Subcommittee withholds funds until Next Generation Scholars reports are filed; deadlines set for early December
March 06, 2024 | Education, Business and Administration Subcommittee, Budget and Taxation Committee, SENATE, SENATE, Committees, Legislative, Maryland
This article was created by AI summarizing key points discussed. AI makes mistakes, so for full details and context, please refer to the video of the full meeting. Please report any errors so we can fix them. Report an error »
The Education, Business and Administration Subcommittee voted to withhold portions of state higher-education funding until the Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC) and the Office of Student Financial Assistance submit specified Next Generation Scholars reports by early December.
A committee member explained the reporting requirements, saying the Next Generation Scholars postsecondary outcomes report should "identify the Next Generation Scholars Seniors from the 2022–23 and 2023–24 academic years and the number of Next Generation Scholars Seniors who successfully met all of the eligibility requirements, the number of eligible Next Generation Scholars seniors receiving a guaranteed access award, and the number of seniors who later enrolled in a postsecondary institution of higher education." The subcommittee moved to adopt that action.
In related additional actions adopted from the yellow packet, the subcommittee agreed to withhold $100,000 until MHEC submits an analysis of the impact of credit-completion requirements on financial-aid awards for the 2023–24 academic year, with that report due by December 11. The panel also agreed to withhold $50,000 until MHEC submits a review of the Office of Student Financial Assistance website; that review is due December 1.
Why it matters: The Next Generation Scholars program provides state-supported postsecondary aid to eligible high-school graduates. Lawmakers said the requested data — completion of program requirements, guaranteed access awards, and later enrollment — are necessary to assess the program's reach and whether eligible students are receiving and using the guaranteed-access aid.
What the motions did: The committee adopted additions to DLS recommendations that (1) require specific outcome counts for 2022–23 and 2023–24 cohorts, (2) set a December 1 deadline for the postsecondary outcomes report and the website review, and (3) set a December 11 deadline for the credit-completion impact report. The decisions include explicit withholding conditions for the identified funds until the reports are submitted.
Next steps: The subcommittee recorded the reporting deadlines in the adopted additional actions and moved on to other agenda items; MHEC and the Office of Student Financial Assistance are expected to comply by the stated dates to avoid the funding holds.
A committee member explained the reporting requirements, saying the Next Generation Scholars postsecondary outcomes report should "identify the Next Generation Scholars Seniors from the 2022–23 and 2023–24 academic years and the number of Next Generation Scholars Seniors who successfully met all of the eligibility requirements, the number of eligible Next Generation Scholars seniors receiving a guaranteed access award, and the number of seniors who later enrolled in a postsecondary institution of higher education." The subcommittee moved to adopt that action.
In related additional actions adopted from the yellow packet, the subcommittee agreed to withhold $100,000 until MHEC submits an analysis of the impact of credit-completion requirements on financial-aid awards for the 2023–24 academic year, with that report due by December 11. The panel also agreed to withhold $50,000 until MHEC submits a review of the Office of Student Financial Assistance website; that review is due December 1.
Why it matters: The Next Generation Scholars program provides state-supported postsecondary aid to eligible high-school graduates. Lawmakers said the requested data — completion of program requirements, guaranteed access awards, and later enrollment — are necessary to assess the program's reach and whether eligible students are receiving and using the guaranteed-access aid.
What the motions did: The committee adopted additions to DLS recommendations that (1) require specific outcome counts for 2022–23 and 2023–24 cohorts, (2) set a December 1 deadline for the postsecondary outcomes report and the website review, and (3) set a December 11 deadline for the credit-completion impact report. The decisions include explicit withholding conditions for the identified funds until the reports are submitted.
Next steps: The subcommittee recorded the reporting deadlines in the adopted additional actions and moved on to other agenda items; MHEC and the Office of Student Financial Assistance are expected to comply by the stated dates to avoid the funding holds.
View the Full Meeting & All Its Details
This article offers just a summary. Unlock complete video, transcripts, and insights as a Founder Member.
✓
Watch full, unedited meeting videos
✓
Search every word spoken in unlimited transcripts
✓
AI summaries & real-time alerts (all government levels)
✓
Permanent access to expanding government content
30-day money-back guarantee
