REACH Scholarship Program

State Representative Brendan Boyle
Philadelphia, PA

Target Level of Government:     State
Policy Category:         Education

Synopsis: The philosophy of Reliable Educational Assistance for College Hopefuls (REACH) is to provide financial support to every exceptional high school student living in the Pennsylvania. We believe that all responsible students who exhibit a passion for learning in high school should be afforded an opportunity to continue their intellectual development at one of the institutions of higher learning within our Commonwealth. The REACH Scholarship will provide a full scholarship, covering tuition and fees, to all high school students, regardless of economic background, gender, race, and/or religious affiliation. Every public, private, and parochial school student who meets the base criteria would be eligible for the REACH Scholarship. Studies on similar initiatives implemented in other states, such as the HOPE Scholarship in Georgia, have shown significant improvements in both the states’ secondary and higher education systems.

The REACH Scholarship is not a giveaway program. It is an investment in the state’s future. Pennsylvania currently has one of the most expensive state school systems in the United States. This has resulted in the troublesome phenomenon commonly referred to as the “brain drain,” where students seek higher education outside of the Commonwealth. Furthermore, Pennsylvania also has the fastest growing population of elderly citizens in the United States. This statistic is distressing when compared to the anaemic population growth of 18 to 44 year olds in Pennsylvania. Unless something is done to address the “brain drain,” the citizens of
Pennsylvania will be met with a daunting burden as taxpayers, similar to the projected social security crisis the nation will face. By giving Pennsylvania’s best and brightest an incentive to stay within the Commonwealth both during and after college, REACH will create a stronger tax base of young professionals, encourage economic growth, and combat the population crisis that threatens Pennsylvania’s economic future.

Resources:
Link to Legislation