes, 84 percent of the eligible students were enrolled in the program. This is one of the highest percentages of student enrollment in Indiana.
The dramatic increase in student participation in the Indiana Twenty-first Century Scholars Program happened as a result of the efforts of school counselor Susanne Siebrase, Boggs said, and the administration and staff of Tippecanoe Valley Middle School to make sure as many eligible students as possible are enrolled in the program.
School board member Mark Wise said he thought more kids were not enrolled in the program because they were not aware of it. Now, Tippecanoe Valley School Corp. is making an effort to make more students aware of it.
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Superintendent Brett Boggs told the school board Monday night he found out about the recognition Friday.
The school has been recognized for its outstanding effort to increase the number of students enrolled in the Indiana Twenty-first Century Scholars Program.
The Indiana Twenty-first Century Scholars Program was created by the state of Indiana in 1990 to eliminate the financial barrier to college and encourage students to stay in school, work hard academically, graduate high school, and take the steps necessary to get to and through college. It has become one of Indiana's most successful dropout prevention strategies.[[In-content Ad]]The Indiana Twenty-first Century Scholars Program is for students in grades sixth through eighth who qualify for free or reduced meals, are United States citizens and fulfill program requirements. Indiana Twenty-first Century Scholars are guaranteed the cost of up to four years of undergraduate college tuition to attend an eligible Indiana public or private college, university or proprietary institution. The program also provides support so the student, his or her parents or guardians and the student's school can work together to help the student be successful as he or she continues their education.
"There isn't anything better we could do for kids than this," said Boggs. "It will give kids the opportunity to go to college they might not otherwise have."
To be part of this program a student must agree to the Indiana Twenty-first Century Scholars Pledge. Students must pledge to graduate with an Indiana high school diploma from an Indiana school recognized by the Indiana Department of Education; achieve a cumulative high school grade point average of at least 2.0 on a 4.0 scale; not use illegal drugs or alcohol, or commit a crime; apply for admission to an eligible Indiana college, university or proprietary institution as a high school senior; and apply on time for state and federal financial aid.
The 2010 senior class of Tippecanoe Valley High School had only eight students enrolled in the Indiana Twenty-first Century Scholars program, seven of whom met the program requirements and were awarded a scholarship.
This year's senior class has 13 eligible students, followed by 30 in the junior class, 24 in the sophomore class, 55 in the freshman class, 72 in the eighth-grade class and 50 in the seventh-grade class.
In last year's sixth-, seventh- and eighth-grade classes, 84 percent of the eligible students were enrolled in the program. This is one of the highest percentages of student enrollment in Indiana.
The dramatic increase in student participation in the Indiana Twenty-first Century Scholars Program happened as a result of the efforts of school counselor Susanne Siebrase, Boggs said, and the administration and staff of Tippecanoe Valley Middle School to make sure as many eligible students as possible are enrolled in the program.
School board member Mark Wise said he thought more kids were not enrolled in the program because they were not aware of it. Now, Tippecanoe Valley School Corp. is making an effort to make more students aware of it.
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