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ACROSS SESSIONS
- Subject Index: Since 1995
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Developed and maintained by the Division of Legislative Automated Systems.
1995 SESSION
LD0278312Patrons--Christian, Crittenden, Cunningham, Jones, D.C., Jones, J.C., Melvin, Robinson and Spruill; Senators: Lucas, Maxwell and Miller, Y.B.
WHEREAS, although there has been a slight decrease in overall high school completion rates for all students aged 18-24 years old, African Americans (75.1%) continue to complete high school at lower rates than their white counterparts (81.7%); and
WHEREAS, while African Americans have realized some improvements in their college participation rate since 1985, white students are much more likely ((34.1%) to be enrolled in college than are African Americans (23.6%) aged 18-24 years old; and
WHEREAS, African Americans, due to family finances and poor pre-college preparation, frequently fail to persist through post-secondary education degree attainment so that African Americans receive just under six percent of all baccalaureate degrees, less than five percent of all master’s degrees and less than five percent of all first professional degrees awarded in 1990; and
WHEREAS, there are compelling reasons for the under-representation of African Americans in higher education, including the disproportionate representation of African American families among all families below the federal poverty line; and
WHEREAS, there are gaps in information about college opportunities and student financial assistance among African American middle and high school students, and among the excessive numbers of African American males (age 18-24) in prison, on parole or on probation; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly recognize the importance of broad access to higher education for students from all income levels and urge this state to take an aggressive and prominent role in guaranteeing full access to higher education for students of all income levels through effective financial aid support.