06-R 174

2006 -- S 2982

Enacted 03/30/06

S E N A T E R E S O L U T I O N

URGING PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING IN RHODE ISLAND TO COMPREHENSIVELY REVIEW MERIT BASED ASSISTANCE RELATED TO THE SCHOLASTIC ACHIEVEMENT TEST SCORES

Introduced By: Senator Elizabeth H. Roberts

Date Introduced: March 30, 2006

     WHEREAS, Both the University of Rhode Island's Centennial Scholarship Program and

Rhode Island College's President Scholarships provide merit-based financial aid to students with

eligibility guidelines tied directly to Scholastic Achievement Test scores; and

     WHEREAS, The College Bound Fund Academic Promise Scholarship, administered by

the Rhode Island Higher Education Assistance Authority, uses the Scholastic Achievement Test

scores as part of its selection formula; and

     WHEREAS, Over 4,400 errors were detected in the scoring of the Scholastic

Achievement Tests of students throughout the United States; and

     WHEREAS, All reasonable measures must be taken to ensure that any competitive

system of awarding financial aid, being the determining factor in the ability of many students to

achieve their educational goals is, above all, fair and equitable; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations

hereby recognizes the need to conduct a comprehensive reexamination of the test scores of merit-

based aid applicants; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That this Senate hereby respectfully requests the University of Rhode

Island, Rhode Island College, and the Rhode Island Higher Education Assistance Authority to

review any errors reported by the College Board, the non-profit entity which administers the

Scholastic Achievement Test, and correct errors that would be detrimental to the merit-based aid

students need to meet their educational goals; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and he hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit duly certified copies of the his resolution to President Robert Carothers, University of

Rhode Island, President John Nazarian, Rhode Island College and Mr. William Hurry, Executive

Director, Rhode Island Higher Education Assistance Authority.

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LC02909

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