Legislation could help
students REACH for stars

By Diane Prokop
Times Staff Writer

State Rep. Tony Payton (D-179th dist.) shared the Frankford High School stage with House Speaker Dennis O’Brien (R-169th dist.) on Friday to announce their sponsorship of legislation that would enable high school students to qualify for a free college education.
"Only eighteen percent of Philadelphians have a college degree," Payton said.
"This is one spoke in the wheel to help turn the tide."
The lawmakers’ proposal, House Bill 1722, would create a program called Reliable Educational Assistance for College Hopefuls (REACH), a statewide, merit-based scholarship initiative that would provide all students in Pennsylvania who maintain a 3.0 grade-point average and 90 percent attendance with a scholarship — covering all tuition and fees — to a state university in Pennsylvania.
"It’s real simple . . . you get into college for free," Payton said.
The eligibility formula also would require high school students to be three-year residents of Pennsylvania before graduation; have a satisfactory disciplinary record; apply for all state and federal financial aid; and attend an accredited two- or four-year Pennsylvania college.
Students’ academic averages and attendance figures are compiled during their sophomore, junior and senior years. SAT scores typically would not be calculated in the REACH formula.
The exception would occur if a student who attends what is regarded as a difficult high school has achieved 90 percent attendance but falls short of a 3.0 average. If that student scores within the top 15 percent of students taking the SAT, the youngster will be eligible for the REACH scholarship.
Payton noted that he took the concept from Brendan Boyle, a Far Northeast resident who touted the idea during an unsuccessful run for the state legislature.
The program actually is modeled after Georgia’s Hope Scholarship, which has existed since 1993 and has afforded college educations to almost 800,000 students.
Similar scholarship programs operate in Florida, New Mexico and West Virginia.
Locally, the program — with an estimated annual cost of $350 million — would be administered by the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency.
After getting input from area principals, Payton took Georgia’s requirement of 80 percent attendance and increased it to 90 percent for the Pennsylvania bill.
O’Brien, meanwhile, is similarly sold on the merits of the proposal that he and Payton are backing.
"It makes sense," O’Brien said of the educational incentives. "It makes you wonder why something so profound wasn’t done a long time ago."
The bill’s proponents insist that the scholarship program would help build a strong economy by keeping the best and the brightest here in Pennsylvania, rather than have them leave the state for an education and possibly settle in that region.
"We’re looking at something that’s not pie in the sky. It’s about time we do it here," O’Brien said.
State Rep. James Roebuck (D-188th dist.), chairman of the House Education Committee, also attended last week’s ceremony to lend his support.
"Our job is to make sure it becomes a reality," he said. ••
Reporter Diane Prokop can be reached at 215-354-3036 or dprokop@phillynews.com