# Presentation: 431507

## Session C-13

**Federal Pell Grant, Academic Competitiveness Grant, and National SMART Grant Programs Update**
- Carney McCullough
- Sophia McArdle
- U.S. Department of Education

## Agenda

- Federal Pell Grant Update
- CCRAA
- HEOA
- Pell/ACG/NSG Payment Calculations

**Notes:**
Good afternoon/morning

I’m Carney McCullough...

Lots to cover today...

## Agenda – cont’d.

- ACG and National SMART Grant Final Regulations
- Academic Year Progression
- Grade Point Average (GPA)
- Prior Enrollment
- Successful Completion:  Rigorous Secondary Programs
- Recognition of Rigorous Secondary Programs
- Determination of Eligible Majors
- Documenting Eligible Majors

## Agenda – cont’d.

- ACG and National SMART Grant Update
- First Year Implementation Outcomes
- Legislation
- ECASLA
- HEOA

## Federal Pell Grant Update

## Pell Grant

- College Cost Reduction and Access Act (CCRAA) enacted September 27, 2007

**Notes:**
CCRAA enacted on September 27.

Budget reconciliation bill

Eliminated so-called third award rule—tuition sensitivity.  Effective back to
July 1, 2007 for the 2007-08 award year.

In line with the Administration’s FY 2008 Budget proposals

If applicable, schools had to recalculate using regular payment and
Disbursement schedules.

Guidance in DCL P-07-02

## Pell Grant

- Uses mandatory funds to increase the Pell scheduled award by
- $    490 for 2008-09 and 2009-10
- $    690 for 2010-11 and 2011-2012
- $ 1,090 for 2012-14
- Increases applicable to students eligible based on the maximum award set in an appropriations act

- Effective:  2008-2009 award year

## Pell Grant

- For 2008-09
- Maximum $4,731 ($4,241 + $490)
- Minimum $890 ($400 + $490)
- Maximum eligible EFC is 4041
- Mandatory funds do not increase the number of eligible students

- Effective:  2008-2009 award year

## Pell Grant

- Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008 (HEOA) enacted August 14, 2008

## Pell Grant

- Authorized maximums for an academic year
- $6,000 for 2009-2010
- $6,400 for 2010-2011
- $6,800 for 2011-2012
- $7,200 for 2012-2013
- $7,600 for 2013-2014
- $8,000 for 2014-2015

## Pell Grant

- Eliminated $400 minimum award
- Sets new minimum award amount at 10% of the maximum award
- Students who are eligible for an award equal to or greater than 5% but less than 10% of the maximum award will receive an award amount of 10% of the maximum award

- Effective:  2009-2010 award year

## Pell Grant

- Year-round Pell Grant awards
- Students may receive up to two scheduled Pell Grant awards during a single award year if enrolled—
- At least half-time for more than one academic year or more than 2 semesters or the equivalent time during an award year
- In a certificate, associate degree, or baccalaureate degree program

- Effective:  2009-2010 award year

## Pell Grant

- A student who is subject to an involuntary civil commitment after completing a period of incarceration for a forcible or non-forcible sexual offense is ineligible to receive a Federal Pell Grant

- Effective:  2009-2010 award year

## Pell Grant

- Duration of Federal Pell Grant eligibility
- Not to exceed 18 semesters or equivalent as determined by regulation
- Regulations will provide fractional equivalents for terms in which a student is enrolled less than full-time

- Effective:  2009-2010 award year

## Pell Grant

- Duration of Federal Pell Grant eligibility – cont’d.
- Basically, student is eligible for up to 9 scheduled awards
- Applies to students who received a Federal Pell Grant for the first time on or after July 1, 2008

- Effective:  2009-2010 award year

## Pell Grant

- Maximum Federal Pell Grant eligibility for survivors
- Applies to students—
- Whose parent or guardian was a member of the Armed Forces and died as a result of performing military service in Iraq or Afghanistan after 9/11/2001
- Who were under 24 years old or who were enrolled in college at the time of the parent or guardian’s death

- Effective:  2009-2010 award year

## Pell Grant

- Maximum Federal Pell Grant eligibility for survivors – cont’d.
- Students will be considered to have 0 EFC for Federal Pell Grant purposes
- Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense will provide information to ED
- No new questions on the FAFSA

- Effective:  2009-2010 award year

## Pell/ACG/NSGPaymentCalculations

**Notes:**
Now we’re going to turn to changes affecting grant program payment calculations.

## Payment Calculations

- Revisions in General Provisions final regulations package – November 1, 2007
- Payment period definition
- Programs eligible for Formula 1
- Payment calculations for Formulas 4 and, for Pell only, 5A
- Payment calculations the same for all three grant programs

## Payment Calculations

- Added educational programs eligible for Formula 1
- Is no change for traditional calendar programs currently eligible to use Formula 1, i.e., programs with
- Two semesters or trimesters, or three quarters, in fall through spring, and
- At least 12 hours as full-time for all terms in award year

## Case Study:  Currently Eligible for Formula 1

- Traditional semester-based academic calendar where full-time is defined as at least 12 semester hours in all terms.
- Eligibility to use Formula 1 continues

- Fall Semester
- 16 weeks of i.t.

- Spring Semester
- 15 weeks of i.t.

- Summer
- 10 weeks of i.t.

## Payment Calculations

- Adds programs eligible for Formula 1 where—
- Any two semesters or trimesters, or three quarters is at least 30 weeks of i.t.;
- Program starts in cohorts of students, e.g., monthly;
- Program is offered exclusively in semesters, trimesters, or quarters; **and**
- Student is not enrolled in overlapping terms

## Case Study:  Final Rules Eligible for Formula 1

- The program consists of semesters.  A new cohort of students starts a new semester on the first workday of each month.

-  Cohort 1		Term A – 15 weeks		Term B - 15 weeks

-   Cohort 2		Term A – 15 weeks		Term B - 15 weeks

-   Cohort 3		Term A – 15 weeks		Term B - 15 weeks

-   Cohort 4		Term A – 15 weeks		Term B - 15 weeks

## Payment Calculations

- Revised Formula 4 payment calculations (Formula 5A also)
- No change in programs that use Formula 4:
- Credit-hour programs without terms
- Clock-hour programs
- Lesser of two fractions based on the academic year measures

## Payment Calculations

- _Formula 4_
- scheduled award  *  the lesser of—
- _hours in the payment period_
- hours in the academic year
**OR**
- *_weeks in the payment period_
- *weeks in the academic year
- *Weeks of instructional time

## Case Study 1:  Payment Calculation

- A non-term undergraduate certificate program with scheduled classes
- Academic calendar:  28 quarter hours over 28 weeks of instructional time
- Academic year:  36 quarter hours and 30 weeks of instructional time

**28 quarter hours**
**28 weeks of instructional time**

## Case Study 1:  Payment Calculation

- Payment Periods:  14 quarter hours and 14 weeks of instructional time
- Formula 4 to calculate grant program payment for a payment period
- Student:  Pell scheduled award of $4,000

**14 hours**
**14 weeks**

**14 hours**
**14 weeks**

## Case Study 1:  Payment Calculation

**Scheduled Award  =  $4,000**
_**Step 2**_
**Lesser of—**
**	**_**14**_**   ****	****$4,000  =  $1,555**
**	****36**
**	****	****OR**
**	**_**14**_**	****$4,000  =  $1,866**
**	****30**

**Case Study 1:  Payment Calculation**

- Payment for each payment period

**14 hours**
**14 weeks**

**14 hours**
**14 weeks**

**X**

**X**

## Case Study 1:  Payment Calculation

- The student receives two Pell disbursements that total $3,110 out of a $4,000 scheduled award

**14 hours**
**14 weeks**

**14 hours**
**14 weeks**

**1****st**** Pell**
**disbursement**

**2nd Pell**
**disbursement**

## Case Study 2:  Payment Calculation

- Non-term undergraduate certificate program with scheduled classes
- Academic calendar:  1200 clock hours over 30 weeks of instructional time
- Academic year:  900 clock hours and 26 weeks of instructional time

**1200 clock hours**
**30 weeks of instructional time**

## Case Study 2:  Payment Calculation

- Payment periods
- 450 clock hours and 13 weeks of instructional time;
- 450 clock hours and 13 weeks of instructional time; and
- 300 clock hours and 4 weeks of instructional time

**450 clock hours**
**13 weeks**

**450 clock hours**
**13 weeks**

**300 clock hours**
**4 weeks**

## Case Study 2:  Payment Calculation

- Formula 4 to calculate grant program payment for a payment period
- Student:  Pell scheduled award of $1,000

**450 clock hours**
**13 weeks**

**450 clock hours**
**13 weeks**

**300 clock hours**
**4 weeks**

## First and second payment periods

**Case Study 2:  Payment Calculation**

**450 clock hours**
**13 weeks**

**450 clock hours**
**13 weeks**

**300 clock hours**
**4 weeks**

_**Step 1**_
**Scheduled Award  =  $1,000**
_**Step 2**_
**Lesser of—**
**	**_**450**_** ****	****$1,000  =  $500**
**	****900**
**	****	****OR**
**	**_**13**_**	****$1,000  =  $500**
**	****26**

**X**

**X**

## Case Study 2:  Payment Calculation

**Case Study 2:  Payment Calculation**

**450 clock hours**
**13 weeks**

**450 clock hours**
**13 weeks**

**300 clock hours**
**4 weeks**

_**Step 1**_
**Scheduled Award  =  $1,000**
_**Step 2**_
**Lesser of—**
**	**_**300**_** ****	****$1,000  =  $333.33**
**	****900**
**	****	****OR**
**	**** **_**   **__**4**_**	****$1,000  =  $153.85**
**	****  ****26**

**X**

**X**

## Case Study 2:  Payment Calculation

- Student receives—
- $1,000 for the first two payment periods
- $0 for the third payment period; or, if the third payment period is in a new award year, $153.85 (assuming same scheduled award)

**450 clock hours**
**13 weeks**

**450 clock hours**
**13 weeks**

**300 clock hours**
**4 weeks**

**1****st**** Pell disbursement**

**2nd Pell disbursement**

**3rd Pell disbursement**

## ACG and National SMART GrantFinal Regulations

## Final Regulations

- NPRM:  August 7, 2007
- Final regulations:  October 29, 2007
- Effective July 1, 2008

##  Academic YearProgression

## Academic Year Progression -Basics

- Award Eligibility
- A student’s progression is based on the student’s attendance in all ACG and national SMART Grant eligible programs _**only at the institution in which the student is currently enrolled**_
- Final §691.6(a), (b), and (c)

## Academic Year Progression -Basics

- Award Eligibility
- A student may not receive more than two ACG Scheduled Awards and two National SMART Grant scheduled awards _**during the student’s undergraduate education**_
- Final §691.6(a), (b), and (c)

## Academic Year Progression – Basics

- Exact Accounting
- As with a student’s credit or clock hours, must determine a student’s progression in the weeks of instructional time of an academic year through an exact accounting of those weeks of instructional time
- Are some exceptions
- Is in line with current regulations, but are changes to exceptions
- Final §691.6(e)(1)

## Academic Year Progression – Basics

- Transfer Students
- The institution to which the student transferred _**must**_ count both:
- The credit or clock hours earned by the student at the prior institutions that are accepted for the student’s ACG or National SMART Grant eligible program, and
- An estimated number of weeks of instructional time completed by the student
- Final §691.6(d)(3)

## Academic Year Progression – Basics

- Transfer Students
- To determine weeks of instructional time, must use specified formula:
- _(hours accepted * weeks of i.t. in ac. year)_
- hours in ac. year
- Subject to prohibition under §691.6(d)(2) for hours without weeks

## Alternative Methods

- Three alternative methods for determining the weeks of instructional time and that assure general compliance with the academic year progression requirements
- Replacement of current §691.6(d) on treatment of summer terms
- Also replacement to transitional guidance in GEN 06-18
- Final §691.6(e), (f), (g), and (h)

## Alternative Methods

- Only eligible programs that use Formula 1 or 2 to calculate payments (generally programs with traditional academic calendars)
- Eligible programs that use Formulas 3 or 4:  must always do an exact accounting
- Final §691.6(e), (f), (g), and (h)

## Alternative Methods

- _Terms-attended_:  count weeks of instructional time based on the number of terms the student has attended
- _Credits-earned_:  attribute weeks of instructional time to the credit hours earned by the student
- _Grade-level_:  use the student’s grade level as a basis for determining weeks of instructional time completed
- Final §691.6(e), (f), (g), and (h)

## Alternative Methods—Exclusions

- Is applicable to the credits-earned and grade-level alternatives
- In determining weeks of instructional time, must exclude consideration of hours subject to §691.6(d)(2)
- Final §691.6(g) and (h)

## Alternative Methods—Applicability

- An alternative method of determining weeks of instructional time applies to all students enrolled in the eligible program
- Final §691.6(e)(2)(ii)

## Alternative Methods—Exact Accounting

- Upon a student’s request, an institution must provide an exact accounting of the student’s academic year progression in all eligible programs at that institution including any qualifying credit hours accepted on transfer in an ACG- or National SMART Grant-eligible program
- An institution may initiate an exact accounting for a student
- Final §691.6(e)(2)(iii)

## Alternative Methods—Exact Accounting

- After an exact accounting, an institution may not use any of the alternative methods in §691.6(f), (g), and (h) for determining that student’s academic year standing
- Final §691.6(e)(3)

## Hours without Weeks

- No weeks of instructional time for hours in a student’s eligible program from:
- Hours from AP and IB, testing out, life experience, or similar competency measures
- Hours earned while not enrolled as a regular student in an ACG- or National SMART Grant- eligible program
- Hours for coursework that is not at the postsecondary level, such as remedial coursework
- Final §691.6(d)(2)

## Hours without Weeks

- Prohibition on weeks of instructional time for credit or clock hours applies to:
- Exact accounting
- Transfer credits; and
- Credits-earned and grade-level alternatives.
- While hours count toward the academic year progression, no weeks of instructional time are associated with these hours
- Final §691.6(d)(2)

## Hours without Weeks

- An institution must assign weeks of instructional time to determine National SMART Grant eligibility for periods in which a student was enrolled in an ACG- eligible program prior to declaring, or certifying his or her intent to declare, a National SMART Grant-eligible major
- Final §691.6(d)(2)

## Determining Academic Year Progression

| Payment Formula Used for Eligible Program | Academic Year Based on Actual Weeks of Instructional Time and Hours at Institution | May use Alternatives for Weeks of Instructional Time | Must Assume Weeks Based on Accepted Hours for Transfer Students | Must Perform an Exact Accounting if Student Requests for Attendance at institution |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 
Formula 1 or 2 | 
YES | 
YES | 
YES | 
YES |
| 
Formula 3, but eligible to use Formula 1 | 
YES | 
NO | 
YES | 
N/A |
| 
Formulas 2, 3, and 4 | 
YES | 
NO | 
YES | 
N/A |

- ACG/NSG Final Regulations*

- *Red underlined highlights are changes from current regulations and DCL GEN-06-18

## Grade Point Average

## GPA:  Numeric Equivalent

- Have a GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, _**or numeric equivalent**_
- Does not mean institution can determine its own equivalency on a grading scale or simply use an equivalent measure
- Final §691.15(b)(1)(iii)(D) and (c)(3)

## GPA:  Numeric Equivalent

- If using alternatives to standard numeric grading, institutions must develop and apply an academically defensible equivalency policy
- Equivalency policy must be:
- In writing;
- Available to students upon request; and
- Consistent with an institutions other standards – academic and Title IV
- Final §691.15(g)

## GPA:  Numeric Equivalent

- The policy must include clear differentiations of student performance to support a determination of performance at a level commensurate with at least a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale
- Final §691.15(g)

## GPA:  ACG - Transfers

- For a student who transfers hours of at least one academic year but less than two, institution which the student transfers must calculate GPA using grades for courses accepted from any prior institution toward student’s ACG-eligible program
- Final §691.15(f)(1)(i)

## GPA:  ACG - Transfers

- For a student _**who transfers in hours comprising less than one academic year**_, the institution uses grades for _**all coursework accepted by the current institution into the eligible program and grades for coursework earned at the current institution**_
- Final §691.15(f)(1)(i)

## GPA:  National SMART Grant - Transfers

- Use one of two methods:
_**Method #1:  transfer grades not incorporated**_
_**Method #2:  transfer grades incorporated**_
- Final §691.15(f)(1)(i) and (ii)

## GPA:  National SMART Grant - Transfers

_**Method 1 – GPA**_
- For 1st payment period, use grades earned in courses accepted into National SMART Grant- eligible program if academic policy does _**not**_ incorporate grades from courses accepted
- For subsequent payment periods, use institutional policy
- Final §691.15(f)(2)(i)

## GPA:  National SMART Grant - Transfers

_**Method 2 – GPA**_
- For 1st payment period, use grades earned in courses accepted into National SMART Grant-eligible program if academic policy incorporates grades from courses accepted
- For subsequent payment periods, use institutional policy that includes grades for transfer courses
- Final §691.15(f)(2)(ii)

## Prior Enrollment

## Prior Enrollment

- While in high school:
- Is not eligible if enrolled as a “regular student” in an ACG-eligible program **while at or below the age of compulsory attendance**
- May be eligible if not enrolled as a “regular student” in an ACG-eligible program
- Final §691.15(b)(1)(ii)(C)

## Successful Completion of a Rigorous Secondary School Program of Study

## Rigorous Program

**High School Diploma**
- In addition to completing a rigorous program, a student must receive a high school diploma, or for a home-schooled student, a certification of completion of a secondary education provided by the student’s parent or guardian
- Final §691.15(b)(1)(ii)(A)
- Final §691.15(b)(1)(iii)(A)

## Successful Completion of a Rigorous Program

**Documentation**
- Must document a student’s successful completion of a rigorous program **and** receipt of a high school diploma or certification of home-schooling completion
- Final §691.15(b)(2)(i)

## Successful Completion of a Rigorous Program

**Cognizant Authority**
- Includes but is not limited to:
- An LEA
- An SEA or other state agency
- A public or private high school
- A testing organization such as the College Board or state agency
- Parent, if student is home-schooled

## Successful Completion of a Rigorous Program

**Self-certification**
- Institution must attempt to document a student’s successful completion of a rigorous secondary school program of study in the case of any student who:
- 	1.  Self-certifies on the FAFSA
- 	2.  Otherwise self-identifies to the
- 		institution
- Final §691.15(b)(5)(i)

## Successful Completion of a Rigorous Program

**Self-certification**
- If a student does not self-certify completion of a rigorous program on the FAFSA or otherwise, the institution is not required to determine the student’s ACG eligibility, notwithstanding 34 CFR 668.16(f)
- Final §691.15(b)(5)(ii)

## Rigorous Secondary School Program of Study

## Recognition of a Rigorous Program

**Currently Designated Programs**
- State-designated programs:
- State-submitted program
- An advanced or honors program established by a state and in existence for the 2004-2005 school year or 2005-2006 school year and beyond
- State Scholars Initiative

## SSI States

**Arizona**
**Arkansas**
**Connecticut**
**Indiana**
**Kentucky**
**Louisiana**
**Maryland**
**Massachusetts**
**Michigan**

**New Hampshire**
**New Jersey**
**New Mexico**
**Oklahoma**
**Rhode Island**
**South Dakota**
**Tennessee**
**Utah **
**Virginia **
**Washington**
**West Virginia**
**Wyoming**

## Recognition of a Rigorous Program

**Currently Designated Programs**
- Completion of at least 2 Advanced Placement (AP) courses with a passing test score of 3 for those courses or 2 International Baccalaureate (IB) courses with a passing test score of 4 for those courses
- A set of courses as outlined in the regulations

## Recognition of a Rigorous Program

**Currently Designated Programs**
- The recognized set of courses consists of:
- 4 years of English
- 3 years of mathematics, 2 of which must be Algebra 1 and above
- 3 years of science, 2 of which must be one each of biology, chemistry, or physics
- 3 years of social studies
- 1 year of a language other than English

## Recognition of a Rigorous Program

**Currently Designated Programs**
-   The secretary publishes a list of rigorous programs of study that she recognizes:
- _[http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ope/ac-smart.html](http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ope/ac-smart.html)_
-    Contains links to recognized rigorous programs by year of student graduation for each state

## Recognition of a Rigorous Program

**Multi-year Recognition**
- SEAs and LEAs may request recognition of rigorous secondary school programs of study for school years beyond the immediate next school year
- Final §691.16(b)(2)

## Recognition of a Rigorous Program

**State Advanced and Honors Programs**
- The secretary continues recognition of advanced or honors secondary school programs of study for school years subsequent to the 2005-2006 school year
- Final §691.16(d)(1)

## Eligible Majors

## Determination of Eligible Majors

**New Process**
- New process added for institutions to request that additional majors be added to the list of SMART-eligible majors
- Proposed additional eligible major would be identified by its Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code
- Final §691.17(d) and §691.2(d)

## Determination of Eligible Majors

**New Process**
-    Requests for designation of an additional eligible major must include:
- The CIP code and program title of the additional major
- The reason or reasons the institution believes the additional major should be considered
- Documentation showing that the institution has actually awarded or plans to award a bachelor’s degree in the requested major

## Determination of Eligible Majors

**CIP Code Definition**
- Adds a definition of CIP code as it pertains to the National SMART Grant Program to §691.2(d):
-    A taxonomy of instructional program classifications and descriptions developed by the U.S. Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics

## Determination of Eligible Majors

**Dear Colleague Letter GEN-07-06**
- Published September 2007
- Provides an updated list of eligible majors for the 2007-2008 award year
- Does not remove any eligible majors; only adds new eligible majors

## Determination of Eligible Majors

- Additional fields of study (DCL GEN-07-06):
- 01.1001 Food Science
- 01.1002 Food Technology and Processing
- 03.0104 Environmental Science
- 03.0301 Fishing and Fisheries Science and Management
- 03.0502 Forest Sciences and Biology
- 03.0509 Wood Science and Wood Products/Pulp and Paper Technology
- 03.0601 Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management
- 30.1001 Biopsychology
- 30.1901 Nutrition Sciences
- 42.1101 Physiological Psychology/Psychobiology

## Determination of Eligible Majors

**Dear Colleague Letter GEN-08-02**
- Published February 6, 2008
- Explained the process by which institutions could request additional majors to be included on the list of SMART-eligible majors for 2008-2009
- Due date was February 29, 2008

## Determination of Eligible Majors

**Dear Colleague Letter GEN-08-09**
- Published June 20, 2008
- 33 requests, 26 unique
- No new majors added for the 2008-2009 award year

## Documenting Major

- The final regulations clarify how an institutions must document both:
- 	1.  A student’s eligible major
- 	2.  Progress in the eligible program 		  and major
- Final §691.15(d)(1)
- Final §691.15(e)

## Documenting Major

- An institution must maintain documentation of the declared major, or in the case of a student’s intent to declare a major, a written declaration of intent provided by the student timely enough for the institution to determine that it still correctly reflects the student’s stated intent
- Final §691.15(d)(1)
- Final §691.15(e)

## Documenting Major

- The final regulations require written documentation showing that the student is completing coursework at an appropriate pace in the student’s declared eligible major or intended eligible major
- Final §691.15(d)(1)
- Final §691.15(e)

## Documenting Major

**DCL GEN-07-07** October 9, 2007
- Student must be enrolled in at least one course that meets the specific requirements of the student’s National SMART Grant-eligible major to receive a National SMART Grant for the payment period

## Documenting Major

**DCL GEN-07-07**
- Implementation
- The remainder of the 2007-2008 award year except through the fall payment period for:
- Students already packaged and disbursed; or
- Students already packaged
- The 2008-2009 award year and beyond
- No changes for the 2006-2007 award year

## First Year Implementation Outcomes

## Nationally

**ACG:**
- $233,038,410 awarded to 299,089 students
**National SMART Grants:**
- $195,544,735 awarded to 60,976 students

## ACG:  Top Five Institutions

- Pennsylvania State University (4,128)
- University of California – Davis (1,926)
- University of Texas – Austin (1,718)
- University of California – Los Angeles (1,686)
- Ohio State University (1,620)

## National SMART Grants:  Top Five Institutions

- Brigham Young University (1,584)
- University of Phoenix (1,326)
- University of California – San Diego (921)
- DeVry University (789)
- Pennsylvania State University (715)

## Top National SMART Grant Majors

- Biological and Biomedical Sciences
- Engineering
- Computer Science

## Top Foreign Language Majors

- Russian
- Japanese
- Chinese

## “Best Practices”

- Discuss the ACG and National SMART Grant Programs in state, local, and school-level outreach
- Reach out to all potential eligibles, not just students who self-identify
- Advocate for low-income students’ access to rigorous, college preparatory classes and pursuit of high-demand majors

## The Ensuring Continued Access to Student Loans Act of 2008 (ECASLA)

## ECASLA

- Signed by the President on May 7, 2008 (Public Law 110-227)
- Makes changes to the ACG and National SMART Grant Programs that are effective January 1, 2009

## DCL GEN-08-08

- Published June 19, 2008
- Describes ECASLA changes to ACG/National SMART Grants
- Notes that ECASLA changes may be revisited

## Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008 (HEOA)

## HEOA

- Signed by the president on August 14, 2008 (Public Law 110-315)
- Reauthorizes the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA)
- Amended certain ECASLA provisions
- Sets July 1, 2009 as the effective date for the ECASLA and HEOA changes.

## ECASLA Changes Not Impacted by HEOA 

## ECASLA Changes to Both ACG and National SMART Grants

## For both ACG and National SMART Grants

- Eliminates the restriction to U.S. citizens
- Stipulates that students can be enrolled less than full-time but must be enrolled at least half-time
- Proportionally reduces maximum awards the same way Pell does for part-time students
- Requires grant awards and payments to be determined on the same basis as Pell
- Provides that awards are based on student’s grade level instead of academic year

## ECASLA Changes to ACG

## ACG Program Changes

- Authorizes a 1st-year ACG to a student enrolled in at least a 1-year certificate program if the student is attending a 2- or 4-year degree granting institution
- Authorizes a 2nd-year ACG to a student enrolled in at least a 2-year certificate program if the student is attending a 2- or 4-year degree granting institution

## ACG Program Changes

- Amends provision excluding students who had been previously enrolled in a program of undergraduate education from eligibility for a first-year ACG by creating an exception for students whose prior enrollment in an undergraduate program was part of a secondary school program of study

## ECASLA Changes to National SMART Grants

## National SMART Grant Changes

- Authorizes 3rd- and 4th-year grants to students at institutions that offer a single liberal arts curriculum leading to a baccalaureate degree but at which students are not allowed to declare a major in a particular subject area by the institution.  Students must:
- Take coursework certified to be at least equal to the requirements for a SMART-eligible major at another institution that offers a baccalaureate degree in that SMART-eligible major
- Obtain a 3.0 cumulative GPA

## National SMART Grant Changes

- OR, alternatively, students could enroll in a liberal arts degree program that:
- Was offered prior to February 8, 2006
- Includes a rigorous course of study in mathematics, biology, chemistry, and physics, including at least 4 years of study in mathematics and 3 years of study in the sciences with a laboratory component in each of those years

## National SMART Grant Changes

- OR, alternatively, a student could obtain a 5th year grant if the student:
- Enrolls in the 5th year of a SMART-eligible program certified by an appropriate institutional official to require 5 full years of coursework to complete
- Maintains a 3.0 cumulative GPA

## HEOA Changes to ECASLA

## HEOA Changes to ECASLA

- Sets July 1, 2009 as the effective date for the ECASLA and HEOA changes with one exception:
- Effective October 1, 2008, the HEOA clarifies that funds for the ACG and National SMART Grant Programs for any fiscal year are available from October 1 of that fiscal year and remain available through September 30 of the succeeding fiscal year
- Waives Master Calendar and negotiated rulemaking requirements for the changes to the ACG/National SMART Grant Programs in ECASLA and in HEOA

## HEOA Changes to ECASLA

- Provides additional rigorous secondary school program of study options under which a student can meet the rigorous secondary school program of study requirement for an ACG

## ACG Rigorous Program Options

- First-year ACG:  Successful completion, after January 1, 2006, but before July 1, 2009, of a rigorous secondary school program of study established by a state or local educational agency and recognized as such by the secretary
- Second-year ACG:  Successful completion, after January 1, 2005, but before July 1, 2009, of a rigorous secondary school program of study established by a state or local educational agency and recognized as such by the secretary

## ACG Rigorous Program Options

- For a first- or second-year ACG:
- Successfully completion, on or after July 1, 2009, of a program that is recognized by an appropriate official, consistent with state law, to prepare students for college and is reported to the secretary when the secretary requires
- Successfully completion of a secondary school program of study recognized as rigorous by the secretary in regulations that were in effect on May 6, 2008 (72 FR 61248)

## HEOA Implementation

- Regulatory changes to be completed for the 09/10 award year
- HEOA website:   www.ed.gov/heoa

## Contact Information

**Contact Information**

- We appreciate your feedback and comments.  We can be reached at:
-  Email:	_[Carney.McCullough@ed.gov](mailto:Carney.McCullough@ed.gov)_
-  Phone:	202-502-7639
-  Fax:	202-502-7874
-  Email:	_[Sophia.McArdle@ed.gov](mailto:Sopia.McArdle@ed.gov)_
-  Phone:	202-219-7078
-  Fax:	202-502-7874