Senate Bill 394
By: Senators Carter of the 42nd and Sims of the 12th
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
1 To amend Part 7 of Article 7 of Chapter 3 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia
2 Annotated, relating to HOPE scholarships and grants, so as to restore the former HOPE
3 teacher’s scholarship, PROMISE teacher’s scholarship, and PROMISE II teacher’s
4 scholarship; to provide for applicable definitions; to provide for related matters; to repeal
5 conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
6 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
7 SECTION 1.
8 Part 7 of Article 7 of Chapter 3 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated,
9 relating to HOPE scholarships and grants, is amended by revising Code Section 20-3-519,
10 relating to definitions, as follows:
11 “20-3-519.
12 As used in this part, the term:
13 (1) ‘Academic year’ means a period of time, typically nine months, in which a full-time
14 student is expected to complete the equivalent of at least two semesters’ or three quarters’
15 academic work.
16 (2) ‘Advanced degree’ means a master’s degree, specialist’s degree, or doctorate in
17 education conferred by an approved postsecondary institution upon completion of a
18 unified program of study at the graduate level. Reserved.
19 (3) ‘Approved teacher education program’ means a program offered by a public or private
20 postsecondary institution which program has been approved by the Georgia Professional
21 Standards Commission. Reserved.
22 (4) ‘Certificate’ or ‘diploma’ means a credential, other than a degree, indicating
23 satisfactory completion of training in a program of study offered by an eligible
24 postsecondary institution.14 LC 33 5550
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25 (4.1) ‘Critical shortage field’ means an area of study or an area of specialized expertise
26 for which a shortage of qualified teachers or educators exists in Georgia, designated as
27 such by the Georgia Student Finance Commission.
28 (5) ‘Dual credit enrollment’ means enrollment by a student in a postsecondary course in
29 which an agreement has been established between an eligible high school and an eligible
30 postsecondary institution wherein the student earns Carnegie units of credit that count
31 toward both high school graduation requirements and postsecondary coursework
32 requirements.
33 (6) ‘Eligible high school’ means a public or private secondary school which is:
34 (A) Located in Georgia and accredited as such by:
35 (i) The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools;
36 (ii) The Georgia Accrediting Commission;
37 (iii) The Georgia Association of Christian Schools;
38 (iv) The Association of Christian Schools International;
39 (v) The Georgia Private School Accreditation Council; or
40 (vi) The Southern Association of Independent Schools;
41 provided, however, that between July 1, 2013, and June 30, 2015, if a high school
42 located in Georgia was accredited by one of the accrediting agencies included in this
43 subparagraph within the previous two years, such high school shall be considered an
44 eligible high school for purposes of this subparagraph; or
45 (B) Located in another state and accredited by one of the following regional agencies:
46 (i) The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools;
47 (ii) The New England Association of Schools and Colleges;
48 (iii) The Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools;
49 (iv) The North Central Association of Colleges and Schools;
50 (v) The Northwestern Association of Schools and Colleges;
51 (vi) The Western Association of Schools and Colleges;
52 (vii) The Alabama Independent School Association; or
53 (viii) The Southern Association of Independent Schools.
54 (7) ‘Eligible postsecondary institution’ means a school which is:
55 (A) A unit of the University System of Georgia;
56 (B) A branch of the Technical College System of Georgia;
57 (C) A private independent nonprofit postsecondary institution eligible for tuition
58 equalization grants in accordance with the provisions of subparagraph (A) of paragraph
59 (2) of Code Section 20-3-411; or14 LC 33 5550
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60 (D) A private proprietary postsecondary institution eligible for tuition equalization
61 grants in accordance with the provisions of subparagraph (B) of paragraph (2) of Code
62 Section 20-3-411.
63 (8) ‘Eligible private postsecondary institution’ means an eligible postsecondary institution
64 which meets the criteria set out in subparagraph (C) or (D) of paragraph (7) of this Code
65 section.
66 (9) ‘Eligible public postsecondary institution’ means an eligible postsecondary institution
67 which meets the criteria set out in subparagraph (A) or (B) of paragraph (7) of this Code
68 section.
69 (9.1) ‘Factor rate’ means the percentage amount established by the Georgia Student
70 Finance Commission against which the previous year HOPE award amount is multiplied.
71 (9.2) ‘First professional degree program’ means a nonundergraduate degree program that
72 meets the requirements established by the program regulations promulgated by the
73 Georgia Student Finance Commission which, at a minimum, shall include, but not be
74 limited to, the following:
75 (A) Accepts students after the completion of the sophomore or junior year; and
76 (B) Results in the award of a nonundergraduate degree.
77 (10) ‘Freshman student’ means a student at a postsecondary institution who has attempted
78 less than 46 quarter hours or less than 31 semester hours.
79 (11) ‘Full-time student’ means a matriculated student attending a postsecondary
80 educational institution and enrolled for at least 12 semester hours or the equivalent in any
81 given semester or quarter.
82 (12) ‘Grade point average’ means the numbered grade average calculated using a 4.0
83 scale.
84 (12.1) ‘Half-time student’ means a matriculated student attending a postsecondary
85 educational institution and enrolled for six to 11 semester hours or the equivalent in any
86 given semester or quarter.
87 (12.2) ‘HOPE award amount’ means the amount of HOPE award to be made to an
88 eligible student as follows:
89 (A) At an eligible public postsecondary institution, the HOPE award amount is equal
90 to the HOPE award rate multiplied by the number of credit hours, up to a maximum of
91 15, in which an eligible student is enrolled per quarter or semester; provided, however,
92 that the quarter award shall equal two-thirds of the semester award and that credit hours
93 for remedial and developmental courses shall not be included for the HOPE
94 scholarship; or
95 (B) At an eligible private postsecondary institution, the HOPE award amount is equal
96 to HOPE tuition payment multiplied by the factor rate for full-time students and14 LC 33 5550
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97 one-half of the HOPE tuition payment multiplied by the factor rate for half-time
98 students. No awards shall be made to eligible students enrolled in five or fewer credit
99 hours and credit hours for remedial and developmental courses shall not be included
100 for the HOPE scholarship.
101 (13) ‘HOPE award rate’ means the rate equal to the previous academic year HOPE tuition
102 payment to the eligible public postsecondary institution multiplied by the factor rate
103 divided by 15. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Georgia Student Finance Commission
104 may adjust the previous academic year HOPE tuition payment used to calculate the
105 HOPE award rate to reflect changes in the mission or sector of an eligible public
106 postsecondary institution that affects the tuition charged by that institution.
107 (13.1) ‘HOPE GED voucher’ means a Helping Outstanding Pupils Educationally general
108 educational development (GED) diploma voucher for postsecondary education awarded
109 in accordance with Code Section 20-3-519.6.
110 (14) ‘HOPE grant’ means a Helping Outstanding Pupils Educationally grant for education
111 awarded in accordance with Code Section 20-3-519.5.
112 (15) ‘HOPE scholarship’ means a Helping Outstanding Pupils Educationally scholarship
113 for education awarded in accordance with Code Section 20-3-519.2.
114 (16) ‘HOPE teacher’s scholarship’ means a Helping Outstanding Pupils Educationally
115 scholarship for education awarded in accordance with Code Section 20-3-519.8.
116 Reserved.
117 (16.1) ‘HOPE tuition payment’ means, in the case of an eligible public postsecondary
118 institution, the amount paid for tuition only based on the standard undergraduate full-time
119 tuition rate for 15 hours; and, in the case of an eligible private postsecondary institution,
120 the amount paid for tuition based on the amount established by the General Assembly in
121 an appropriations Act.
122 (17) ‘Junior student’ means a student at a postsecondary institution who has attempted
123 at least 91 quarter hours but less than 136 quarter hours or at least 61 semester hours but
124 less than 91 semester hours.
125 (18) ‘Mandatory fees’ means fees approved by the Georgia Student Finance Commission
126 that are charged by a postsecondary institution to every student enrolled in that
127 institution, regardless of the student’s program of study. Reserved.
128 (19) ‘Matriculated status’ means being recognized as a student in a defined program of
129 study leading to a degree, diploma, or certificate at a postsecondary institution.
130 (19.1) ‘Part-time student’ means a matriculated student attending a postsecondary
131 educational institution and enrolled for less than 12 semester hours or the equivalent in
132 any given semester or quarter and who has never been enrolled for 12 or more semester
133 hours or the equivalent in any given semester or quarter.14 LC 33 5550
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134 (20) ‘PROMISE teacher’s scholarship’ means a scholarship awarded in accordance with
135 Code Section 20-3-519.7. Reserved.
136 (20.1) ‘PROMISE II teacher’s scholarship’ means a scholarship awarded in accordance
137 with Code Section 20-3-519.12.
138 (21) ‘Quarter hours’ includes each quarter hour attempted for credit toward a degree,
139 certificate, or diploma, but shall not include hours attempted for remedial and
140 developmental courses for purposes of the HOPE scholarship.
141 (21.1) ‘Remedial and developmental courses’ means coursework required by the
142 postsecondary institution or chosen by the student that does not count toward program
143 requirements for college degrees in the case of the HOPE scholarship, or, diplomas or
144 certificates in the case of the HOPE grant.
145 (22) ‘Semester hours’ includes each semester hour attempted for credit toward a degree,
146 certificate, or diploma, but shall not include hours attempted for remedial and
147 developmental courses for purposes of the HOPE scholarship.
148 (23) ‘Senior student’ means a student at a postsecondary institution who has attempted
149 at least 136 quarter hours but less than 191 quarter hours or at least 91 semester hours but
150 less than 128 semester hours.
151 (24) ‘Sophomore student’ means a student at a postsecondary institution who has
152 attempted at least 46 quarter hours but less than 91 quarter hours or at least 31 semester
153 hours but less than 61 semester hours.
154 (25) ‘Title IV’ means Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, 20
155 U.S.C.A. Section 1070, et seq.
156 (26) ‘Tuition’ means the charges to a student for postsecondary academic instruction
157 without regard to other fees such as technology, activity, athletic, health, or other similar
158 fees.
159 (27) ‘Zell Miller Scholar’ means a student that who has met the applicable eligibility
160 requirements to receive a HOPE scholarship in accordance with Code Section 20-3-519.2
161 and:
162 (A) As an incoming freshman:
163 (i) Having graduated from an eligible high school with a grade point average of at
164 least 3.7 calculated in accordance with Code Section 20-2-157 and having received
165 a score of at least 1,200 combined critical reading score and math score on a single
166 administration of the SAT or an ACT composite scale score of at least 26;
167 (ii) Having graduated from an eligible high school as a valedictorian or salutatorian;
168 or
169 (iii) Having completed a home study program meeting the requirements of subsection
170 (c) of Code Section 20-2-690, having received a score of at least 1,200 combined14 LC 33 5550
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171 critical reading score and math score on a single administration of the SAT or an ACT
172 composite scale score of at least 26, and earning a cumulative grade point average of
173 at least 3.3 at an eligible postsecondary institution at the end of the quarter or semester
174 in which the student has attempted 45 quarter hours or 30 semester hours, provided
175 that such student shall be eligible to receive a retroactive scholarship for such
176 student’s freshman year to be paid at the end of the freshman year; and
177 (B) As a sophomore, junior, senior, or first professional student who met the
178 requirements of subparagraph (A) of this paragraph, having a cumulative grade point
179 average of at least 3.3 at the checkpoints set forth in paragraph (1) of subsection (b) of
180 Code Section 20-3-519.2. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a student that who entered
181 an eligible postsecondary institution as a freshman between July 1, 2007, and June 30,
182 2011, and met the requirements of subparagraph (A) of this paragraph may become a
183 Zell Miller Scholar as a sophomore, junior, senior, or first professional student.
184 A student that who loses eligibility to be a Zell Miller Scholar for any reason may regain
185 eligibility one time if the student requalifies at one of the checkpoints set forth in
186 paragraph (1) of subsection (b) of Code Section 20-3-519.2.”
187 SECTION 2.
188 Said part is further amended by revising Code Section 20-3-519.7, which is reserved, as
189 follows:
190 “20-3-519.7.
191 (a) To be eligible for a PROMISE teacher’s scholarship, a student seeking a bachelor’s
192 degree in teacher education shall:
193 (1) Be admitted, enrolled, and classified as a full-time or part-time undergraduate student
194 in a matriculated status at an eligible postsecondary institution maintaining satisfactory
195 academic progress in accordance with the standards and practices used for federal Title
196 IV programs by the institution at which the student is enrolled;
197 (2) For a student in the junior year or a student in the senior year, have earned a
198 minimum overall cumulative 3.0 postsecondary grade point average at the beginning of
199 the first term for which scholarship aid is requested and be maintaining satisfactory
200 academic progress in his or her course of study in accordance with the standards and
201 practices used for federal Title IV programs by the postsecondary institution in which the
202 student is enrolled;
203 (3) Be accepted for enrollment into an approved teacher education program in Georgia
204 leading to initial certification; and
205 (4) Agree to teach in a public school in Georgia at the preschool, elementary, middle, or
206 secondary level for one academic year for each $1,500.00 in PROMISE teacher14 LC 33 5550
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207 scholarship funds awarded and sign a promissory note that stipulates the cash repayment
208 obligation incurred if the teaching service is not fulfilled.
209 (b) A student who terminates enrollment at an eligible institution or who is otherwise
210 dropped from enrollment by an eligible institution will not be eligible to continue receiving
211 a PROMISE teacher’s scholarship.
212 (c) Subject to the amounts appropriated by the General Assembly and provisions relating
213 to the shortfall reserve in Code Section 50-27-13, a PROMISE teacher’s scholarship shall
214 not exceed a total of $6,000.00 for the junior and senior years.
215 (d) As used in this Code section and notwithstanding any provision of Code Section
216 20-3-519 to the contrary, the term:
217 (1) ‘Student in the junior year’ means a student at a postsecondary institution who is
218 classified as a junior by the postsecondary institution in which he or she is enrolled.
219 (2) ‘Student in the senior year’ means a student at a postsecondary institution who is
220 classified as a senior by the postsecondary institution in which he or she is enrolled.
221 Reserved.”
222 SECTION 3.
223 Said part is further amended by revising Code Section 20-3-519.8, which is reserved, as
224 follows:
225 “20-3-519.8.
226 (a) To be eligible for a HOPE teacher’s scholarship, a student shall:
227 (1) Meet the residency requirements set forth in subsection (a) of Code Section
228 20-3-519.1;
229 (2) Be admitted into graduate school and into an advanced degree or approved teacher
230 education program in a critical shortage field of study leading to certification;
231 (3) Be one of the following:
232 (A) A teacher working in a public or private accredited school in Georgia who has a
233 baccalaureate degree and is seeking an advanced degree in his or her current field
234 which is a critical shortage field or in a new critical shortage field;
235 (B) An individual with a baccalaureate degree who is seeking an advanced degree in
236 a critical shortage field;
237 (C) An individual with a master’s degree in a critical shortage field who is seeking
238 certification as a specialist or a doctorate in his or her current critical shortage field;
239 (D) An individual with a master’s degree in a field which is not a critical shortage field
240 who is seeking an advanced degree in a critical shortage field;
241 (E) An individual who has certification as a specialist in a critical shortage field who
242 is seeking a doctorate in his or her current critical shortage field; or14 LC 33 5550
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243 (F) A teacher working in a public or private accredited school in Georgia who is
244 seeking to complete an approved program in a critical shortage field for which degree
245 programs are not generally offered; and
246 (4) Agree to teach in his or her critical shortage field in a public school in Georgia at the
247 preschool, elementary, middle, or secondary level for one academic year for each
248 $2,500.00 in HOPE teacher scholarship funds awarded and sign a promissory note that
249 stipulates the cash repayment obligation incurred if the teaching service is not fulfilled.
250 (b)(1) Except as otherwise provided in paragraphs (2) and (3) of this subsection, for
251 students eligible for a HOPE teacher’s scholarship, no minimum number of hours of
252 enrollment is required for eligibility for a HOPE teacher’s scholarship.
253 (2) The program of study a student is attempting shall be completed within five years,
254 beginning with the first term for which scholarship funds are awarded.
255 (3) A student’s eligibility for a HOPE teacher’s scholarship expires if the student has a
256 break in enrollment at an eligible institution of more than 12 months.
257 (c) Subject to the amounts appropriated by the General Assembly and provisions relating
258 to the shortfall reserve in Code Section 50-27-13, a HOPE teacher’s scholarship award
259 amount for a student shall not exceed $10,000.00 for the student’s program of study.
260 Reserved.”
261 SECTION 4.
262 Said part is further amended by revising Code Section 20-3-519.9, which is reserved, as
263 follows:
264 “20-3-519.9.
265 An individual who meets any of the following criteria is ineligible for the HOPE teacher’s
266 scholarship:
267 (1) Holding an advanced degree in a critical shortage field and seeking an advanced
268 degree in a new critical shortage field;
269 (2) Holding a doctorate recognized by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission
270 as Level 7; or
271 (3) Being ineligible for teacher certification by action of the Georgia Professional
272 Standards Commission.
273 Reserved.”
274 SECTION 5.
275 Said part is further amended by revising Code Section 20-3-519.12, which is reserved, as
276 follows:14 LC 33 5550
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277 “20-3-519.12.
278 (a) As used in this Code section, the term ‘paraprofessional’ shall have the same meaning
279 as provided in Code Section 20-2-204.
280 (b) To be eligible for a PROMISE II teacher’s scholarship, a student seeking a bachelor’s
281 degree in teacher education shall:
282 (1) Meet residency requirements as set forth in subsection (a) of Code Section
283 20-3-519.1;
284 (2) Be employed for at least one year in a public school in Georgia as a paraprofessional
285 or instructional aide;
286 (3) Be accepted for enrollment into an approved teacher education program in Georgia
287 leading to initial certification;
288 (4) Not yet have obtained a baccalaureate degree; and
289 (5) Agree to teach in a public school in Georgia at the preschool, elementary, middle, or
290 secondary level for one academic year for each 30 semester or 45 quarter hours
291 completed using PROMISE II scholarship funds and sign a promissory note that
292 stipulates the cash repayment obligation incurred if the teaching service is not fulfilled.
293 (c) Subject to the amounts appropriated by the General Assembly and provisions relating
294 to the shortfall reserve in Code Section 50-27-13, a PROMISE II teacher’s scholarship shall
295 not exceed the cost of tuition, approved mandatory fees, and a book allowance not to
296 exceed $100.00 per quarter or $150.00 per semester for a student enrolled in a unit of the
297 University System of Georgia and shall not exceed $3,000.00 for a student attending an
298 eligible private postsecondary institution.
299 (d) A PROMISE II teacher’s scholarship may be applied toward no more than 30 semester
300 or 45 quarter hours of study subject to appropriation by the General Assembly.
301 (e) For students eligible for a PROMISE II teacher’s scholarship under this Code section,
302 no minimum number of hours of enrollment is required. Reserved.”
303 SECTION 6.
304 All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.
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