Tennessee § 49-4-908 - Requirements for home schooled students, GED(R) or HiSET(R) recipients or graduates of ineligible high schools.

§ 49-4-908. Requirements for home schooled students, GED(R) or HiSET(R) recipients or graduates of ineligible high schools.

To be eligible for a Tennessee HOPE scholarship as an entering freshman, a student who completes high school in a Tennessee home school program, who graduates from a high school located in Tennessee that is not an eligible high school, or who obtains a GED(R) or HiSET(R) credential shall: Not be ineligible for the scholarship under § 49-4-904; Meet the requirements of § 49-4-905; Attain a composite ACT score of at least 21 on any single ACT test date or a concordant equivalent score on the SAT on any single SAT test date, if the student completed high school in a Tennessee home school program or graduated from a high school located in Tennessee that is not an eligible high school; or Pass the GED(R) tests with an average score of at least 525, the revised GED(R) tests with an average score of at least 170, or the HiSET(R) tests with an average score of at least 15, and attain a composite ACT score of at least 21 on any single ACT test date or a concordant equivalent score on the SAT on any single SAT test date; and Be admitted to and enroll in an eligible postsecondary institution no later than sixteen (16) months after completing high school in a Tennessee home school program, obtaining a GED(R) or HiSET(R), or graduating from high school. A student who, after January 1, 2014, met the requirements of subdivision (a)(3)(B) shall be awarded a Tennessee HOPE scholarship in the 2014-2015 academic year for the 2013-2014 academic year; provided, that the student: Was not ineligible for the scholarship under § 49-4-904 and met the requirements of § 49-4-905 in the 2013-2014 academic year while enrolled at an eligible institution; Did not receive the Tennessee HOPE scholarship in the 2013-2014 academic year; and Is enrolled in the 2014-2015 academic year in an eligible postsecondary institution. A student who met the requirements of subdivision (a)(3)(B) shall be awarded a Tennessee HOPE scholarship in the 2014-2015 academic year; provided, that the student: Is not ineligible for the scholarship under § 49-4-904; Meets the requirements of § 49-4-905; and Is enrolled in the 2014-2015 academic year in an eligible postsecondary institution. Acts 2003, ch. 298, § 1; 2004, ch. 840, §§ 8, 9, 10, 11b; 2005, ch. 481, §§ 7, 8; 2015, ch. 495, § 5; 2017, ch. 328, § 2. Compiler's Notes. Acts 2004, ch. 840, § 30(a) provided that the amendment of subdivision (2)(B) by § 11(b) of that act shall apply to students seeking financial assistance from lottery proceeds for the 2005-2006 school year and thereafter. Acts 2004, ch. 840, § 30(b) provided that the amendment of the introductory paragraph, and subdivisions (2)(A) and (3) by §§ 8-10 of that act shall apply to students seeking financial assistance from lottery proceeds for the 2004-2005 school year and thereafter. Acts 2005, ch. 481, § 30, provided that: “(a) A student who was eligible for a Tennessee HOPE scholarship, a general assembly merit scholarship, or a Tennessee HOPE access grant for the 2004-2005 academic year, but who did not attend any postsecondary institution in the 2004-2005 academic year, may apply for such scholarship or grant under the amendments made to title 49, chapter 4, part 9 by §§ 5 through 13 of the act. TSAC may award the scholarship, if the student meets all applicable requirements for the scholarship or grant and the student is admitted to and enrolls in an eligible postsecondary institution no later than sixteen (16) months after graduating from an eligible high school, graduating from a high school located in Tennessee that is not an eligible high school, completing high school in a Tennessee home school, or obtaining a GED(R). “(b) A student may apply for the retroactive award of a Tennessee HOPE scholarship, a general assembly merit Scholarship, or a Tennessee HOPE access grant for any semester of the 2004-2005 academic year in which the student would have qualified for a scholarship or grant under §§ 14-20, or § 22 of the act, had such provisions been in effect during that academic year. TSAC may award the scholarship or grant retroactively, if the student meets all applicable requirements for the scholarship or grant.” Acts 2017, ch. 328, § 8 provided that the act, which amended this section, shall apply to students seeking postsecondary financial assistance from net lottery proceeds for the 2017-2018 academic years and academic years thereafter.