Amends TCA Title 49, Chapter 4, Part 7.

AMOUNT OF SCHOLARSHIP<br /> <br /> Under present law, the amount of the Tennessee Promise scholarship at an eligible four-year public postsecondary institution must be the average cost of tuition and mandatory fees at the public two-year postsecondary institutions less all other gift aid. Gift aid shall be credited first to the average tuition and mandatory fees.<br /> <br /> This bill expands the four-year institutions that a Tennessee Promise scholarship recipient may attend to include eligible private institutions and eligible postsecondary institutions, and removes the requirement that gift aid be credited first to the average tuition and mandatory fees.<br /> <br /> ELIGIBLE POSTSECONDARY INSTITUTION<br /> <br /> Under present law, "eligible postsecondary institution" means the following:<br /> <br /> (1) A postsecondary institution that was eligible for the Tennessee education lottery scholarship on July 1, 2013, and remains eligible thereafter; and<br /> <br /> (2) A private, nonprofit technical school that: (i) has had its primary campus domiciled in this state for at least 75 consecutive years; (ii) is accredited by the council on occupational education; and (iii) in addition to offering diploma, certificate, and associate degree programs, offers a baccalaureate degree through an articulation agreement with a regionally accredited postsecondary institution.<br /> <br /> This bill adds to the meaning of eligible postsecondary institutions the following:<br /> <br /> (3) A private, for-profit trade school that: (i) has been approved by the Tennessee state board of cosmetology and barber examiners to operate in this state for at least 10 consecutive years; (ii) is accredited by the National Accrediting Commission of Career Arts and Sciences, Inc.; and (iii) is authorized by the Tennessee higher education commission to offer diploma programs in cosmetology, esthiology, and master barbering.<br /> <br /> ELIGIBLE PROGRAM OF STUDY<br /> <br /> Under present law, "eligible program of study" means (i) a curriculum of courses leading to a certificate or diploma at a Tennessee college of applied technology; or (ii) a federal Title IV-eligible curriculum of courses leading to a certificate, diploma, or associate degree at an eligible postsecondary institution. The term does not include courses taken at a four-year postsecondary institution prior to a student's admission in, or that were taken by a student to fulfill prerequisite requirements for, a curriculum of courses described in (i) or (ii). This bill adds that an "eligible program of study" also means a curriculum of courses leading to a certificate or diploma at an eligible postsecondary institution.<br /> <br /> FULL-TIME STUDENT<br /> <br /> Under present law, "full-time student" means a student who is enrolled in a minimum of 12 semester hours, or a student who is enrolled in a full-time program at a Tennessee college of applied technology. This bill adds an eligible postsecondary institution to the institutions where a full-time student may attend with the Tennessee Promise scholarship.<br /> <br /> CONTINUATION OF SCHOLARSHIP<br /> <br /> Present law requires that to continue to receive a Tennessee Promise scholarship at an eligible two-year or four-year postsecondary institution, a student must maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0 as set forth in the rules promulgated by the Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation (TSAC). To continue to receive a Tennessee Promise scholarship at a Tennessee college of applied technology, a student must maintain satisfactory academic progress as determined by the institution. This bill adds an eligible postsecondary institution to the institutions where a student may attend and must maintain their grade point average according to the institution's requirements.<br />