Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Financial Aid topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee forwards bill to let Tennessee Promise students requalify for HOPE based on college GPA
Summary
Senate bill 1577 would give students who entered college under Tennessee Promise a second chance to qualify for HOPE scholarship eligibility using college GPA after their first two years, aiming to reduce a financial aid 'cliff' and improve completion rates; the committee forwarded the bill to Finance.
Sen. Lowe presented SB1577 to address a gap where students who qualified for Tennessee Promise but did not meet HOPE’s high‑school GPA threshold face a loss of aid at the start of their third year. The bill would create a mechanism for those students to qualify for HOPE based on college performance, using their GPA during their initial college enrollment period to establish eligibility for continuation and completion.
Sen. Lowe said the measure targets a small but important population caught by a timing mismatch: Tennessee Promise covers two years and some associate completions average three years, so students can face a sudden loss of aid before finishing. Members suggested further discussion of lottery‑fund policy and the broader purpose of HOPE will be appropriate in Finance; the committee moved the bill to Finance (8 ayes, 1 present not voting).
