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.