SB 1577

Among the present law eligibility requirements for a HOPE scholarship is a requirement that the students either achieve a final overall high school GPA of 3.0 or attain a composite ACT score of 21 (or an equivalent score on the SAT). This bill establishes a means for an otherwise qualified student who does not have a qualifying high school GPA or entrance exam test score to obtain eligibility for the HOPE scholarship as a transfer student by : (1) Being admitted to and enrolled in an eligible postsecondary institution no later than six months after obtaining the student's first associate degree or certificate from an eligible postsecondary institution as a Tennessee Promise scholarship student; ( 2 ) Receiv ing the Tennessee Promise scholarship, or maintain ing the student's eligibility for the scholarship, each semester that the student was enrolled in the eligible postsecondary institution at which the student earned their first certificate or associate degree; and ( 3 ) Achiev ing a final overall GPA at the eligible postsecondary institution of at least 3.0.