Webinar for High School and TRIO counselors

March 2007

Effective dates for major provisions:

•February 8, 2006•July 1, 2006•July 1, 2007

Law Enacted February 8, 2006

HERA

The Higher Education Reconciliation Act of 2005 (HERA) created two new grant programs:

National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent Grant (National SMART)

Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG)

ACG and National Smart Grant

FSA For Counselors

Grants

www.fsa4counselors.ed.gov

Grants

Link to Fact

Sheet

Fact Sheet for ACG and SMART Grants

Authorization and Funding• Funding not subject to annual appropriations process:

2006-07 -- $790 million2007-08 -- $850 million2008-09 -- $920 million2009-10 -- $960 million2010-11 -- $1.01 billion

- If funding insufficient, rateable reduction.- No reduction for 2006-07- Funds not spent in one year are carried over to

subsequent years.

Common to Both Programs

Award amounts are announced by the Secretary for each Academic year .

These are the amounts for Academic year 0607ACG – • First Academic Year - $750• Second Academic Year - $1,300

National SMART Grant –• $4,000 per year for each of the student’s third and

fourth academic year of undergraduate study

Common to Both Programs

• All schools that participate in Pell Grants and offer an eligible educational program must participate in ACG and National SMART Grants

Institutional ParticipationCommon to Both Programs

ACG and National SMART are Separate and Distinct Programs

Some Similarities• Pell Recipient• U.S. Citizen• Fulltime• ED established funding levels• Need based

Common to Both Programs

Common to Both Programs

Cost of Attendance (COA) - Expected Family Contribution (EFC) = Need

Academic Competiveness Grant (ACG)

• U.S. citizen• Federal Pell Grant recipient for same

academic year• First or second year student in a two or

four year degree program• Full-time enrollment

ACG Eligibility Requirements

1st year students• May not have been previously enrolled as a regular

student in a program of undergraduate education• Have completed secondary school program of study

after January 1, 2006 2nd year students• Have graduated from secondary school program of

study after January 1, 2005• Have a 3.0 G.P.A. in an eligible program from 1st

Title IV academic year

ACG Eligibility Requirements

• ACG requires graduation from a rigorous secondary school program

• ED has outlined options to meet requirement in DCL GEN-06-08

Rigorous Secondary School Program

Options for Rigorous Program

1. State Designated Program• An advanced or honors diploma

established by a state and in existence for the 04-05 or 05-06 school year

• State Scholars Initiative• Submitted State Recognized Plan

Options for Rigorous Program

2. A set of courses similar to the State Scholars Initiative as outlined in the Secretary’s May 2 letter to states.

3. AP/IB: Successful completion of at least two courses with passing test score in those two courses of:

Advanced Placement= 3 International Baccalaureate= 4

Options for Rigorous Program

Coursework designated by the Secretary

•4 years of English

•3 years of math (Algebra I and above)

•3 years of science (Bio, Chem, Physics)

•3 years of social studies

•1 year of a foreign language

Options for Rigorous Program

• All states responded by June 1 to Secretary’s May 2 request.

• All states have one or more designated programs.

• Students from every state have at least 3 ways to qualify for ACG

Analyzing Rigorous High School Credentials

• An institution is required to document and retain documentation that confirms eligibility against one of the five rigorous standard options.

• An institution can use which ever option is most efficient.– Including reviewing the courses approved by the

Secretary which are similar to the State Scholar’s Initiative

• On the web– When students who completed their Free

application for Federal Student aid on the web at www.fafsa.ed.gov receive their confirmation that their FASFA has been received, they may be prompted to answer questions about their eligibility for ACG.

How Do Students Apply?

FASFA on the Web

www.fafsa.ed.gov

Alert

Alert – New Grant Program

How Do Students Apply?

• If they have submitted a paper FAFSA and have received their Student Aid Report (SAR) indicating that they may be eligible to answer the ACG questions, they can call the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 1-800-4FEDAID.

• The student can indicate potential by visiting /writing the Financial aid office.

• The student will need to provide documentation.

How Do Students Apply?

• As counselors, you can encourage students to take courses that would meet the definition of “rigor”.

• You can assist students by providing documentation in a timely manner for the student to take to the school or provide the documentation to the school directly indicating that the student has met the criteria of “rigor”.

How Can You Help?

• You can help students in AP courses understand the need to take the AP exams.

• You can spread the word.

How Can You Help?

• Once the student has demonstrated eligibility the institution will follow the rules for disbursement and determine the “academic year” for the student.

• The grants are multiply disbursed.

Disbursements

Grade Point Average for ACG

• For second academic year, a student must have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 from the first academic year of eligible program.

• Only determined once after completion of first academic year.

HERALinks

Financial Aid Professionals (FAP) Portal

www.fsa4schools.ed.gov

HERA Links

Link to: Rigorous High School Program Codes

Rigorous High School Program Codes

National SMART Grant Program

Eligible Majors

• Computer science• Engineering• Technology• Life Sciences

• Mathematics• Physical sciences• Designated

foreign languages

• Identified by CIP*

HERA Link

Link to CIP

Codes

CIP Codes

Monitoring Major

• Requires that a recipient–– Declare an eligible major in accordance

with institution’s academic policy; or – Show intent to declare eligible major if

school policy does not yet require a major.• Institution must have process to monitor

that student is making progress toward completion of the program with that eligible major.

• This is for 3rd and 4th year students.• The student must also be Pell eligible. • It is need based.• US Citizens only• It for $4000 each year.

Other Eligibility Rules

Questions????

Contact Information

• Claire “Micki” Roemer• (202) 377-3452

– Claire.Roemer@ed.gov