12 LC
21 1755
House
Bill 1207
By:
Representatives Clark of the
104th,
Coleman of the
97th,
Riley of the
50th,
Jacobs of the
80th,
Williamson of the
111th,
and others
A
BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To
amend Part 3 of Article 6 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of
Georgia Annotated, relating to educational programs, so as to define a certain
term; to provide that dual credit enrollment courses shall be treated with
dignity equal to advancement placement courses for purposes of determining
eligibility for the HOPE scholarship; 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
3 of Article 6 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia
Annotated, relating to educational programs, is amended by revising Code Section
20-2-157, relating to uniform reporting system for certain purposes and academic
eligibility requirements to receive HOPE scholarship, as follows:
"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
educational scholarships, grants, or loan assistance administered by the Georgia
Student Finance Commission pursuant to Article 7 of Chapter 3 of this
title.
(a.1)
As used in this Code section, the term 'dual credit enrollment' means enrollment
by a student in degree level postsecondary coursework in core academic subjects
in which an agreement has been established between an eligible high school and
an eligible postsecondary institution wherein the student earns Carnegie units
of credit that count toward both high school graduation requirements and
postsecondary coursework requirements.
(b)
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,
or thereafter, except as otherwise provided in paragraph (3.1) of this
subsection, 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,
dual credit enrollment, or international
baccalaureate shall be weighted
uniformly
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
this
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;
(3.1)
For students otherwise qualified and enrolling in the ninth grade for the first
time during the 2008-2009 school year and 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 by equating each grade for a student in attempted coursework in
English, mathematics, science, social studies, and foreign language during the
student's ninth, tenth, eleventh, or twelfth grade year 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,
dual credit enrollment, or international
baccalaureate shall be weighted
uniformly
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
this
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; and
(4)
Qualification for the HOPE scholarship shall be determined from the grade point
average calculated either as set out in paragraph (3) of this subsection or as
set out in paragraph (3.1) of this subsection for students enrolling in the
ninth grade for the first time in a Georgia public school during the 2008-2009
school year and thereafter. 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. For students enrolling in the ninth grade for the first time in
a Georgia public school during the 2008-2009 school year and thereafter, such
students with grade point averages equal to or in excess of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
shall meet achievement standards for the HOPE scholarship. 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.
(c)(1)
Beginning with the school year beginning after May 1, 2011, each school system
and private school shall adopt the reporting system described in this subsection
for purposes of determining potential eligibility for freshman, sophomore, and
junior high school students for the HOPE scholarship program and other programs
identified in this Code section.
(2)
Each school system and private school shall transmit to the Georgia Student
Finance Commission, in such manner and at such times as the commission may
prescribe, an electronic transcript of courses and course grades for each
freshman, sophomore, and junior high school student 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 potential HOPE
scholarship eligibility shall be the actual grade earned by the student with no
weighting or addition of points by the school system or private
school.
(3)
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 potential eligibility
and high schools as to the potential eligibility of students.
(d)
Beginning with students graduating from high school on or after May 1, 2015, in
order to be eligible to receive a HOPE scholarship, a student shall receive
credit in at least two courses prior to graduating from high school from the
following categories:
(1)
Advanced math, such as Advanced Algebra and Trigonometry, Math III, or an
equivalent or higher course;
(2)
Advanced science, such as Chemistry, Physics, Biology II, or an equivalent or
higher course;
(3)
Advanced placement courses in core subjects;
(3.1)
Dual credit enrollment courses;
(4)
International baccalaureate courses in core subjects;
(5)
Courses taken at a unit of the University System of Georgia in core subjects
where such courses are not remedial and developmental courses, as defined in
Code Section 20-3-519; or
(6)
Advanced foreign language courses.
Students
may take one or more courses in each category; provided, however, that a course
may only be counted one time. The Georgia Student Finance Commission shall be
authorized to promulgate rules and regulations necessary to carry out the intent
of this subsection.
(e)
Beginning with students graduating from high school on or after May 1, 2016, in
order to be eligible to receive a HOPE scholarship, a student shall receive
credit in at least three courses prior to graduating from high school from the
following categories:
(1)
Advanced math, such as Advanced Algebra and Trigonometry, Math III, or an
equivalent or higher course;
(2)
Advanced science, such as Chemistry, Physics, Biology II, or an equivalent or
higher course;
(3)
Advanced placement courses in core subjects;
(3.1)
Dual credit enrollment courses;
(4)
International baccalaureate in core courses;
(5)
Courses taken at a unit of the University System of Georgia in core subjects
where such courses are not remedial and developmental courses, as defined in
Code Section 20-3-519; or
(6)
Advanced foreign language courses.
Students
may take one or more courses in each category; provided, however, that a course
may only be counted one time. The Georgia Student Finance Commission shall be
authorized to promulgate rules and regulations necessary to carry out the intent
of this subsection.
(f)
Beginning with students graduating from high school on or after May 1, 2017, in
order to be eligible to receive a HOPE scholarship, a student shall receive
credit in at least four courses prior to graduating from high school from the
following categories:
(1)
Advanced math, such as Advanced Algebra and Trigonometry, Math III, or an
equivalent or higher course;
(2)
Advanced science, such as Chemistry, Physics, Biology II, or an equivalent or
higher course;
(3)
Advanced placement courses in core subjects;
(3.1)
Dual credit enrollment courses;
(4)
International baccalaureate in core courses;
(5)
Courses taken at a unit of the University System of Georgia in core subjects
where such courses are not remedial and developmental courses, as defined in
Code Section 20-3-519; or
(6)
Advanced foreign language courses.
Students
may take one or more courses in each category; provided, however, that a course
may only be counted one time. The Georgia Student Finance Commission shall be
authorized to promulgate rules and regulations necessary to carry out the intent
of this subsection."
SECTION
2.
All
laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.