The Tribune expressed concern that it focuses only on the college-bound and penalizes students who are interested in trade or technical education. The editorial lamented that few details were available, but goes on to jump to many conclusions.

Let me set the record straight. The legislation, sponsored by Sen. Lyle Hillyard, R-Logan, will encourage all high school students to complete a rigorous course of study. The scholarships may be used for training and education at Utah's technical and community colleges, as well as for those focused on baccalaureate degrees.

The legislation would create a Regents' Scholarship to provide an incentive for greater preparation, and encourage more participation in post-secondary training and education. Specifically, it would award $1,000 to any student who completes a rigorous curriculum in high school - classes that exceed current graduation requirements - with a specified grade point average.

First-generation college students would receive an additional $1,000. If students have a college savings account with the Utah Educational Savings Plan, their savings will be matched up to $100 per year for four years. If they earn a high grade point average (such as 3.5) and meet ACT test benchmarks, they would also qualify for a scholarship equal to 75 percent of their tuition costs for two years of college.

To suggest this proposal is unfair because it does not include students "getting good grades in a trade-tech curriculum," and because "far too many eighth-graders, especially Latino, Native American, black and Pacific Islander students will not even graduate from high school, let alone be able to complete" this rigorous schedule demonstrates exactly why the program is needed.

Let's not condemn so many of our students to a substandard future by communicating to them low expectations, thus steering them into low-rigor course work and low-paying jobs.

Keep in mind, at least 15 states have recently adopted more rigorous high school graduation requirements resulting in higher graduation and college participation rates among ethnic and economic groups.

As The Tribune points out, many efforts are needed to improve high school graduation rates. While this bill does not begin to address everything that should be done, it merits support as at least one significant effort to encourage students of all races and backgrounds to realize that college is a possibility.

Now with more details in hand, hopefully the public and The Tribune will see the merit of this effort.

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* DAVID L. BUHLER is the interim commissioner of higher education for Utah.