Sociology, Higher & Continuing Education, Reform & Policy, Funding, Secondary Education 

While a substantial number of studies have evaluated the effects of merit aid programs, there is a surprising lack of any systematic consideration of how states determine eligibility criteria for these scholarships. The selectivity of merit aid eligibility criteria can be as important as whether or not such programs are adopted. If, for example, merit aid programs have broad, easily-attained initial eligibility criteria, then a large proportion of high school graduates, including low-income and under-represented students, will gain eligibility. On the other hand, if the criteria are more rigorous, then a smaller proportion of students, likely those already planning to attend and with the means to afford college, will be eligible. Thus, this innovative book - the first to deepen the descriptive and conceptual understanding of the process by which states determine merit aid scholarship criteria - is crucial to understanding merit aid's success and failures at fulfilling the promise of education.  

List of Tables
List of Figures
Acknowledgments
Part I: Introduction to the Politics of Merit Aid
Chapter One: Deciding Who Earns Merit Aid: A Comparative Case Study Approach
Chapter Two: Public Policy Frameworks: Advocacy Coalition, Multiple Streams, and Electoral Connection
Part II: Three Episodes of Criteria Determination
Chapter Three: New Mexico Lottery Success Scholarship Program
Chapter Four: West Virginia PROMISE Scholarship Program
Chapter Five: Tennessee HOPE Scholarship Program
Part III: Analysis of and Implications for Education Policy
Chapter Six: Comparative Case Analysis: Between Episodes and Across Frameworks
Chapter Seven: Conclusion: A Revised Model of Merit Aid Policy Formulation
Appendix A: Population of States with Merit-Based Financial Aid Programs
Appendix B: Interview Protocol
Appendix C: Analytic Framework
Notes
Bibliography
Index