§ 6-85-106 - Eligibility. - Arkansas Statutes

6-85-106. Eligibility.

(a) Eligibility for the Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship Program is based on the criteria under this section and rules promulgated under this subchapter by the Department of Higher Education.

(b) An applicant is eligible for an award from this program if the applicant meets all of these criteria:

(1) The applicant graduated from an Arkansas high school;

(2) The applicant has been a resident of the State of Arkansas for at least twelve (12) months before graduation from an Arkansas high school, and the applicant's parent or guardian has maintained Arkansas residency for the same period of time;

(3) The applicant is a citizen of the United States or is a lawful permanent resident;

(4) The applicant is accepted for admission at an approved institution as a full-time first-time freshman as defined by the Department of Higher Education and enrolls in an approved institution within twelve (12) months of the applicant's high school graduation;

(5) (A) (i) Except as provided in subdivision (b)(5)(B) of this section, the applicant has successfully completed the core curriculum established by the State Board of Education and the Arkansas Higher Education Coordinating Board under 6-61-217.

(ii) An applicant who graduates from an Arkansas high school on or before December 31, 2009, and who meets the provisions of subdivisions (b)(1)-(4) of this section but who has not completed the core curriculum defined in this subdivision (b)(5)(A) by the end of the senior year of high school due to the unavailability of the courses in the applicant's high school shall have a grace period of twelve (12) months from the date of high school graduation in which to make up any course deficiencies required for program eligibility.

(B) An applicant who graduates from an Arkansas high school after December 31, 2009, shall have:

(i) Successfully completed the Smart Core curriculum as established by the Department of Education; and

(ii) (a) Demonstrated proficiency in the application of knowledge and skills in reading and writing literacy and mathematics by passing the end-of-course assessments developed by the Department of Education.

(b) "End-of-course" assessments means those assessments defined in 6-15-419.

(C) All applicants shall have achieved:

(i) Either:

(a) A grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale in the set of core curriculum courses if enrolling at an approved four-year institution; or

(b) A grade point average of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale in the set of core curriculum courses if enrolling at an approved two-year institution; and

(ii) A minimum composite score of nineteen (19) or higher on the American College Test or the equivalent as defined by the Department of Higher Education.

(D) (i) The grade point average requirements of subdivision (b)(5)(C) of this section may be reduced to no lower than a 2.5 on a 4.0 scale by a rules change by the Department of Higher Education if it is determined by the Department of Higher Education, based on the most recent evaluation of the program's operation, that the change to a 3.0 or 2.75 grade point average on a 4.0 scale would unduly reduce the number of low-income or disadvantaged students who would otherwise be eligible for the program.

(ii) At the Department of Higher Education's discretion, the Department of Higher Education may make the reduction for admissions to institutions with a high percentage of students receiving full Pell Grants upon petition to the Department of Higher Education by the institution.

(E) (i) The Department of Higher Education may develop selection criteria through program rules that combine an applicant's American College Test or equivalent score and grade point average in the core curriculum into a selection index.

(ii) Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision (b)(5)(D) of this section, this selection index shall be employed as an alternative selection process for applicants who achieve a grade point average higher than 2.75 if attending an approved two-year institution or 3.0 if attending a four-year institution on a 4.0 scale in the set of core curriculum courses defined in subdivision (b)(5)(A) of this section or for applicants who have an American College Test composite or equivalent score greater than nineteen (19);

(6) (A) An applicant shall demonstrate financial need as defined by the Department of Higher Education.

(B) The Department of Higher Education shall use the following criteria in calculating financial need for applicants who graduated from an Arkansas high school after December 31, 2000, but before December 31, 2004:

(i) An applicant whose family includes one (1) unemancipated child shall have average family adjusted gross income over the previous two (2) years not exceeding fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) per year at the time of application to the program;

(ii) An applicant whose family includes two (2) unemancipated children shall have average family adjusted gross income over the previous two (2) years not exceeding fifty-five thousand dollars ($55,000) per year at the time of application to the program;

(iii) An applicant whose family includes three (3) or more unemancipated children shall have average family adjusted gross income over the previous two (2) years not exceeding sixty thousand dollars ($60,000) per year at the time of application to the program, plus for families with more than three (3) unemancipated children, an additional five thousand dollars ($5,000) per year for each additional child; and

(iv) Any applicant whose family includes more than one (1) unemancipated child enrolled full time at an approved institution shall be entitled to an additional ten thousand dollars ($10,000) of adjusted gross income for each additional unemancipated child enrolled full time at an approved institution when the Department of Higher Education calculates financial need.

(C) In calculating financial need for applicants who graduate from an Arkansas high school after December 31, 2006, a Free Application for Federal Student Aid or a subsequent application required by the United States Department of Education for federal financial aid shall be filed by the applicant or other proof of family income as defined by the Department of Higher Education. The following criteria shall be used:

(i) An applicant whose family includes one (1) unemancipated child shall have an average family adjusted gross income over the previous two (2) years not exceeding sixty-five thousand dollars ($65,000) per year at the time of application to the program;

(ii) An applicant whose family includes two (2) unemancipated children shall have an average family adjusted gross income over the previous two (2) years not exceeding seventy thousand dollars ($70,000) per year at the time of application to the program;

(iii) An applicant whose family includes three (3) or more unemancipated children shall have an average family adjusted gross income over the previous two (2) years not exceeding seventy-five thousand dollars ($75,000) per year at the time of application to the program, plus for families with more than three (3) unemancipated children, an additional five thousand dollars ($5,000) per year for each additional child; and

(iv) Any applicant whose family includes more than one (1) unemancipated child enrolled full time at an approved institution of higher education shall be entitled to an additional ten thousand dollars ($10,000) of adjusted gross income for each additional unemancipated child enrolled full time at an approved institution of higher education when the Department of Higher Education calculates financial need.

(c) (1) The Arkansas Higher Education Coordinating Board shall have the authority to increase these financial need family income limitations if sufficient additional funds become available.

(2) Financial need criteria necessary for the selection of recipients, including those defined as emancipated or independent by federal student aid regulations, shall be established through rules issued by the Department of Higher Education.

(d) Recipients of Arkansas Governor's Distinguished Scholarships are prohibited from receiving Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarships.

(e) As an additional component to the Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship Program:

(1) Each applicant for the scholarship shall agree that for each year the scholarship is awarded he or she may volunteer to serve as a literacy tutor for a minimum of twenty (20) clock hours each semester in a public school or a faith-based educational institution serving students in prekindergarten through grade six (preK-6);

(2) A recipient who agrees to volunteer as a literacy tutor:

(A) Shall complete the prerequisite training in literacy and college readiness skills provided under 6-85-107(c) before he or she begins tutoring;

(B) May receive college credit for the tutoring as determined by the institution of higher education where the recipient is enrolled; and

(C) Shall receive the prerequisite training in literacy and college readiness from an accredited Arkansas institution of higher education based on training modules developed by the Department of Education; and

(3) An enrolled college student who participates in the tutorial program and fails to meet the Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship Program academic eligibility requirement for the fall or spring semester shall be given the probationary opportunity during the subsequent spring or summer term to continue his or her education and improve academic performance prior to losing scholarship funding in the subsequent semester.