Pubdate: Thu, 29 Sep 2005
Source: Daily Texan (U of TX at Austin, Edu)
Copyright: 2005 Daily Texan
Contact:  http://www.dailytexanonline.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/115
Author: Ashley Verrill
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

US TX: EDU: AID DENIED FOR PAST DRUG OFFENDERS

Aid denied for past drug offenders Report finds 160,000 students refused 
aid after convictions

More than 160,000 applicants for student aid have been denied since 1998 
because of past drug convictions, according to a report released Tuesday 
which covered the results of the provision made to the Higher Education Act.

Under the amendment introduced by U.S. Rep. Mark Souder, R-In., convicted 
drug offenders, including those with only first offense misdemeanors, are 
barred from receiving select government benefits such as student aid money.

The Coalition for Higher Education Act Reform, an umbrella group of over 
200 organizations, claims that the drug offender provision impedes young 
people who have already been punished for their offenses from attempting to 
enter college because they can't afford it. According to the coalition, 
this conflicts with the original intention of the Higher Education Act, the 
goal of which was to "expand post-secondary education opportunities, 
particularly for low-income individuals."

U.S. Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., introduced the Removing Impediments to 
Students' Education Act to repeal the 1998 provision he believes is 
unnecessary.

"The Department of Education does not need to be creating any needless 
barriers for students. It's a morality-based punishment, and it is barring 
kids that are already at-risk from going to into higher education," said 
Steve Adamske, spokesman for Frank.

Since the RISE Act was introduced in March, it has received support from 67 
co-sponsors and more than 240 national organizations. The 93-page report 
requested by U.S. Reps. Robert C. Scott, D-Va., and Bobby L. Rush, D-Ill., 
also says that it was not clear that the amendment deterred drug use.

"All the provision does is create unnecessary hurdles for students on their 
path to recovery. Kicking kids out of school will not keep them from doing 
drugs, it will only make it worse," said Tom Angell, campaign director of 
advocacy group Students for Sensible Drug Policy.

Representatives from the American Civil Liberties Union contend that the 
amendment steps outside of the boundaries of the Department of Education's 
duties, and that it should not be acting as a drug enforcement agency. ACLU 
also claims the act is discriminatory because it only effects those drug 
offenders who cannot afford to pay for college.

According to statistics released by the Department of Education, 36 percent 
of those who left four-year institutions after their first year did not 
return within five years, and 50 percent of those leaving two-year 
institutions did not return within five years.

The 1998 provision was enacted as a legislated extension to the Drug 
Enforcement Agency's and the Department of Education's zero-tolerance 
program to ensure that children are ensured a safe learning environment by 
eliminating drug use before it begins.
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