college admission – Sandy Rosenberg

An Indictment, Clean Energy, and a Faber Amendment

July 12, 2019 | by delsandy | Uncategorized | No Comments

A criminal indictment is not the usual source for my legislation.

Celebrities creating bogus athletic records for their children headline the college admission scandal.

I used to visit high schools on behalf of Amherst, the college I attended. What did I learn?

Students whose parents have a college degree understand the admission process. On the other hand, students who would be the first in their family to go to college know very little about the schools they should apply to and the financial aid that’s available to them.

In recent weeks, I’ve talked to people who do admission work in public schools.

More discussion is needed before I draft a bill.

Government spending for clean energy will be targeted to “areas burdened by cumulative environmental pollution and other hazards that can lead to negative public health effects” under legislation enacted this year in New York state.

I met with environmental advocates to discuss how to do this in Maryland. They are very interested.

Are there lessons to be learned here from House Bill 268, Welfare to Work – Job Skills Enhancement Program – Green Jobs? I successfully sponsored this legislation in 2009.

234 students are benefiting from the Maryland Technology Internship Program.

I passed this bill with the help of Freeman Hrabowski, President of UMBC, and Governor Hogan funded it.

Interns working for non-profits are not eligible for the program. A bill would change that.

Currently, students must have a 3.0 average to be eligible.

Employers and the staff at UMBC want that to be lowered to 2.5.

I’ll call that the Belushi amendment.

A pleasant surprise from two lobbyists

March 4, 2015 | by delsandy | Sandy's 2015 Legislative Diary | No Comments

I didn’t think the two lobbyists would be pleased.

My legislation to create a college admission outreach program for high-achieving students will have its public hearing tomorrow. http://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2015RS/bills/hb/hb0364F.pdf

High school seniors without a parent who went to college are really behind the eight ball when it comes to applying to the most suitable schools and obtaining financial aid.

I asked that amendments be drafted this morning. One would require the public and private colleges in Maryland to present a joint report next fall on how they will inform students about the outreach program at “all Maryland high schools in which at least 75% of the students are enrolled in the free and reduced lunch program.”

Then I sent this language to two of the lobbyists for these schools.

“I know this is short notice,” I began my email.

I expected they would not want to be required to do this study or to visit so many schools.

I was wrong.

We are “fine with your proposed amendment,” one wrote.

It’s nice to have an idea whose time has come.

College Prep – Then and Now

February 24, 2014 | by delsandy | featured, Sandy's 2014 Legislative Diary | No Comments

I last prepared for the College Boards in 1967.

This afternoon, I prepared with the College Board for a bill hearing on Wednesday.

House Bill 854 would require the State to administer an outreach program informing high-achieving high school students about their college options – in terms of schools and financial aid.

My legislation is modeled on such a mailing by the College Board and the State of Delaware.

“You need to answer two questions in your testimony,” I stressed to College Board officials:

What was the impact of your Delaware mailing or of other similar efforts?

What follow-up is necessary after the mailing?

“First generation college students need the information in the mailing, followed by a professional who combines the data for them,” they related.

Full disclosure: I was admitted to college on the basis of my Board scores and my swimming times.

Early and informed decisions

January 14, 2014 | by delsandy | featured, Sandy's 2014 Legislative Diary | No Comments

When I applied to college, my mother, Smith College ’45, was my guidance counselor.

Today, many students get advice from college admission counselors – if their parents can afford the hefty fees.

But those who are doing well in school but don’t have parents with a college education or the resources to supplement their school guidance counselor are too often unaware of the colleges that meet their skills and needs, as well as the financial assistance that can make that education affordable.

The College Board and the State of Delaware have sent customized college information and application fee waivers to low-income high-achieving students.

The bill I’m drafting would require Maryland to do the same.

It should bring about a healthy discussion of the best way to make our high school seniors aware of their college opportunities.