Pubdate: Tue, 18 Apr 2006 Source: Watertown Daily Times (NY) Copyright: 2006 Watertown Daily Times Contact: http://www.wdt.net Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/792 Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?219 (Students for Sensible Drug Policy) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/opinion.htm (Opinion) COLLEGE AID Repeal Punitive Drug Policy Federal education policy has denied nearly 200,000 college-bound students federal financial aid because they had prior drug convictions. The Clinton-era law that went unenforced until President Bush took office requires students to acknowledge whether they have ever been convicted of possession or selling illegal drugs. Students are asked on their college-aid application about drug convictions. They can be declared ineligible for at least a year for a single count of possession with penalties increasing to indefinite disqualification for more than one conviction. Students For Sensible Drug Policy analyzed U.S. Education Department data to find that 189,000 applications had been refused federal aid since the question was added to application forms in the 2000-01 school year. tHe numbers are a very small percentage of the millions of students that have applied and obtained federal aid over the years. But release of the report renews questions about the wisdom of a policy that can prevent men and women from obtaining a college education for a single mistake made in their youth. Federal aid to pay for soaring college expenses can decide whether some applicants, especially the poor, will attend college - an avenue to better their lives and maybe those of their families. The policy imposes a civil penalty on top of the criminal fines or even prison sentences already served for their crime without evidence that it is a deterrent. Although a student can regain eligibility by completing a rehabilitation program with random drug test, that is an unnecessary cost for what can be a minor offence. College officials and many organizations want the provision repealed. It is time for Congress to do that. - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin