BengalNews Reporters
The stress of figuring out how to
pay for college can become an expensive burden for high school students and
parents.
According to the National Center for
Education Statistics website for 2010-2011, the average cost of attendance for
first and full time students living on campus and paying in-state tuition was
$20,000 at a four year public institution. It was $39,800 at a private non-profit
four year institution.
The City of Buffalo has implemented
a program called Say Yes to Education Buffalo in hopes to alleviate and reduce
financial stresses for students wanting to further their education after high
school.
According to the Say Yes to
Education Buffalo website, Buffalo is the second chapter along with Syracuse to
cover an entire school district.
The program has recently been
launched in numerous schools across Buffalo. Support for students can start as
early as kindergarten and continue throughout high school and college.
Naomi Cerre, principal of P.S. 204
Lafayette High School at 370 Lafayette Ave., said that it is a great
opportunity for students who wouldn’t or thought that they didn’t have a chance
to attend college.
“Say Yes offers an opportunity for
our Buffalo students to see themselves as college students and to see that they
can have a journey to college, and really survive without the stress of
finances,” Cerre said.
Students
and parents have also shown enthusiasm for the program through a grand kick-off
celebration held by Lafayette High School two weeks ago. The school held a
reception for parents and students with a representative from Say Yes Buffalo
to answer questions about the college process.
Principal Naomi Cerre on how Say Yes gives students
hope to have a future without worrying about tuition costs:
Say Yes Buffalo has also created schoalrships and grants pertaining to specific colleges around the Buffalo area. Students must meet specific criteria
to become eligible for aid.
One of the grants, called the
Private College Grant, has a number of participating colleges such as
D’Youville College. Participating colleges have agreed to cover any tuition
besides what is covered through Pell and Tap grants for Say Yes scholars that
have a family income of $75,000 or less.
Students must also complete grades 9-12 at a Buffalo public or charter
school to be eligible.
The grant will also provide up to $5,000
per year based on other financial awards received and the cost of full time
tuition.
The Say Yes Buffalo Tuition
Scholarship covers only tuition fees. It is determined by how long a student
has been attending a Buffalo public or charter school. If you begin from
kindergarten, 100 percent of your tuition will be covered, and decreasing in
percent from which grade you start off in with the Say Yes Buffalo program.
While the program is free, students
must be aware that they still need to achieve high standards when it comes to
academics.
“Kids can’t just assume that I just
can’t do the work,” said Cerre. “They have to do the work and meet criteria, requirements,
and expectations.” Edited by Shari Ingles
