What's happening
This bill establishes the Barbara Clark Leaders of Tomorrow Scholarship for New York high school graduates demonstrating academic achievement, extracurricular participation, and community service.
Why it matters
Targets well-rounded students. The scholarship not only rewards strong academics (minimum B-average/3.0 GPA) but also requires evidence of extracurricular involvement and community service, encouraging holistic student development.
Promotes retention and accountability in college. Recipients must maintain full-time status, good academic standing, and a 3.0 GPA to continue receiving funds, with defined processes for loss and restoration of eligibility, incentivizing ongoing achievement.
Offers equitable selection and support. Each participating New York high school, public or private, can nominate one senior, and if multiple students qualify, financial need may be considered, ensuring both merit and need are addressed.
Uses lottery funds for educational investment. The scholarship is funded through the state lottery, directing gambling revenues to tangible support for higher education, and providing predictable, renewable awards ($1,250/year, up to $5,000 total) to help offset college costs.
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Who cares
New York high school seniors
One eligible senior from each participating public and private high school would receive a $5,000 scholarship, paid at $1,250 per year, for study at an approved New York post-secondary institution.
Public and private high schools
Participating schools would have one scholarship recipient each, with financial need permitted as a deciding factor when multiple seniors qualify.
New York colleges and other approved post-secondary institutions
Institutions would have responsibilities for academic-standing waivers, including documenting hardship waivers and publishing criteria for waivers tied to restoring eligibility.
New York State Lottery
The bill would require all scholarship funds to be distributed by the lottery.
Headline styles
Create Student Scholarship Program
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to higher education
- Referred to higher education
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
5668
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
April 24, 2017
Introduced by Sen. HAMILTON -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Higher Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to establishing the Barbara Clark leaders of tomorrow scholarship
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The education law is amended by adding a new section 669-i to read as follows:
§ 669-i. The Barbara Clark leaders of tomorrow scholarship. 1. Definitions. The following terms shall have the following meanings:
a. "Good academic standing" shall be comprised of two necessary components: pursuit of program and satisfactory academic progress;
b. "Pursuit of program" shall mean earning a passing or failing letter grade on a sliding scale in a certain percentage of full-time minimum course load, such sliding scale shall exist as follows:
(i) fifty percent for the first academic year;
(ii) seventy-five percent for the second academic year; and
(iii) one hundred percent for the third and fourth academic years; and
c. "Satisfactory academic progress" shall mean earning and maintaining at least a B-average (3.0 or higher on a 4.0 grading scale) in the minimum number of semester hours required per year.
2. Purpose. The Barbara Clark leaders of tomorrow scholarship is hereby established for the purpose of granting scholarship awards to New York state high school graduates who have demonstrated a strong academic ability, participated in extracurricular activities, and displayed a commitment to community service.
3. Eligibility. Scholarships shall be awarded to one eligible senior from each participating public and private high school in New York state. a. To be eligible for such award, an applicant must:
(i) be a resident of New York state;
(ii) have graduated from a New York state high school in June of the academic year for which the scholarship is awarded;
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD06619-02-7
S. 5668 2
(iii) begin study at an approved post-secondary institution in New York state in the academic year for which such scholarship is initially awarded;
(iv) maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher;
(v) be enrolled as a full-time student taking twelve or more credits per semester;
(vi) be matriculated in an approved program of study and be in good academic standing; and
(vii) not be in default on a student loan guaranteed by the New York state higher education services corporation.
b. If two or more seniors from a participating school qualify under paragraph a of this subdivision, financial need may be considered to make a final determination.
4. Maintaining eligibility. Eligible students must maintain good academic standing, students who fail to maintain such standing will cease to be eligible for payment until they are restored to good academic standing by raising their grade point average to the required minimum B-average or requested and obtained a B-average waiver.
5. Waiver. a. An eligible student may request and obtain a waiver for their failure to maintain the required cumulative B-average as a result of undue hardship, based on:
(i) the death of a student's relative;
(ii) the student's personal illness or injury; or
(iii) other extenuating circumstances.
b. Such waiver must be documented and must relate to the circumstances that have affected the student's ability to achieve a cumulative B-average as of the end of a particular semester or term.
c. Such waiver may be granted more than once if circumstances warrant.
d. Schools must maintain documentation of why waivers are granted but do not have to report the waiver in the certification process.
6. Loss/reinstatement of good academic standing. a. Students who lose good academic standing in a semester or term when they received this scholarship are not eligible for such scholarship for the next term.
b. Such good academic standing may be restored in one of the following ways:
(i) make up past deficiencies by completing one or more terms or semesters of study without receiving any state grants or scholarships;
(ii) be readmitted to school after an absence of at least one year; or
(iii) transfer to another qualified institution.
c. Additionally, students have one opportunity to obtain a waiver from the department for extenuating circumstances. The student's institution is required to publish and adhere to criteria, set forth by the institution, under which it will grant the waiver. Before granting such waiver, institutional personnel shall discuss the decision with the student. Such waiver is not automatic and must be done in accordance with the institutions published criteria. In order to then be eligible for the scholarship under this section, the student must successfully raise their grade point average to the required B-average minimum.
7. Payment. Recipients shall receive a five thousand dollar scholarship to be distributed in the amount of one thousand two hundred fifty dollars per year.
8. Source of funds. All funds for this scholarship shall be distributed by the New York state lottery established under article thirty-four of the tax law.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after it shall have become a law.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the education law, in relation to establishing the Barbara Clark leaders of tomorrow scholarship
Purpose or general idea of bill
To ensure that lottery revenue is funding higher education at a rate that keeps pace with the growing revenue.
Summary of specific provisions
Section 1 requires the funding and establishment of the New York State Leaders of Tomorrow Scholarship. The section continues to outline the meanings of "good academic standing", "Pursuit of program", and "Satisfactory Academic Progress" (3.0 or higher grade point average on a 4.o grading scale). If two or more students qualify for the award financial need may be considered to make a final decision.
Section 2 explains the purpose of granting New York State high school graduates scholarship awards.
Section 3 determines the eligibility for the award. There are two different categories: a legal resident of New York State and have graduated from a New York state high school in June of academic year for which the scholarship is awarded.
Justification
With the growing cost of student debt averaging at $25,000 reflecting the growing cost of higher education, we can see that our high school graduates are in need of financial assistance. Today more than ever it is vital to minimize the cost of education, so that tomorrow's New York State workforce are using their hard earned dollars to participate in the economy, as opposed to paying back large amounts of student debt.
Originally the New York State Lottery was established in order to fund our state's education. As reflected in the New York State Gaming Commission's lottery division year-end reviewed for Fiscal Year 2014-2015, we can see that as sales and net wins increase the amount of school aid does not increase at a proportional rate. This distribution of lottery funds in unacceptable for several reason (1) the purpose of the lottery fund is first and primarily to fund education, not to promote gambling (2) our New York State higher education students need funding.
Prior legislative history
2016- A9213 - Died in Higher Education Committee
Fiscal implications
To be determined
Effective date
The act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.