HOPE Changes DOE Workshop

HOPE Scholarship Basic eligibility requirements: –Unchanged for current seniors College Prep Diploma – 3.0 GPA Career Tech Diploma – 3.2 GPA Single diploma type – 3.0 GPA –Academic Rigor (New Section) Requires that students graduating in 2015 must pass at least 2 courses from a list of academically rigorous courses in order to meet the requirements to be a HOPE Scholar upon high school graduation. Students graduating in 2016 must pass at least 3 courses from the list. Students graduating in 2017 must pass at least 4 courses from the list. 2

HOPE Scholarship Rigor Requirements: –Advanced math, such as Advanced Algebra and Trigonometry, Math III, or an equivalent or higher course; –Advanced science, such as Chemistry, Physics, Biology II, or an equivalent or higher course; –Advanced placement courses in core subjects; –International baccalaureate courses in core subjects; –Courses taken at a unit of the University System of Georgia in core subjects where such courses are not remedial and developmental courses; or –Advanced foreign language courses. GSFC will be providing a list of classes to further define each category. 3

HOPE Scholarship HOPE Eligibility Checkpoints –At the end of every Spring Semester. –30, 60 and 90 Attempted Semester Hours. Maintaining HOPE –Maintain at least a 3.0 GPA at all checkpoints. –The student may only regain eligibility for the HOPE Scholarship one time. –A student can regain eligibility at the 30, 60 or 90 semester hour check point or equivalent quarter hour check point. Courses eligible –Only degree level courses will be paid for under the HOPE Scholarship. –The HOPE Scholarship will not pay for remedial or developmental courses. 4

HOPE Scholarship Eligibility for HOPE occurs until: –The student has earned a baccalaureate or first professional degree; or –The student has attempted or received a total of combined payment of 127 semester hours; or –A period of seven years from high school graduation or equivalent. Exceptions for Military Service 5

6 HOPE Scholarship Seven Year Limit –Effective beginning with the Fall 2011 term. –A student that received HOPE Scholarship payment at least one time prior to Summer 2011 is eligible to continue receiving the HOPE Scholarship until June 30, –A student receiving the HOPE Scholarship for the first time during Summer 2011 or later is eligible to receive the HOPE Scholarship through June 30 th of the 7 th year following the student’s date of high school graduation, home school completion, or successful GED test date. –A student that served on military active duty following his or her date of high school graduation, or equivalent, may request that such active duty service time be added back to his or her 7 years of eligibility.

HOPE Scholarship The HOPE Scholarship will pay: –Eligible Public Institutions Percentage of previous year’s HOPE award –Eligible Private Institutions Percentage amount of the HOPE award for private colleges 7

8 HOPE Scholarship HOPE Scholarship at Public/Private Institutions –Factor Rate: Percentage determined annually by the Commission against which the previous year’s HOPE Award Rate amount is multiplied. –HOPE Award Rate: The rate equal to the previous year’s HOPE Award Amount multiplied by the Factor Rate. –HOPE Award Amount: The HOPE Award Rate multiplied by the number of credit hours, up to a maximum of 15 hours. A payment chart for HOPE award is available on GAcollege411 under the HOPE Scholarship Information page.

HOPE Scholarship 9

10 Zell Miller Scholarship New Scholarship Program for 2011 Must meet HOPE Scholarship requirements, plus: –Minimum 3.7 GPA in academic core classes, and –1,200 combined critical reading and math on SAT* or –26 composite ACT. –Graduate from an eligible high school as the valedictorian or salutatorian. *Test requirements must be met in single test administration.

Zell Miller Scholarship Home Study Student Requirements –Complete ineligible home study program meeting the HOPE eligibility requirements, and –Receive a score of at least 1,200 combined critical reading score and math score on a single test administration of the SAT or an ACT composite score of at least 26, and –Earn a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.3 at an eligible postsecondary institution at the end of the semester in which the student has attempted 30 semester hours. Home Study Payment –Payment will be made retroactively to meeting requirements and will be paid at the end of the freshman year. 11

Zell Miller Scholarship Zell Miller Eligibility Checkpoints –At the end of every Spring Semester –30, 60 and 90 Attempted Semester Hours Maintaining Zell Miller Scholarship –Maintain at least a 3.3 GPA at all checkpoints. The student may only regain eligibility for the Zell Miller Scholarship one time. A student can regain eligibility at the 30, 60 or 90 semester hour check point or equivalent quarter hour check point. –To be eligible, a student must meet requirements at High School Graduation. 12

13 Zell Miller Scholarship The Zell Miller Scholarship will pay: –Eligible Public Institutions Full standard tuition –Eligible Private Institutions Award will be $4,000 per academic year for full-time study –Rate tables are available on Zell Miller Program Information page on GAcollege411.

14 HOPE Grant Postsecondary GPA –No initial GPA requirement. –Student must have at least a 3.0 GPA on all paid coursework at 30 hour checkpoint. –If a student loses eligibility at the 30 hour checkpoint, they may regain eligibility at the 60 hour checkpoint with at least a 3.0 GPA. Students with a baccalaureate degree are not eligible to receive the HOPE Grant.

HOPE Grant HOPE Grant will pay: –Percentage of previous year’s HOPE Grant award. –Students can use the chart posted on GAcollege411 to determine the exact amount of HOPE Grant. 15

Dual Enrollment 16

Accel Program For students complete core classes for high school and college credit. No significant program changes. –Award amounts (tuition, fees, books) and program eligibility are unchanged. Beginning with the FY2012 year, the program is funded by State Appropriations. Beginning with courses taken in Fall 2011 or later, these courses no longer count against the HOPE paid hours. Any courses taken prior to Summer 2011 will still be counted in the HOPE paid hours. The Accel course directory for is currently posted on GAcollege411.org on the Accel program page. 17

Dual Enrollment Students who will be attending classes at a Technical System of Georgia Institution. Students do not have to take only core classes. Funding is through HOPE Grant. –TCSG President’s have the ability to waive balance of tuition and mandatory fees. Dual Enrollment courses are counted against HOPE attempted hours. 18

Contact Us Call GSFC at Darryl Watson Georgia Student Finance Commission 19

OUR MISSION To promote and increase access to education beyond high school for Georgians. OUR VISION To be the premier provider of student financial aid and educational services for Georgians.