07 LC 28
3365
House
Bill 246
By:
Representatives Hugley of the
133rd,
Porter of the
143rd,
Smyre of the
132nd,
Ashe of the
56th,
Murphy of the
120th,
and others
A
BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
AN ACT
To
amend Part 7 of Article 7 of Chapter 3 of Title 20 of the Official Code of
Georgia Annotated, relating to HOPE scholarships and grants, so as to provide
for the creation of the HOPE Literacy Scholar Program; to provide for
legislative findings and intent; to provide that the Department of Education,
the board of regents, and local school systems shall develop a program to
utilize college and university students who are receiving HOPE scholarships to
assist in reading literacy programs in public pre-kindergarten, kindergarten,
and elementary schools; to provide for that such students participating in the
program who fail to meet grade requirements to maintain their HOPE scholarships
shall receive an additional quarter or semester to meet such grade requirements;
to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other
purposes.
BE
IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION
1.
Part
7 of Article 7 of Chapter 3 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia
Annotated, relating to HOPE scholarships and grants, is amended by revising Code
Section 20-3-519.2, relating to eligibility requirements for a HOPE scholarship
at a public postsecondary institution, as follows:
"20-3-519.2.
(a)
To be eligible for a HOPE scholarship, an entering freshman student seeking an
associate or baccalaureate degree at an eligible public postsecondary
institution shall:
(1)
Meet residency requirements by 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 Department of Technical and Adult Education;
(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; or
(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 Georgia Department
of Technical and Adult Education 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;
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 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 Department of Technical and Adult Education;
(2)
Except as
provided in Code Section 20-2-519.15, meet
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 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 Department of Technical and Adult Education;
(2)
Except as
provided in Code Section 20-2-519.15, meet
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 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 Department of Technical and Adult Education;
(2)
Except as
provided in Code Section 20-2-519.15, meet
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)
Except as
provided in Code Section 20-2-519.15, 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
Except as
provided in Code Section 20-2-519.15, 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)
Except as
provided in Code Section 20-2-519.15, an
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)
Except as
provided in Code Section 20-2-519.15, in
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.
(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 Department of Technical and Adult Education, as applicable, except as
otherwise provided for in Code Section 50-27-13."
SECTION
2.
Such
part is further amended by revising Code Section 20-3-519.4, relating to
eligibility requirements for a HOPE scholarship at a private postsecondary
institution, as follows:
"20-3-519.3.
(a)
To be eligible for a HOPE scholarship, an entering freshman student seeking an
associate or baccalaureate degree at an eligible private postsecondary
institution shall:
(1)
Meet residency requirements by 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;
(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 1996 or thereafter and meeting
the requirements set out in the applicable paragraph of subsection (b) of Code
Section 20-2-157; or
(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 Georgia Department
of Technical and Adult Education 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;
and
(3)
Meet enrollment standards by:
(A)
Being admitted, enrolled, and classified as an undergraduate student in a
matriculated status; and
(B)
Being registered for and attending classes as at least a half-time student for
14 days or more after the last day of the institution´s drop and add
period.
(b)
To be eligible for a HOPE scholarship, a sophomore student seeking an associate
or baccalaureate degree at an eligible private postsecondary institution
shall:
(1)
Meet residency requirements by 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;
(2)
Except as
provided in Code Section 20-3-519.15, meet
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
half-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:
(A)
Being admitted, enrolled, and classified as an undergraduate student in a
matriculated status; and
(B)
Being registered for and attending classes as at least a half-time student for
14 days or more after the last day of the institution´s drop and add
period.
(c)
To be eligible for a HOPE scholarship, a junior student seeking a baccalaureate
or first professional degree at an eligible private postsecondary institution
shall:
(1)
Meet residency requirements by 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;
(2)
Except as
provided in Code Section 20-3-519.15, meet
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:
(A)
Being admitted, enrolled, and classified as an undergraduate student in a
matriculated status or provided that in the case of an otherwise eligible
student who is classified as a first professional degree student rather than an
undergraduate student, have been accepted into the first professional degree
program of study prior to receiving a baccalaureate degree; and
(B)
Being registered for and attending classes as at least a half-time student for
14 days or more after the last day of the institution´s drop and add
period.
(d)
To be eligible for a HOPE scholarship, a senior student seeking a baccalaureate
or first professional degree at an eligible private postsecondary institution
shall:
(1)
Meet residency requirements by 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;
(2)
Except as
provided in Code Section 20-3-519.15, meet
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:
(A)
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; and
(B)
Being registered for and attending classes as at least a half-time student for
14 days or more after the last day of the institution´s drop and add
period.
(e)(1)(A)
Except as
provided in Code Section 20-3-519.15, an
An
otherwise eligible 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 hours or 30 semester hours without a HOPE scholarship.
A
Except as
provided in Code Section 20-3-519.15, a
full-time student who regains a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0
at
the
end of the quarter or semester in which the full-time student has attempted 90
quarter hours or 60 semester hours may requalify for a HOPE scholarship.
A
Except as
provided in Code Section 20-3-519.15, a
full-time student who regains a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0
at the end of the quarter or semester in which the full-time student has
attempted 135 quarter hours or 90 semester hours may requalify for a HOPE
scholarship.
(B)
Except as
provided in Code Section 20-3-519.15, an
An
otherwise eligible half-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
half-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)
Except as
provided in Code Section 20-3-519.15, in
In
addition to other requirements, and regardless of quarter 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 half-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)(1)
Except as set out in paragraph (2) of this subsection, a student may receive a
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 a 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.
(g)(1)
Except as provided for in paragraph (2)
of this
subsection, subject to the amounts
appropriated by the General Assembly and provisions relating to the scholarship
shortfall reserve subaccount in Code Section 50-27-13, a HOPE scholarship
awarded under this Code section shall be not less than $3,000.00 for any
academic year.
(2)
Effective beginning with the fall quarter or semester commencing after July 1,
2004, subject to the amounts appropriated by the General Assembly and provisions
relating to the scholarship shortfall reserve subaccount in Code Section
50-27-13, a HOPE scholarship awarded under this Code section shall be not less
than $1,500.00 for half-time enrollment and $3,000.00 for full-time enrollment
for any academic year."
SECTION
3.
Such
part is further amended by adding a new Code Section 20-3-519.15 to read as
follows:
"20-3-519.15.
(a)
The General Assembly finds that:
(1)
There is a need to prevent or minimize continued early reading failure in
Georgia and to reduce the effect of inadequate literacy skills in the
performance of Georgia´s children as a group;
(2)
Improved literacy skills will directly improve the educational attainment of
Georgia´s children and ultimately their economic future and the economic
future of Georgia;
(3)
Literacy skills of young students can be improved through the provision of
available, well-trained tutors in addition to creating a more favorable
atmosphere for learning with more time on task and more opportunities to read
and receive immediate, positive, and corrective feedback to help the young
student stay on track; and
(4)
A program of such tutors can assist in closing achievement gaps among students
early and in educational success that will reduce the number of dropouts and
increase the number of college graduates in this state.
(b)
The Department of Education and the board of regents in cooperation with local
school systems shall develop and implement the HOPE Literacy Scholar Program.
The program shall be designed to give college students who are receiving HOPE
scholarships training in early reading and reading readiness skills to allow
such students to tutor children in pre-kindergarten, kindergarten, and grades
one through four. HOPE scholars who enroll in the program shall commit to
volunteering in public pre-kindergarten, kindergarten, and elementary schools
for not less than 20 hours per quarter or 30 hours per semester as a reading
mentor to help deliver an appropriately designed reading comprehension
curriculum, working one-on-one or in small groups with young
students.
(c)
Each student who accepts a HOPE scholarship shall be given the option of
enrolling in the HOPE Literacy Scholar Program. After completing the
specialized reading comprehension training program in early reading and reading
readiness skills, the student shall be certified as a reading mentor and shall
be assigned to a public pre-kindergarten, kindergarten, or elementary school.
The public pre-kindergarten, kindergarten, or elementary school shall maintain
records of the student´s attendance and hours spent as a reading mentor and
shall report such hours and attendance to the student´s educational
institution each quarter or semester, as appropriate, for that
institution.
(d)
A student who is enrolled in the HOPE Literacy Scholar Program, who volunteered
at least 20 hours per quarter or 30 hours per semester in the quarter or
semester preceding such student´s being reviewed for the continuation of
his or her HOPE scholarship under Code Section 20-2-519.2 or 20-2-519.3, and who
does not have a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 shall receive an
additional quarter or semester, as appropriate, to bring his or her cumulative
grade point average to at least 3.0 prior to losing his or her HOPE scholarship,
provided that such student has a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.5.
The extension provided in this subsection may be used only once.
(e)
The Department of Education and the board of regents shall report to the General
Assembly not later than December 31 of each year on the effectiveness of the
program and the need, if any, for further legislation. Such report shall be
delivered to the presiding officer of each house of the General Assembly and the
chairpersons of the education and higher education committees in each house of
the General Assembly.
(f)
The Department of Education, the board of regents, and the Georgia Student
Finance Commission are authorized to promulgate rules and regulations as
necessary to implement this program."
SECTION
4.
All
laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.