Maryland’s college-scholarship programs should be redesigned so that more money reaches those students with the greatest financial need, according to a consultant’s study.
In a report to the Maryland Higher Education Commission, Arthur Hauptman, a consultant hired by the state, recommends that the state revamp its main scholarship program--the General State Scholarships--to eliminate the requirement that money go to the brightest students statewide regardless of whether they have the greatest financial need.
The report also recommends that the state abandon its legislative-scholarships program, under which state legislators directly hand out scholarships to constituents.
Newspaper investigations have revealed that some lawmakers give scholarships to relatives or to the children of political party workers.
Commission members reportedly plan to consider the consultant’s study as part of their own examination of the financial-aid system before making recommendations for change.
