Georgia Code Title 20 Hope Scholarship Eligibility Requirements and Scholarship Amount

In looking up information concerning the Georgia hope scholarship legislation, I found it quite difficult to find the actual legislation documents describing the law behind the program.  In order to help others, I am posting the key legislation in a series of posts.  This is the second of three posts.

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.