|
5/4/2006
As a follow-up to Dear Colleague Letter GEN 06-04, the U.S. Department of Education (ED) has issued guidance that describes how they intend to implement the new Academic Competitiveness Grant Program which was created as a result of the Higher Education Reconciliation Act (HERA) of 2005. The guidance was issued in the form of a Letter to Chief State School Officials and State Higher Education Agencies. The new program consists of two types of grants for certain Pell Grant-eligible students – the Academic Competitiveness Grant (AC Grant) and the National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent (SMART) Grant.
One of the eligibility requirements for students for these grants is the successful completion of an ED-recognized rigorous secondary school program of study. In its guidance, ED has defined four options for students in meeting this requirement. These options, which are described in detail in the Attachment to the Letter, are:
- Receiving an Advanced or Honors diploma;
- Completing the required coursework under the State Scholars Initiative program (4 years of English; 3 years of math; 3 years of lab science; 3-1/2 years of social studies; and 2 years of a language other than English);
- For states that do not participate in the State Scholar Initiative, completing a set of coursework similar to the requirement of this Initiative;
- Completing two Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) courses and receiving passing scores on the AP or IB tests.
States can submit proposals to ED identifying any additional secondary school programs of study that they would like ED to recognize as rigorous secondary programs of study. Illinois State education officials are working to identify any possible options, in addition to those identified by ED, that could make Illinois students eligible for these new grant programs.
In addition to the Letter issued, a Fact Sheet with information about the two grant programs is also available.
|
