The 21st Century Scholars Program allows more students to access college. Most students who qualify for free and reduced lunch are eligible. Too many students miss this opportunity because they do not enroll.
Students must enroll during their 7th or 8th grade year. The deadline to enroll this year is June 30.
The Indiana Commission of Higher Education leads the program. The program has been available to Hoosier students for 30 years. According to a press release from the commission, “Awareness of the 21st Century Scholars program remains a barrier to increasing participation. Currently, four in 10 high school graduates are financially eligible for the 21st Century Scholars program, but less than half enroll. The Commission is recommending all eligible students in seventh and eighth grade be automatically enrolled in the Scholars program.”
Until updates are made to make the program more easily accessible, teachers and community members need to reach out to 7th & 8th grade students they know to ensure no free money to pay for college is lost because parents failed to enroll their children.
Parents can go to Learn More Indiana to enroll their children.