1st Edition

Merit Aid and the Politics of Education

By Erik C. Ness Copyright 2008
198 Pages
by Routledge

206 Pages
by Routledge

206 Pages
by Routledge

While a substantial number of studies have evaluated the effects of merit aid programs, there is a surprising lack of any systematic consideration of how states determine eligibility criteria for these scholarships. The selectivity of merit aid eligibility criteria can be as important as whether or not such programs are adopted. If, for example, merit aid programs have broad, easily-attained... Read more

Part 1: Introduction to the Politics of Merit Aid  1. Deciding Who Earns Merit Aid: A Comparative Case Study Approach  2. Public Policy Frameworks: Advocacy Coalition, Multiple Streams, and Electoral Connection  Part 2: Three Episodes of Criteria Determination  3. New Mexico Lottery Success Scholarship Program  4. West Virginia PROMISE Scholarship Program  5. Tennessee HOPE Scholarship Program  Part 3: Analysis of and Implications for Education Policy  6. Comparative Case Analysis: Between Episodes and Across Frameworks  7. Conclusion: A Revised Model of Merit Aid Policy Formulation.  Appendix A: Population of States with Merit-Based Financial Aid Programs.  Appendix B: Interview Protocol.  Appendix C: Analytic Framework

Biography

Erik Ness is Assistant Professor in the Department of Administrative and Policy Studies at the University of Pittsburgh.

"Merit Aid and the Politics of Education is a timely and relevant contribution to the study of state financial aid policy and higher education governance." -- Nick Hillman, The Review of Higher Education, Fall 2008