Brown v. Board scholarship committee reviews fund status, eligibility and appeals after public testimony

Committee staff provided an update on the Brown v. Board of Education scholarship fund, reporting current enrollment, recent spending and the fund balance while members debated eligibility rules for applicants who attend out-of-state institutions.

Scott Kemp, representing committee staff, told members the program enrolled 35 students for the fall semester, including 14 renewals and two students described as directly affected. Staff reported the committee allocated about $182,000 so far this year and that last year the program spent about $230,000. Kemp said the committee’s current fund balance stands at just over $3,091,000 and that the committee also received $500,000 in federal funding that must be spent by 01/03/2028.

Kemp explained the scholarship is limited by statute to tuition and fees (and books as prescribed) and therefore is treated as a last-dollar award that depends on institutions’ financial-aid reporting. "We have to wait until the student has gotten their financial aid packages and ... make sure that we do a last dollar determination," Kemp said, describing why disbursements…