08 LC 33
2339S
The
House Committee on Higher Education offers the following substitute to HB
920:
A
BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
AN ACT
To
amend Code Section 20-2-157 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating
to the uniform reporting system for high school grades for purposes of
determining eligibility for enrollment and scholarships for postsecondary
education, so as to provide that certain scores on end-of-course assessments
will result in additional credit for purposes of determining eligibility for
HOPE scholarships; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws;
and for other purposes.
BE
IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION
1.
Code
Section 20-2-157 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the
uniform reporting system for high school grades for purposes of determining
eligibility for enrollment and scholarships for postsecondary education, is
amended by revising subsection (b) as follows:
"(b)
Beginning May 1, 2007, 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
and all
end-of-course assessments, whether or not 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,
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.
Beginning with
end-of-course assessments administered on and after May 1, 2009, a student who
receives a score on an end-of-course assessment which is deemed by the State
Board of Education as 'exceeds expectations' shall receive an additional 0.25
point for each such assessment on which he or she receives such
designation. The sum of the equated
grades and the
additional end-of-course assessment points
shall be divided by the number of course grades, adjusted for term length, to
yield a grade point average on a 4.0
scale. As
used in this subsection, the term 'end-of-course assessment' means the
end-of-course assessment administered pursuant to Code Section 20-2-281. Such
end-of-course assessments shall be made available by the State Board of
Education to students in home study programs and private schools meeting the
requirements of Code Section 20-2-690 at the expense of such
students;
(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, 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 student´s eligibility status prior to May 1, 2007; and
(5)
Beginning May 1, 2007, 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."
SECTION
2.
All
laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.