Colorado OKs college vouchers

The Associated Press

DENVER -- Gov. Bill Owens signed Colorado's first-in-the-nation college voucher plan into law Monday, calling it a landmark step that will empower thousands of students.

Owens said the vouchers send a message to high schoolers that college is not out of reach and that state money -- up to $2,400 per voucher -- is available to help them.

"Quality education isn't about institutions, it's about the future of our students," he said. "It's a new day for higher education funding in America, and I'm proud to say that it's dawning in Colorado."

Stipends will be available to all Colorado undergraduate students who qualify for in-state tuition.

Every year, the legislature would set the value of the stipend based on the state budget. For fall 2005, the amount is set at $2,400 for students attending a public institution in Colorado, and $1,200 for low-income students attending three private institutions. The money can go to religious schools as long as they are not "pervasively sectarian."

The National Conference of State Legislatures says no other state has attempted a voucher program on such a scale.

But students might not get the full $2,400 this year because of budget problems, state lawmakers have said. They said the amount will have to be cut to $1,600 unless voters ease fiscal restraints embedded in the state Constitution or agree to use millions of dollars Colorado gets from the national settlement with the tobacco industry.

Without one of those steps, higher education and Medicaid will be on the chopping block when lawmakers have to cut an estimated $254 million next year, said Rep. Brad Young.

Owens is considering whether to call a special session for lawmakers to address the fiscal restraints. The Legislature failed to come up with a plan to present to voters this November.

Owens said Colorado has spent about $700 million on higher education each year, giving the money directly to the colleges.

"The institutions will now compete for students because state aid now arrives on campus with the student," he said. "The more students you attract, the better your institution can do."

Opponents of the voucher program complained that giving state funds to private colleges would draw money away from state institutions and could be challenged in court.

Owens and others, however, say vouchers would encourage more students to go to college.

Ryan McMaken, director of the Colorado Student Association, which represents about 60,000 college students, said the program does not put more money into higher education. But he said attaching a dollar figure to each student will make it harder to cut higher education.

"This does put us on a better footing. This is half of the solution, making people aware the money is there," he said.

------

On the Net:

Colorado Commission on Higher Education: http://www.state.co.us/cche(underscore)dir/hecche.html