A little-known state program that assists lower-income students with college scholarships is ending its five-year pilot and is poised for permanent expansion. SOAR Virginia is an early commitment scholarship program created by the Virginia 529 College Savings Plan. Its goal is to inspire high school students and help them pursue higher education.
To qualify, students must be eligible for the national school lunch program. They pledge to meet SOAR program criteria, including a 2.5 grade point average and meeting with advisers. Virginia529 CEO Mary Morris says her agency commits to scholarship dollars for each student.
“And at the end of each year, while they’re in high school, we fund a small scholarship for them, which they can see-they can use that as something to inspire them.”
Senate Finance Committee Co-Chair Walter Stosch says the agency’s resources are limited, so the program could be expanded with a budget appropriation.
“If you can put aside a small sum of money-and I’m very familiar with this program-in a young person’s savings account, 529 account, ‘it’s my account,’ it does have a huge impact on them staying in school. So this has not only the pleasant benefit of allowing them to have an opportunity for a post-secondary education, but it also helps prevent high school drop-out.”
The program has grown from 103 students in five schools to more than 1400 students in 57 schools last year.