GSFC State Programs Update GASFAA Conference Spring 2009 Savannah, Georgia

Topics Program Regulatory Changes Budget Climate Invoice Processing and Payment Delays Deadline Dates GSFAPPS Processing Changes HOPE GPA calculation Progress

Program Regulatory Changes Changes as a result of administrative, regulatory, or legislative actions, for the following State Programs: HOPE Scholarship and HOPE Grant Programs HOPE Scholarship Program HOPE Grant Program HOPE GED Grant Program Tuition Equalization Grant Program Governor’s Scholarship Program

HOPE SCHOLARSHIP and HOPE GRANT The revised APPEALS AND EXCEPTIONS sections, as approved at the November 2008 GSFC Board of Commissioners meeting, are included in the HOPE Scholarship and HOPE Grant regulations. These changes provide the Board of Commissioners with increased involvement in the process of reviewing and granting HOPE Scholarship Program exceptions.

HOPE SCHOLARSHIP and GRANT(continued) As a result of HB 157, the trigger points for the reduction of HOPE Scholarship and HOPE Grant benefits will be relaxed. -First Trigger: If the year-end balance of unexpended Lottery funds is less than 92% of the highest year-end balance, then the book allowance will be reduced by one-half. (Not for Pell Grant recipients.) - Second Trigger: If the year-end balance is less than 84% of the highest year-end balance, then the book allowance will be eliminated. (Not for Pell Grant recipients.) - Third Trigger: If the year-end balance is less than 75% of the highest year-end balance, then fees will not be covered by HOPE.

HOPE SCHOLARSHIP Provided clarification in the regulations regarding the requirements to qualify for the HOPE Scholarship based on scoring in the 85 th percentile on the SAT/ACT: - Scores must be from a single test administration; -Scores must be in the national composite 85 th percentile; -Applies to students who completed a home study program, graduated from an ineligible high school, or received a GED at any time after June 30, 1993.

HOPE SCHOLARSHIP (continued) Provided clarification in the regulations regarding the 24 months Georgia residency requirement to qualify for the HOPE Scholarship: - Students who graduated from high school or equivalent on or after July 1, 2008 and were not Georgia residents at that time, must be Georgia residents for 24 months, rather than 12 months, before becoming eligible for the HOPE Scholarship.

HOPE SCHOLARSHIP (continued) Provided clarification in the regulations regarding degree coursework attempted prior to high school graduation: - Degree coursework attempted by a high school student who did not graduate as a HOPE Scholar, must be counted as Attempted-Hours, if the college accepts the credit hours and such coursework was attempted during a school term that began on or after July 1, In addition, the 02/27/2009 GSFC DCL allows waivers for such students who attempted coursework during a school term that began prior to July 1, 2008.

HOPE SCHOLARSHIP (continued) As a result of HB 484, the dependent children of active duty military personnel stationed in Georgia will be treated as Georgia residents for purposes of the HOPE Scholarship Program: - Such students will no longer be required to graduate from a Georgia high school; -Such students will no longer be limited to entering the HOPE Scholarship Program as freshmen (First-Tier). “Dependent Child” is defined as an individual under the age of 24 who receives financial support from a parent whose income tax return lists the individual as a dependent.

HOPE SCHOLARSHIP (continued) As a result of HB 313, the high school GPA requirement for HOPE Scholarship eligibility will be a 3.0 for all students who began the 9 th grade during the school year (Class of 2012), and thereafter. -Beginning with the Class of 2012, there will no longer be a 3.2 GPA requirement for students who graduate with a technical/career high school diploma. - Members of high school graduating classes of 2009, 2010 and 2011 are not impacted by HB 313.

HOPE GRANT Provided clarification in the regulations regarding technical certificate or diploma coursework attempted prior to high school graduation for which HOPE Grant payment was received: -Technical certificate or diploma coursework attempted as part of Dual Credit Enrollment must not be counted as Paid- Hours, if such coursework was attempted during a term that began on or after July 1, In addition, the 02/27/2009 GSFC DCL allows waivers for such students who attempted coursework during a school term that began prior to July 1, 2008.

HOPE GRANT (continued) As a result of HB 484, the dependent children of active duty military personnel stationed in Georgia will be treated as Georgia residents for purposes of the HOPE Grant Program: -Such students are already treated as Georgia residents for purposes of HOPE Grant eligibility (if they are granted an out-of-state tuition waiver by the institution) therefore, the enactment of HB 484 will have no meaningful impact on these students.

HOPE GED GRANT The following eligibility requirements were removed from the HOPE GED Grant regulations: -Georgia residency; -Matriculated status in a degree or certificate/diploma program of study; -Satisfactory Academic Progress.

TUITION EQUALIZATION GRANT As a result of SFY 2010 State Budget, the TEG award amount is reduced from the academic year amount of $1,200, to the academic year amount of $950: -Reduced from $600 per semester to $475, or -Reduced from $400 per quarter to $317. Summer 2009:$316 Fall 2009:$317 Winter 2010:$317 Spring 2010:$316 -Students may receive payment for 3 semesters or 4 quarters.

TUITION EQUALIZATION GRANT (continued) Regulatory Changes: -“Award Date” is the day after the college’s drop/add period, rather than 14 days after the drop/add period. -“Invoicing Deadline Date” will be set by GSFC for each term, and published no later than June 30 th each year. -Students must have a completed and approved application on file with GSFC prior to the Invoicing Deadline Date, in order to receive payment for that term. -Invoices submitted to GSFC after the Invoicing Deadline Date will not be paid. This includes invoices submitted prior to the Invoicing Deadline Date, but with Invoicing Rejects that were not resolved until after the Invoicing Deadline Date.

GOVERNOR’S SCHOLARSHIP As a result of FY 2010 State Budget, the Governor’s Scholarship Program will not be funded for the award year. No awards will be made for entering college freshman, or renewal students.

Budget Climate State Budget Signed into Law on 05/13/2009 -State Revenue Still Well Below 2008 levels -Additional State Funds Remain Scarce -SFY 2009 Amended and 2010 State Funded Program Budget -SFY 2009 Amended and SFY 2010 Lottery Funded Program Budget

GSFC Fiscal Year 2009 Amended and 2010 Budgets State Funded Programs Programs FY 2008 Actual FY 2009 Original FY 2009 AmendedFY 2010 Governor's Scholarship1,290,0252,029,2001,329,2000 Guaranteed Educational Loans3,252,6733,599,8833,184,8833,189,883 Law Enforcement Dependent Grants38,66750,911 HERO Scholarship576,114918,000798,000800,000 Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnership Program (LEAP) 1,336,9561,488,891 1,487,410 North Georgia College Military Scholarship Grants 925,042683,9511,137,7631,502,800 North Georgia College ROTC Grants489,500507,479535,146652,479 Tuition Equalization Grant28,919,55533,966,29532,101,57429,765,194 Total36,828,53243,244,61040,626,36837,448,677

GSFC Fiscal Year 2009 Amended and 2010 Budgets Lottery Funded Programs Programs FY 2008 Actual FY 2009 Original FY 2009 Amended FY 2009 Fiscal AffairsFY 2010 Accel 4,430,0664,200,0004,500,0006,000,0004,500,000 Georgia Military College Scholarships 1,012,3251,228,708 Engineer Scholarship 592,543710,000 HOPE Administration 5,887,2328,428,264 5,428,276 HOPE GED 2,128,7402,461,6142,356,654 HOPE Grant 105,217,141113,251,243123,816,042128,016,042130,440,759 HOPE Scholarship-Private School 35,624,22552,177,43742,323,09442,623,09442,323,094 HOPE Scholarship-Public School 314,364,582354,276,159355,086,391349,086,391390,061,730 HOPE Teacher Scholarships 5,028,6745,332,698 PROMISE Scholarships 5,733,1215,855,278 Public Safety Memorial Grant 182,804255,850 Total 480,201,453548,177,251549,892, ,493,047

Invoice Processing and Payment Delay -Current Invoicing Delays –- Affects HOPE Grant, TEG and Accel -All Invoices are Processed as Received -The “No Funds” Error Message -Schools Should Continue to Invoice as Normal but as Early as Possible

Deadline Dates Invoicing Deadline Dates-Rationale Established for TEG as Follows: Summer Semester/Quarter September 1, 2009 Fall Semester/Quarter December 1, 2009 Winter QuarterMarch 1, 2010 Spring Semester/QuarterJune 1, 2010 Future Program Deadline Dates Application Deadline Dates New TEG Deadline Date Other Programs Reconciliation Deadline Dates

GSFAPPS Changes Vangent (Pearson Government Solutions) Contract Ended. GSFC Will Stop Application Data Matches Effective on or about June 15 th, Five Year Cost Savings of $1.8 million. No Change to File Layouts or Fields Return Code definitions may change. Absent any Conflicting Data Schools May Rely Upon Student Self Reported Data. Working with OIIT, TCSG, and Private Schools.

HOPE GPA Calculation Update HOPE GPA Calculation Services Preliminary HOPE GPA - Primary purpose is to provide postsecondary schools information on who is likely eligible for HOPE Final HOPE GPA - Final Calculation and GPA Verification by the High Schools - Determines final HOPE eligibility for Provides the final list to the post secondary schools of the senior students eligible for HOPE HOPE Progress Reports - Conducts GPA calculation on 9-11 th grade students - Primary purpose is to provide a progress report toward HOPE eligibility so course and study plans can be made by parents, counselors and students

HOPE GPA Calculation Update 2009 Preliminary HOPE GPA Results Preliminary GPA Calculation process ended March 16, 2009 Students are not placed on HOPE-eligible list until schools have verified the final calculation Preliminary HOPE Statistics as of March 16, 2009: Out of 674 schools and an estimated 103,800 senior students Number of Schools Uploaded Transcripts591 (87.7%) Number of Schools with Verified GPAs 537 (79.7%) Number of Students with GPAs Calculated 97,667 (94.1%) Number of Students Verified 91,185 (87.8%) Percent of Eligible Students Verified (97.3%)

HOPE GPA Calculation Update Preliminary HOPE GPA Results Comparisons

HOPE GPA Calculation Update Final HOPE GPA Results Comparisons

HOPE GPA Calculation Update HOPE Progress Report Results Out of 674 schools and an estimated 400,000 9 th – 11 th grade students statewide, as of May 7, 2009: Number of schools with uploaded Transcripts- 206 (30.6%) - Public Schools Private Schools - 35 Number of students with loaded Transcripts - 147,729(36.9%) Number of students with calculated GPAs - 131,654(32.9%) - 9 th Graders - 36, th Graders - 49, th Graders - 45,626

HOPE GPA Calculation Update 2009 HOPE GPA Calculation Activities and Plans GSFC will continue to market the HOPE Progress Reports service to encourage high schools to provide reports to all 9 th - 11 th grade students GSFC released a new Transcript Upload option to all high schools to streamline the upload of HOPE Progress Report Transcripts directly to GSFC and bypass XAP Work with the numerous High Schools changing SIS Vendors With the coming of Transitions version of GAcollege411 in the fall of 2009, GSFC plans extensive refresher training on Transcript Exchange and HOPE GPA this fall. - New Professional Center User Guides - Statewide Transcript Refresher Training - See future announcements for locations and dates

Thank you