Attempted-Hours Limit.
A student is ineligible to receive HOPE Scholarship payment once he or she reaches the Attempted-Hours limit of 127 semester or 190 quarter hours.
Students Enrolled in specific Undergraduate Degree programs of study designed to require more than 127 semester or 190 quarter hours of coursework for graduation or First Professional Degree Programs are eligible for HOPE Scholarship payment for a maximum of 127 semester or 190 quarter Attempted-Hours.

First Professional Degree Program.
A student enrolled in a First Professional Degree program may receive HOPE
Scholarship payment until such student has attempted 127 semester or 190
quarter hours.

You’ll notice that the term “first professional degree program” is used in the regulation wording.  It is important to understand the definition of this term:
“First Professional Degree Program” means a non-undergraduate program of
study that: (1) Accepts students after the completion of two or three years of
postsecondary study; (2) Results in the award of a non-undergraduate degree;
and (3) Has been specifically approved by the Commission for inclusion as a
First Professional Degree Program. For the 2012-2013 Award Year, Doctor of
Pharmacy Degree Programs, Masters of Health Science with a major in
Occupational Therapy Programs, Doctor of Chiropractic Degree Programs, and
Doctor of Physical Therapy Programs offered by Eligible Postsecondary
Institutions are approved by the Commission, and therefore considered First
Professional Degree Programs. Regardless of approval by the Commission as a
First Professional Degree Program, no student is eligible to receive HOPE
Scholarship payment once he or she has earned a Baccalaureate Degree of any
type, from any postsecondary institution, at any time.

This is very clear wording with respect to the eligibility of the Hope Scholarship for graduate degree study.  The last sentence clearly states that no student is eligible to receive HOPE Scholarship payment once he or she as earned a bachelors degree of any type, from any institution, at any time.

So, not only is a graduate degree not eligible, but a second bachelors degree is also not eligible, and any coursework beyond the bachelors degree is not eligible.

The post Can Hope Scholarship be Used for Graduate Degree or Graduate School? appeared first on Hope Scholarship.

Included are key points as relating to Georgia’ Hope Scholarship program and findings…

“The first such program was the Georgia Hope Scholarship Program, which initially awarded students with full tuition to Georgia public institutions if they met certain high school GPA requirements. Fourteen other states have enacted similar policies since 1993, offering tuition discounts based on academic credentials (Orsuwan & Heck, 2009).
More recent state merit based scholarship programs enacted since the Georgia Hope Scholarship Program varied in funding source, award criteria, and award amount. While most state programs were funded through lottery revenues, other states utilized one time litigation settlement agreements to fund scholarship programs (Orsuwan & Heck, 2009). Furthermore, each state had distinct criteria regarding award criteria: GPA, SAT, ACT, class rank, state tests, or any combination of these account for the measures used to allocate awards. The award amounts were just as varied as the award criteria: full tuition and fees for four years or a one-time award of $1,000 were two extremes. Regardless of the funding source, criteria, and award amount, prior research depicted the influence of state merit based scholarship programs on students’ enrollment within their home state for higher education (Orsuwan & Heck, 2009).
The objective to retain residents in their home state for college was the short-term objective of state merit based aid programs. The long-term goal of some the state merit based aid policy initiative was to keep college graduates in state. Given a state’s investment, retaining its college graduates was critical to a state’s economic development. Strathman (2004) found that college graduates leaving their state upon graduation negatively impacted state appropriations for higher education. Further, social benefits associated with college graduates—lower unemployment, higher tax revenues, and voter participation—were often cited as valuable assets for states (Baum & Ma, 2007). Recent findings indicated that students receiving state merit based scholarships were 74% more inclined to leave that state upon college graduation (Ishitani, 2011). This troubling finding suggested that state merit based scholarship programs, regardless of their influence on high school student migration, may lead to unintended consequences such as outmigration of college graduates. Although this study will focus on migration of high school graduates, understanding students’ mobility post-college is an aspect that cannot be ignored and is a subject requiring additional research.
Purpose of the Study
Previous research delved into various issues related to student migration following high school. In many instances, studies conducted extensive state level analysis aiming to address how specific policies at a single state affect student enrollment patterns. For example, Groen (2003) studied migration effects in Georgia given the goals of the Hope Scholarship Program. However, he primarily focuses on migration of Georgia Hope recipients once graduating from college. In addition, Hickman (2009) aimed to study how Florida’s Bright Futures Program related to student migration out of state. These studies were valuable at the state level, and they have indicated a need for a national study of state merit based scholarship programs. Orsuwan & Heck (2009) recently studied how state scholarship dollars and pre-paid tuition plans affected migration.”

“The findings of our research demonstrate the presence of state merit based scholarship
programs influencing residents to stay in their home state for higher education. This finding only partially affirms what policy makers intended to influence with the enactment of programs such as the Georgia Hope Scholarship (Zhang & Ness, 2010).”

“Our study also poses some interesting questions for how policy makers interpret research findings on tuition pricing and outmigration. Given the insignificant findings of tuition prices at two- and four-year public institutions, further research is needed to more acutely measure tuition net-price, which accounts for tuition less any financial aid. Our study urges future policy makers to address the notion of net-price of tuition by creating better national data collection on the net-price, which would improve research examining student migration patterns. The recent National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) initiative to collect more robust data on institutional net-price has potential to more accurately derive metrics of tuition net-price for future research.
Another consideration for policy is that our results illustrate that state appropriations have influence in decreasing outmigration. Our research shows that as state appropriations increased, out-of-state migration decreased. This result is important to consider for state legislators as they reflect on the future of state merit based scholarship programs. Additionally, assessing the effectiveness of these programs is important during turbulent budget years, as many costly programs are discontinued or phased out.”

The post Merit based scholarships and student migration appeared first on Hope Scholarship.

The data is reported by the “State Higher Education Finance” report which was released by the nonprofit association of higher education chief executive officers.

The  calculations are based on “net” tuition which takes into account both the tuition and fees that students pay and also how much state aid adjusts those costs through programs such as Georgia’s HOPE Scholarship program. The amounts were adjusted for inflation, with all dollars expressed in constant 2013 values.

However, although Georgia students pay a lot more in tuition than they did five years ago, the average tuition paid by a full-time Georgia student, is just under $1000 less than the national average with Georgia at $4,484 with the U.S. average at $5,445, the report notes.

During this time period of increased tuition and fees, Georgia was also reducing the award amounts funded through the Hope Scholarship Program.  Based on GSFC (Georgia Student Finance Commission) numbers,  the HOPE Scholarship and HOPE Grant declined from a peak of $748 million in the 2010-11 school year to about $526 million for the current year.

With new rigor requirements, GPA levels (Zell Miller Scholarship), and other changes, Georgia State lawmakers also cut the number of students getting the awards as well as the value of the scholarships. For example, approximately 256,000 students received HOPE aid in 2010-11, but only approximately 198,000 received it this year.

There is some speculation that the HOPE Scholarship may have actually helped catalyze the steep rise in tuition costs, said state Rep. Spencer Frye.

Initially, HOPE covered the full costs of tuition and fees, so when the state Board of Regents hiked tuition, the dollar amount of HOPE scholarships increased in consort to compensate.  With the cost reductions in the Hope program, that is no longer the case.

Looking more closely at Georgia’s state research universities, the increase is more dramatic: in 2002-2003, University of Georgia undergrad tuition and fees were $3,616 per year. This year, it was $10,262 — not adjusted for inflation — according to state Board of Regents statistics; next year the tuition rate increases $560.

The State Board of Regents approved a 7 percent tuition increase for UGA. Georgia Tech students will see an increase of  9 percent more next year, but at most state schools the increase is a more modest 2.5 percent.

Now that the Hope Scholarship has gone through the cost reduction process, perhaps Georgia’s state universities should as well.  Perhaps, in the next five years, Georgia can come strive for best in class for lowest tuition and fees increases.

The post Georgia Second Highest Tuition Increase in Country appeared first on Hope Scholarship.

2010 Georgia Code
TITLE 20 – EDUCATION
CHAPTER 3 – POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION
ARTICLE 7 – SCHOLARSHIPS, LOANS, AND GRANTS
PART 7 – HOPE SCHOLARSHIPS AND GRANTS
§ 20-3-519 – Definitions

O.C.G.A. 20-3-519 (2010)
20-3-519. Definitions

As used in this part, the term:

(1) “Academic year” means a period of time, typically nine months, in which a full-time student is expected to complete the equivalent of at least two semesters’ or three quarters’ academic work.

(2) “Advanced degree” means a master’s degree, specialist’s degree, or doctorate in education conferred by an approved postsecondary institution upon completion of a unified program of study at the graduate level.

(3) “Approved teacher education program” means a program offered by a public or private postsecondary institution which program has been approved by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission.

(4) “Certificate” or “diploma” means a credential, other than a degree, indicating satisfactory completion of training in a program of study offered by an eligible public postsecondary institution.

(5) “Critical shortage field” means an area of study or an area of specialized expertise for which a shortage of qualified teachers or educators exists in Georgia, designated as such by the Georgia Student Finance Commission.

(5.1) “Dual credit enrollment” means enrollment by a student in a postsecondary course in which an agreement has been established between an eligible high school and an eligible postsecondary institution wherein the student earns Carnegie units of credit that count toward both high school graduation requirements and postsecondary coursework requirements.

(6) “Eligible high school,” until December 31, 2010, means a public or private secondary school which is:

(A) Located in Georgia and is currently or within the last two years has been accredited by:

(i) The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools;

(ii) The Georgia Accrediting Commission;

(iii) The Georgia Association of Christian Schools;

(iv) The Association of Christian Schools International;

(v) The Georgia Private School Accreditation Council; or

(vi) The Southern Association of Independent Schools; or

(B) Located in another state and accredited by one of the following regional or state accrediting entities:

(i) The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools;

(ii) The New England Association of Schools and Colleges;

(iii) The Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools;

(iv) The North Central Association of Colleges and Schools;

(v) The Northwestern Association of Schools and Colleges;

(vi) The Western Association of Schools and Colleges;

(vii) The Alabama Independent School Association;

(viii) The Southern Association of Independent Schools; or

(ix) The Florida Council of Independent Schools.

(6.1) On and after January 1, 2011, “eligible high school” means a public or private secondary school which is:

(A) Located in Georgia and accredited as such by:

(i) The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools;

(ii) The Georgia Accrediting Commission;

(iii) The Georgia Association of Christian Schools;

(iv) The Association of Christian Schools International;

(v) The Georgia Private School Accreditation Council;

(vi) The Accrediting Commission for Independent Study; or

(vii) The Southern Association of Independent Schools; or

(B) Located in another state and accredited by one of the following regional agencies:

(i) The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools;

(ii) The New England Association of Schools and Colleges;

(iii) The Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools;

(iv) The North Central Association of Colleges and Schools;

(v) The Northwestern Association of Schools and Colleges;

(vi) The Western Association of Schools and Colleges;

(vii) The Alabama Independent School Association; or

(viii) The Southern Association of Independent Schools.

(7) “Eligible postsecondary institution” means a school which is:

(A) A unit of the University System of Georgia;

(B) A branch of the Technical College System of Georgia;

(C) A private independent nonprofit postsecondary institution eligible for tuition equalization grants in accordance with the provisions of subparagraph (A) of paragraph (2) of Code Section 20-3-411; or

(D) A private proprietary postsecondary institution eligible for tuition equalization grants in accordance with the provisions of subparagraph (C) of paragraph (2) of Code Section 20-3-411.

(8) “Eligible private postsecondary institution” means an eligible postsecondary institution which meets the criteria set out in subparagraph (C) or (D) of paragraph (7) of this Code section.

(9) “Eligible public postsecondary institution” means an eligible postsecondary institution which meets the criteria set out in subparagraph (A) or (B) of paragraph (7) of this Code section.

(9.1) “First professional degree program” means a nonundergraduate degree program that meets the requirements established by the program regulations promulgated by the Georgia Student Finance Commission which, at a minimum, shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

(A) Accepts students after the completion of the sophomore or junior year; and

(B) Results in the award of a nonundergraduate degree.

(10) “Freshman student” means a student at a postsecondary institution who has attempted less than 46 quarter hours or less than 31 semester hours.

(11) “Full-time student” means a matriculated student attending a postsecondary educational institution and enrolled for at least 12 semester hours or the equivalent in any given semester or quarter.

(12) “Grade point average” means the numbered grade average calculated using a 4.0 scale.

(12.1) “Half-time student” means a matriculated student attending a postsecondary educational institution and enrolled for six to 11 semester hours or the equivalent in any given semester or quarter.

(13) “HOPE grant” means a Helping Outstanding Pupils Educationally grant for education awarded in accordance with Code Section 20-3-519.5.

(14) “HOPE scholarship” means a Helping Outstanding Pupils Educationally scholarship for education awarded in accordance with Code Sections 20-3-519.2 or 20-3-519.3.

(15) “HOPE teacher’s scholarship” means a Helping Outstanding Pupils Educationally scholarship for education awarded in accordance with Code Section 20-3-519.8.

(16) “HOPE GED voucher” means a Helping Outstanding Pupils Educationally general educational development (GED) diploma voucher for postsecondary education awarded in accordance with Code Section 20-3-519.6.

(17) “Junior student” means a student at a postsecondary institution who has attempted at least 91 quarter hours but less than 136 quarter hours or at least 61 semester hours but less than 91 semester hours.

(18) “Mandatory fees” means fees approved by the Georgia Student Finance Commission that are charged by a postsecondary institution to every student enrolled in that institution, regardless of the student’s program of study.

(19) “Matriculated status” means being recognized as a student in a defined program of study leading to a degree, diploma, or certificate at a postsecondary institution.

(19.1) “Part-time student” means a matriculated student attending a postsecondary educational institution and enrolled for less than 12 semester hours or the equivalent in any given semester or quarter and who has never been enrolled for 12 or more semester hours or the equivalent in any given semester or quarter.

(20) “PROMISE teacher’s scholarship” means a scholarship awarded in accordance with Code Section 20-3-519.7.

(21) “Quarter hours” includes each quarter hour attempted, whether remedial or for credit toward a degree, certificate, or diploma.

(22) “Semester hours” includes each semester hour attempted, whether remedial or for credit toward a degree, certificate, or diploma.

(23) “Senior student” means a student at a postsecondary institution who has attempted at least 136 quarter hours but less than 191 quarter hours or at least 91 semester hours but less than 128 semester hours.

(24) “Sophomore student” means a student at a postsecondary institution who has attempted at least 46 quarter hours but less than 91 quarter hours or at least 31 semester hours but less than 61 semester hours.

(25) “Title IV” means Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, 20 U.S.C.A. Section 1070, et seq.

The post Georgia Code Title 20 Hope Scholarships and Grants Definitions appeared first on Hope Scholarship.

2010 Georgia Code
TITLE 20 – EDUCATION
CHAPTER 3 – POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION
ARTICLE 7 – SCHOLARSHIPS, LOANS, AND GRANTS
PART 7 – HOPE SCHOLARSHIPS AND GRANTS
§ 20-3-519.2 – Eligibility requirements for a HOPE scholarship at a public postsecondary institution; scholarship amount

O.C.G.A. 20-3-519.2 (2010)
20-3-519.2. Eligibility requirements for a HOPE scholarship at a public post-secondary institution; scholarship amount

(a) To be eligible for a HOPE scholarship, an entering freshman student seeking an associate or baccalaureate degree at an eligible public post-secondary institution shall:

(1) Meet residency requirements by:

(A) Meeting the requirements to be classified as a legal resident of Georgia as established by the program regulations promulgated by the Georgia Student Finance Commission which shall be based upon the in-state tuition policy of the board of regents and the in-state tuition guidelines set by the Technical College System of Georgia; and

(B) (i) If the student was classified as a legal resident of Georgia at the time of graduation from high school or from a home study program meeting the requirements of Code Section 20-2-690, then the student must have met the requirements set forth in subparagraph (A) of this paragraph for a period of at least 12 months immediately prior to the first day of classes for which the HOPE scholarship is to be awarded; or

(ii) If the student was not classified as a legal resident at the time of graduation from high school or from a home study program meeting the requirements of Code Section 20-2-690, then the student must have met the requirements set forth in subparagraph (A) of this paragraph for a period of at least 24 months immediately prior to the first day of classes for which the HOPE scholarship is to be awarded.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, a dependent child of military personnel stationed in Georgia shall be deemed to be a legal resident of Georgia and, subject to meeting all other eligibility requirements, shall be eligible to receive the HOPE scholarship as a freshman if the student graduated from a high school located in Georgia or from a home study program meeting the requirements of Code Section 20-2-690 that is located in Georgia;

(2) Meet achievement standards by:

(A) Having graduated from an eligible high school while meeting the curriculum requirements of his or her program of study in 1993 or thereafter and meeting the requirements set out in the applicable subsection and paragraph of Code Section 20-2-157;

(B) In the case of a student who is otherwise qualified but:

(i) Did not graduate from high school or complete a home study program meeting the requirements of subsection (c) of Code Section 20-2-690, having received the general educational development (GED) diploma awarded by the Department of Technical and Adult Education, now known as the Technical College System of Georgia, after June 30, 1993, provided that such student shall only be eligible for a HOPE scholarship pursuant to subsection (e) of this Code section;

(ii) Completed a home study program meeting the requirements of subsection (c) of Code Section 20-2-690 in lieu of graduating from an eligible high school, earning a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 at an eligible public postsecondary institution at the end of the quarter or semester in which the student has attempted 45 quarter hours or 30 semester hours, provided that such student shall be eligible to receive a retroactive HOPE scholarship for such student’s freshman year to be paid at the end of the freshman year; or

(iii) Graduated from a high school which is not an eligible high school, earning a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 at an eligible public postsecondary institution at the end of the quarter or semester in which the student has attempted 45 quarter hours or 30 semester hours, provided that such student shall be eligible to receive a retroactive HOPE scholarship for such student’s freshman year to be paid at the end of the freshman year; or

(C) In the case of an otherwise qualified student who:

(i) Did not graduate from high school or complete a home study program meeting the requirements of subsection (c) of Code Section 20-2-690 but received the general educational development (GED) diploma awarded by the Department of Technical and Adult Education, now known as the Technical College System of Georgia, after June 30, 1993;

(ii) Completed a home study program meeting the requirements of subsection (c) of Code Section 20-2-690 in lieu of graduating from an eligible high school; or

(iii) Graduated from a high school which is not an eligible high school,

earning a score in the eighty-fifth percentile or higher nationally on a standardized college admission test, such as the SAT or ACT; and

(3) Meet enrollment standards by being admitted, enrolled, and classified as an undergraduate student in a matriculated status.

(b) To be eligible for a HOPE scholarship, a sophomore student seeking an associate or baccalaureate degree at an eligible public postsecondary institution shall:

(1) Meet residency requirements by:

(A) Meeting the requirements to be classified as a legal resident of Georgia as established by the program regulations promulgated by the Georgia Student Finance Commission which shall be based upon the in-state tuition policy of the board of regents and the in-state tuition guidelines set by the Technical College System of Georgia; and

(B) (i) If the student was classified as a legal resident of Georgia at the time of graduation from high school or from a home study program meeting the requirements of Code Section 20-2-690, then the student must have met the requirements set forth in subparagraph (A) of this paragraph for a period of at least 12 months immediately prior to the first day of classes for which the HOPE scholarship is to be awarded; or

(ii) If the student was not classified as a legal resident at the time of graduation from high school or from a home study program meeting the requirements of Code Section 20-2-690, then the student must have met the requirements set forth in subparagraph (A) of this paragraph for a period of at least 24 months immediately prior to the first day of classes for which the HOPE scholarship is to be awarded;

(2) Meet achievement standards by meeting the following criteria:

(A) Earning a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 at a postsecondary institution:

(i) At the end of the quarter or semester in which the student has attempted 45 quarter hours or 30 semester hours if such student is a full-time student; or

(ii) At the end of three consecutive quarters or semesters if such student is a part-time student and has maintained part-time student status for three consecutive quarters or semesters; and

(B) Maintaining satisfactory academic progress in a course of study in accordance with the standards and practices used for federal Title IV programs by the postsecondary institution in which the student is enrolled; and

(3) Meet enrollment standards by being admitted, enrolled, and classified as an undergraduate student in a matriculated status.

(c) To be eligible for a HOPE scholarship, a junior student seeking a baccalaureate or first professional degree at a public postsecondary institution shall:

(1) Meet residency requirements by:

(A) Meeting the requirements to be classified as a legal resident of Georgia as established by the program regulations promulgated by the Georgia Student Finance Commission which shall be based upon the in-state tuition policy of the board of regents and the in-state tuition guidelines set by the Technical College System of Georgia; and

(B) (i) If the student was classified as a legal resident of Georgia at the time of graduation from high school or from a home study program meeting the requirements of Code Section 20-2-690, then the student must have met the requirements set forth in subparagraph (A) of this paragraph for a period of at least 12 months immediately prior to the first day of classes for which the HOPE scholarship is to be awarded; or

(ii) If the student was not classified as a legal resident at the time of graduation from high school or from a home study program meeting the requirements of Code Section 20-2-690, then the student must have met the requirements set forth in subparagraph (A) of this paragraph for a period of at least 24 months immediately prior to the first day of classes for which the HOPE scholarship is to be awarded;

(2) Meet achievement standards by meeting the following criteria:

(A) Earning a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 at a postsecondary institution at the end of the quarter or semester in which the student has attempted 90 quarter hours or 60 semester hours; and

(B) Maintaining satisfactory academic progress in a course of study in accordance with the standards and practices used for federal Title IV programs by the postsecondary institution in which the student is enrolled; and

(3) Meet enrollment standards by being admitted, enrolled, and classified as an undergraduate student in a matriculated status or, in the case of an otherwise eligible student who is classified as a first professional degree student rather than an undergraduate student, being accepted into the first professional degree program of study prior to receiving a baccalaureate degree.

(d) To be eligible for a HOPE scholarship, a senior student seeking a baccalaureate or a first professional degree at a public postsecondary institution shall:

(1) Meet residency requirements by:

(A) Meeting the requirements to be classified as a legal resident of Georgia as established by the program regulations promulgated by the Georgia Student Finance Commission which shall be based upon the in-state tuition policy of the board of regents and the in-state tuition guidelines set by the Technical College System of Georgia; and

(B) (i) If the student was classified as a legal resident of Georgia at the time of graduation from high school or from a home study program meeting the requirements of Code Section 20-2-690, then the student must have met the requirements set forth in subparagraph (A) of this paragraph for a period of at least 12 months immediately prior to the first day of classes for which the HOPE scholarship is to be awarded; or

(ii) If the student was not classified as a legal resident at the time of graduation from high school or from a home study program meeting the requirements of Code Section 20-2-690, then the student must have met the requirements set forth in subparagraph (A) of this paragraph for a period of at least 24 months immediately prior to the first day of classes for which the HOPE scholarship is to be awarded;

(2) Meet achievement standards by meeting the following criteria:

(A) Earning a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 at a postsecondary institution at the end of the quarter or semester in which the student has attempted 135 quarter hours or 90 semester hours; and

(B) Maintaining satisfactory academic progress in a course of study in accordance with the standards and practices used for federal Title IV programs by the postsecondary institution in which the student is enrolled; and

(3) Meet enrollment standards by being admitted, enrolled, and classified as an undergraduate student in a matriculated status or, in the case of an otherwise eligible student who is classified as a first professional degree student rather than an undergraduate student, being accepted into the first professional degree program of study prior to receiving a baccalaureate degree.

(e) (1) (A) A full-time student who fails to maintain a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 at the end of the quarter or semester in which the student has attempted 45 quarter hours or 30 semester hours may attend the next 45 quarter or 30 semester hours without a HOPE scholarship. An otherwise eligible full-time student who regains a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 at the end of a quarter or semester in which the full-time student has attempted 90 or 135 quarter hours or 60 or 90 semester hours may requalify for a HOPE scholarship.

(B) An otherwise eligible part-time student who regains or attains a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 at the end of a quarter or semester in which the part-time student has attempted 45, 90, or 135 quarter hours or 30, 60, or 90 semester hours may attain or requalify for a HOPE scholarship.

(2) In addition to other requirements, and regardless of quarter hours or semester hours of coursework attempted, a student who fails to possess a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 at the end of each spring quarter or semester or at the end of three consecutive quarters or semesters for a part-time student pursuant to paragraph (2) of subsection (b) of this Code section shall be ineligible for a HOPE scholarship until such time as the student regains or attains a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 at one of the 45, 90, or 135 quarter hour grade point average checkpoints or at one of the 30, 60, or 90 semester hour grade point average checkpoints, at which time the student will regain or attain eligibility if other terms and conditions in this Code section are also satisfied.

(f) For students eligible for a HOPE scholarship under this Code section, no minimum number of hours of enrollment is required.

(g) (1) Except as set out in paragraph (2) of this subsection, a student may receive the HOPE scholarship until the first of these events:

(A) The student has earned a baccalaureate degree; or

(B) The student has attempted at any postsecondary institution a total of 190 quarter hours or 127 semester hours.

(2) A student enrolled in an undergraduate or first professional degree program designed to be more than 190 quarter hours or 127 semester hours in length is eligible to receive the HOPE scholarship for the lesser of:

(A) A total of 225 attempted quarter hours or 150 attempted semester hours; or

(B) The number of hours required for graduation if the student has a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 after the term in which the student attempted 190 quarter hours or 127 semester hours.

(3) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, attempted hours shall include all postsecondary level course hours taken prior to high school graduation if such student does not qualify for the HOPE scholarship as an entering freshman based solely on his or her grade point average. As used in this paragraph, the term “postsecondary level course hours” means hours accepted by the student’s eligible postsecondary institution for credit when the student enters as a freshman.

(h) (1) Subject to the amounts appropriated by the General Assembly and provisions relating to the Lottery for Education Account in Code Section 50-27-13, a HOPE scholarship awarded under this Code section shall include tuition, approved mandatory fees, and a book allowance not to exceed $100.00 per quarter or $150.00 per semester, except as otherwise provided for in paragraphs (2) and (3) of this subsection.

(2) Effective beginning with the fall quarter or semester commencing after July 1, 2004, the amount of mandatory fees paid shall be equal to such amount or amounts that were paid on January 1, 2004, except as otherwise provided for in Code Section 50-27-13.

(3) Paragraph (2) of this subsection shall not apply to an eligible public postsecondary institution established by law on or after January 1, 2004. For any eligible public postsecondary institution established on or after January 1, 2004, the amount of the mandatory fees paid shall be equal to such amount or amounts initially approved for that new eligible public postsecondary institution for its first year of operation by action of the board of regents or the Technical College System of Georgia, as applicable, except as otherwise provided for in Code Section 50-27-13.

(i) A dependent child of military personnel stationed in Georgia on active duty shall be deemed to meet the residency requirements of paragraph (1) of subsections (a), (b), (c), and (d) of this Code section.

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2010 Georgia Code
TITLE 20 – EDUCATION
CHAPTER 3 – POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION
ARTICLE 7 – SCHOLARSHIPS, LOANS, AND GRANTS
PART 7 – HOPE SCHOLARSHIPS AND GRANTS
§ 20-3-519.1 – Ineligibility for scholarships or grants

O.C.G.A. 20-3-519.1 (2010)
20-3-519.1. Ineligibility for scholarships or grants

A student is ineligible for any scholarship or grant described in this part if the student:

(1) Is not a United States citizen or a permanent resident alien who meets the definition of an eligible noncitizen under federal Title IV requirements;

(2) Has not complied with United States Selective Service System requirements for registration, if such requirements are applicable to the student;

(3) Is in default on a federal Title IV educational loan or a State of Georgia educational loan, provided that a student who is otherwise eligible and has fully repaid the defaulted loan will be eligible to obtain a scholarship or grant for future academic terms but not retroactively;

(4) Owes a refund on a federal Title IV student financial aid program or a Georgia student financial aid program, provided that a student who is otherwise eligible and has fully paid the refund owed will be eligible to obtain a scholarship or grant for future academic terms but not retroactively;

(5) Has been convicted of a felony offense involving marijuana, a controlled substance, or a dangerous drug as set out in Code Section 20-1-23 or 20-1-24 of the “Drug-free Postsecondary Education Act of 1990,” provided that such ineligibility extends from the date of conviction to the completion of the next academic term;

(6) Is incarcerated; or

(7) Does not meet each qualification listed in the Code section relating to the relevant scholarship or grant and applicable to the student.

The post Georgia Code Title 20 Hope Scholarships and Grants Ineligibility appeared first on Hope Scholarship.

Today, that movement may be picking up increased momentum.

During the years 2010-2011 with Georgia’s Hope scholarship merit based program facing financial difficulty, lawmakers agreed to increase the academic requirements for the Hope and Zell Miller scholarships instead of defunding the program or adding a financial need component for eligibility.

College administrators appear to agree that the change will help keep the program funded and remain solvent.

There are some who argue that the increased academic rigor tends to favor students from higher income families; however, the changes have leveled the playing field with respect to grade inflation and lack of grade standardization among schools. The Georgia legislature added an SAT/Act minimum score target along with a minimum GPA for the largest of the
hope scholarship awards, the Zell Miller Scholarship. Having an SAT/ACT minimum level provide a standardized measure of achievement to balance the student GPA scores which can have different weighting and difficulty levels based on the curriculum and grading standards of each particular school.

Georgia—whose Hope scholarship program is one of the largest merit-based programs
in the country and is seen as a standard by which other programs are measured—is at the forefront of an increasing national debate over state-backed financial aid for college students. The discussion centers around whether states should provide aid to the highest-achieving students, regardless of income, or should state funding go to students based on financial need?

Advocates of merit scholarships, or a combination of merit and financial need, say focusing
on achievement attempts to reduce a “brain drain” of talented residents going elsewhere to college in other states, and rewards those who study hard and apply themselves. There is also the thought that if a sports athlete can receive scholarships based on physical ability then why can’t an “academic athlete” receive a similar award for intellectual ability.

Georgia has not rested on the changes made in 2010-2011. Recently, the Georgia Legislature defined an increased set of academic requirements, or academic rigor, that high school students must attain to be considered for Hope scholarship or the Zell Miller Scholarship. This combined with the minimum GPA and minimum SAT/ACT (for Zell Miller) helps to ensure a level playing field for determining what actually defines the academic excellence level required for merit eligibility. With these continue improvements,
Georgia will continue to be at the forefront, and therefore, the standard, by which other states measure their own merit based programs.

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Independent of the SAT or ACT test score requirement, current Georgia law also permits homeschool graduates to qualify for the HOPE Scholarship after starting college by earning a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 after the student has attempted 45 quarter hours or 30 semester hours at an eligible college or university. But, in this instance, the hope scholarship funds are applied retroactively and not provided to the student until the end of the student’s freshman year.

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This version of the Zell Miller Grant will provide full tuition for any students at technical colleges in the state of Georgia by including and defining a new paragraph as part of the original Zell Miller Scholarship eligibility for students that attend qualified technical colleges in the state of Georgia.

HB 697 reads that a student attending a technical college in the state of Georgia who maintains a minimum GPA of 3.5 will qualify as a “Zell Miller Grant Scholar.” With this designation, all of the student’s collegiate expenses are then paid in full.

This bill does not change the eligibility or reward amounts for four year university students.  These students cannot qualify to be scholars under this bill. Zell Miller scholarship students at these universities must maintain a 3.7 GPA to receive full tuition through the Zell Miller scholarship.

For those students at technical colleges that are eligible, their tuition, books and room and board are all paid with the grant.

The Zell Miller Scholarship was created from the Hope Scholarship in 2011. They are now two separate scholarships.

The original Zell Miller Scholarship was only offered to high school students who maintained a 3.7 GPA and graduated with that GPA or higher. The award also requires that students receive a combined score of 1200 on the SAT or a 26 composite score on the ACT on one sitting of the test, according to the GAcollege411 website.  The student can also qualify by being the Valedictorian or Salutatorian for their graduating high school class. These requirements along with being a Georgia resident and other HOPE scholarship eligibility requirements also determined if a student would receive the Zell Miller scholarship.

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According to the regulations from the Georgia Student Finance Commission dated July 1st, 2013, the first tier Zell Miller Scholarship Regulations are:

1. Graduate from an Eligible High School as the Valedictorian or the Salutatorian; or
2. Graduate from an Eligible High School with a minimum of a 3.70 Cumulative Grade Point Average on a 4.00 scale as calculated by GSFC for Zell Miller and HOPE Scholarship purposes; and
a) Receive a composite scale score of 26 on a single administration of the ACT on a test administration by the time of high school graduation; or
b) Receive a minimum score of 1200 combined critical reading and math on a single National Administration of the SAT on a test administration by the time of high school graduation.

The key requirement is “single administration” and “National administration”.  The definition of “National Administration” is:

“National Administration” means an administration of the SAT by the College Board on one of the regularly scheduled dates that it is administered in the United States or internationally. An administration of the SAT through the College Board’s SAT On-Campus Program is not considered to be a National Administration for purposes of these regulations.

The GSFC also defines academic eligibility of the Zell Miller Scholarship as:

“Academically Eligible” means the student entered an Eligible Postsecondary Institution in 2007 or later as a freshman with a high school Grade Point Average of 3.70 or higher as calculated by GSFC, and received a minimum score of 1200 combined critical reading and math on a single National Administration of the SAT on a test administration by the time of high school graduation; or received a composite scale score of 26 on a single administration of the ACT on a test administration by the time of high school graduation; or having graduated high
school being named the Valedictorian or the Salutatorian.

So, it is clear that the SAT Score Calculation for Zell Miller Scholarship is based on the combined math and critical reading scores from a single attempt at the SAT and not from the best math and critical reading scores from multiple SAT attempts.

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