06 LC 33
1316
Senate
Bill 595
By:
Senators Meyer von Bremen of the 12th, Golden of the 8th, Thompson of the 5th,
Brown of the 26th and Reed of the 35th
A
BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
AN ACT
To
amend Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating
to elementary and secondary education, so as to change the dates relating to the
reporting system for purposes of qualification for the HOPE scholarship; to
provide for notice; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws;
and for other purposes.
BE
IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION
1.
Chapter
2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to elementary
and secondary education, is amended by striking Code Section 20-2-157, relating
to the uniform reporting system for certain purposes, and inserting in lieu
thereof the following:
"20-2-157.
(a)
It is the intent of the General Assembly to establish a uniform reporting system
to be used as one of the criteria to determine eligibility of students seeking
enrollment in postsecondary courses pursuant to Code Section 20-2-161.1 or
seeking educational scholarships, grants, or loan assistance administered by the
Georgia Student Finance Commission pursuant to Article 7 of Chapter 3 of this
title.
(b)
Beginning May 1,
2007
2010,
each school system and private school shall adopt the reporting system described
in this subsection for purposes of identifying and qualifying graduating seniors
for the HOPE scholarship program and other programs identified in this Code
section:
(1)
Each school system and private school shall transmit, in a manner and at times
prescribed by the Georgia Student Finance Commission, an electronic transcript
of courses and course grades for each graduating senior that reflects the
complete high school academic record of the student, including scores on any
state tests required for graduation, the grading scales used by the school
system or private school for the time periods referenced by the transcripts, and
any other pertinent information as determined by the Georgia Student Finance
Commission. Each grade reported by a school system or private school to the
commission for the purpose of calculating the grade point average for HOPE
scholarship eligibility shall be the actual grade earned by the student, with no
weighting or addition of points by the local school system or private
school;
(2)
The Georgia Student Finance Commission shall calculate a grade point average for
the purpose of determining eligibility for the HOPE scholarship from these
electronic transcripts and shall notify students of their eligibility and high
schools as to the eligibility of students;
(3)
For students otherwise qualified and enrolling as freshmen students in eligible
public or private postsecondary institutions for the first time on May 1,
2007
2010,
or thereafter, the Georgia Student Finance Commission shall calculate grade
point averages for determining eligibility for the HOPE scholarship and other
scholarships referenced in this Code section as follows:
(A)
For students receiving a college preparatory diploma, each grade for a student
in attempted coursework in English, mathematics, science, social studies, and
foreign language that would, if successfully completed, satisfy a core
graduation requirement for the college preparatory curriculum shall be equated
to a grade on a 4.0 scale, such that a grade of 'A' = 4.0, a grade of 'B' = 3.0,
a grade of 'C' = 2.0, a grade of 'D' = 1.0, and a grade of 'F' = 0;
or
(B)
For students receiving a career/technical diploma, each grade for a student in
attempted coursework in English, mathematics, science, and social studies that
would, if successfully completed, satisfy a core graduation requirement for the
career/technical curriculum shall be equated to a grade on a 4.0 scale, such
that a grade of 'A' = 4.0, a grade of 'B' = 3.0, a grade of 'C' = 2.0, a grade
of 'D' = 1.0, and a grade of 'F' = 0.
Grades
for coursework that is classified as advanced placement or international
baccalaureate shall be weighted by the Georgia Student Finance Commission in
calculating the overall grade point averages for students, provided that the
weighting of such course grades is uniformly applied to all students in the
state taking the specified coursework. The sum of the equated grades shall be
divided by the number of course grades, adjusted for term length, to yield a
grade point average on a 4.0 scale;
(4)
Qualification for the HOPE scholarship shall be determined from the grade point
average calculated as set out in paragraph (3) of this subsection. Beginning May
1,
2007
2010,
students with grade point averages equal to or in excess of 3.0 on the 4.0 scale
with a college preparatory diploma shall meet achievement standards for the HOPE
scholarship; students receiving a career/technical diploma shall meet
achievement standards for the HOPE scholarship with a grade point average equal
to or in excess of 3.2 on a 4.0 scale. This paragraph shall apply regardless of
when a student graduated from high school and regardless of such
student́s
eligibility status prior to May 1,
2007
2010;
and
(5)
Beginning May 1,
2007
2010,
only the reporting system as indicated in this subsection shall be used to
determine eligibility for all grants, scholarships, or loans to attend colleges
or universities which are administered pursuant to Article 7 of Chapter 3 of
this title and eligibility for enrollment in postsecondary courses pursuant to
Code Section 20-2-161.1.
(c)(1)
Prior to May 1,
2007
2010,
each school system shall adopt the following reporting system for purposes of
identifying and qualifying graduating seniors for the HOPE scholarship program
and other programs identified in this Code section:
(A)
A final grade average of at least an 80 numeric average in their core curriculum
subjects, provided that the student meets the college preparatory curriculum
requirements; or
(B)
A final grade average of at least an 85 numeric average in their core curriculum
subjects if the student meets the career/technical curriculum
requirements.
(2)
Prior to May 1,
2007
2010,
only the reporting system as indicated in this subsection shall be used to
determine eligibility for all grants, scholarships, or loans to attend colleges
or universities which are administered pursuant to Article 7 of Chapter 3 of
this title and eligibility for enrollment in postsecondary courses pursuant to
Code Section 20-2-161.1.
(d)
Beginning with the 2006-2007 school year, each local board of education shall be
required to provide annual notice to students enrolled in grade eight of the
reporting system and grade requirements of this Code section effective beginning
May 1, 2010, which will apply to such students upon
graduation."
SECTION
2.
All
laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.