Q&A: Governor’s Performance Scholarship

Q: What must high school students do to meet the requirements of the GPS program?

A: To qualify, students will be required to meet GPA requirements and pass a rigorous high school curriculum, which may include:

Four years of math
Four years of science
Four years of language arts
Three years of social studies

Q: Is the GPS needs-based?

A: No. The award will be based on merit. The higher grade-point average a student achieves, the higher his or her scholarship will be. (See next question)

Q: Will students with a higher GPA earn a higher scholarship?

A: Yes. Students who earn a 2.5 GPA or higher in high school will qualify for a 50 percent tuition scholarship. A 3.0 GPA or higher will earn a scholarship equal to 75 percent of tuition. And students who earn a 3.5 GPA or higher will qualify for a scholarship equal to 100 percent of tuition. (Tuition amounts will be benchmarked against the current University of Alaska in-state tuition amounts. More details to come.)

Q: Can the scholarship be used for vocational education?

A: Yes.

Q: Will students be able to attend outside institutions using the GPS?

A: No. The GPS will be awarded only to students who attend accredited, Alaska post-secondary institutions, including colleges, universities, and job-training programs.

Q: Where did the idea for GPS come from?

A: The idea originated with the late Patrick Taylor, a businessman from Louisiana who personally challenged a handful of young people to greater educational achievement – and paid their way to post-secondary education. Mr. Taylor’s vision took root in Louisiana’s merit scholarship program and later spread to 21 other states. One of these is Wyoming’s Hathaway Plan, which the Governor’s Performance Scholarship is patterned after.

Graduating Students

Q: How will this program be paid for?

A: Alaska has about $8 billion in savings between the Constitutional Budget Reserve Fund and the Statutory Budget Reserve Fund. Governor Parnell is calling on the Legislature to set aside five percent ($400 million) of these State dollars in savings. The interest and earnings from that money will pay for the scholarships.

Q: Is this program costing the State $400 million?

A: No. The $400 million will not be spent. It will be used to produce earnings that fund the scholarships. Years from now, Alaska will still have the $400 million in the bank, plus we’ll have a better trained and prepared Alaska workforce.

Q: What is the goal of the Governor’s Performance Scholarship?

A: The GPS will accomplish many goals. These include:

Improved high school graduation rates
Increased parental involvement
Higher college entrance exam scores
Help to make college and job training affordable
Position Alaska’s economy for growth with a better prepared workforce
Help to keep our best, brightest students in Alaska after college.
More opportunities for job training
Fewer remedial classes needed in college
More students completing their post-secondary degree in a timely manner

Q: Why is the Governor’s Performance Scholarship important to Alaska?

A: Alaska employers are crying out for highly qualified and better educated workers. We are losing many of our young people to opportunities in the Lower 48 and abroad; and Alaskans need jobs. The GPS program addresses all these issues. This scholarship will promote economic growth and opportunity for Alaska's families.

Governor Parnell will be releasing more details about the GPS program in the coming weeks. He has pledged to work closely with the Legislature to make this program a reality. For more information, please bookmark the governor’s web site, www.gov.state.ak.us, or subscribe to the Governor’s Report e-newsletter by clicking here.