Speaker Glenn Cummings (D-Portland) - College application should be requirement for graduation

[ticapnews]

http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/news/statehouse/070309collegebill.html

AUGUSTA - Taking a cue from a Maine high school, a Maine legislative leader is proposing a law requiring graduating high school seniors to complete at least one college application before obtaining their diplomas. Maine is considering doing as a state what individual schools are already doing in several other states. House Speaker Glenn Cummings' bill was a response to figures showing that Maine falls nearly 7 percent below the average rate of New England students who attain college degrees.

Cummings, D-Portland, said that even though Maine has boosted the rate of residents holding at least an associate's degree by more than 3 percent during the last six years, more needs to be done.

"By requiring students to complete a college application, we are really asking them to stop and take the time to think about college," the speaker said. His bill, which was not yet scheduled for a public hearing, says that in order to receive a diploma, a secondary school student would have to complete at least one application to a college, university or other post-secondary educational institution.

Cummings got the idea from Poland Regional High School. Before the southern Maine school started requiring students to complete college applications, only about 35 percent of its graduates went to college. That number has more than doubled, said Cummings.

From Bill Nemitz' column

It has been happening for five years at Poland Regional. Here, they weave the college application into the curriculum -- from briefings during students' daily "round tables" with faculty advisers to the college essay written in English class.

"We try very hard to honor all of the different opportunities kids have after high school," said Erin Connor, the school's dean of faculty. "And this is a way to start that conversation."

It's not always easy. Some parents chafe at seeing their kids' heads filled with thoughts of college, although many soften when they learn that an application to a cosmetology or automotive school is just as acceptable as one to Colby, Bates or Bowdoin.

And for households where money is tight, there's this carrot: Thanks to a Great Maine Schools grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, each of Poland Regional's 110 seniors gets $20 to put toward a college application fee.

More at the links.

85% of graduates at Poland go to college.
53% of all Maine graduates go to college.

[MountainLaurel]

1. I read this in the paper

And am not sure what to make of it. Do they just have to complete the applications, or do they have to send them, along with the application fees required? (I do see that there is some financial support.) Although what is the point if the student won't be able to afford college anyway? It seems a little evil to dangle the idea of college in front of a student who may not be able to actually attend.