| A non-essential form has disqualified at least 300 applicants for Promise scholarships, possibly some from Calhoun and the area.
Promise Director Robert Morgenstern said Promise applicants shouldn't have to fill out the financial background form, because the merit-based scholarship has absolutely no need for such information.
Originally the legislature debated financial requirements, but they were discarded based on actual student performance. Morgenstern said he had fielded complaints from parents about the form.
The student financial form requires one to two hours of work to complete. The Promise "promise" said the application could be completed in under five minutes.
Delegate Larry Williams, D-Preston, vice chairman of the House Education Committee, said legislators
didn't expect so many students to be ruled ineligible for failing to file aid applications.
"It's unfortunate," Williams said. "This program is supposed to make aid available for all who want to
go. I would hope we could get this corrected so maybe these students can qualify in their second year
of college."
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