2023 Tennessee Code › Title 49 - EDUCATION (§§ 49-1-NEW — 49-50-1703) › Chapter 4 - FINANCIAL AID (§§ 49-4-101 — 49-4-1008) › Part 9 - STATE LOTTERY PROCEEDS (§§ 49-4-901 — 49-4-944) › Section 49-4-920 - HOPE access grant

(a)
To be eligible for a Tennessee HOPE access grant, an entering freshman student shall:
(1)
Meet all requirements of §§
49-4-904
and
49-4-905
;
(2)
Have an adjusted gross income attributable to the student that does not exceed thirty-six thousand dollars ($36,000);
(3)
Submit an initial Tennessee HOPE access grant application no later than September 1, 2021, or a renewal application by the deadline published on TSAC's website each year thereafter;
(4)
Graduate from an eligible high school after December 1, 2003, upon having completed curriculum requirements of the high school for graduation;
(5)
Achieve a final high school grade point average of at least 2.75;
(6)
Attain a composite ACT score of at least 18 on any single ACT test date or a concordant equivalent score on the SAT on any single SAT test date; and
(7)
Be admitted to, and enroll in, an eligible postsecondary institution no later than sixteen (16) months after graduation from an eligible high school.
(b)
(1)
A Tennessee HOPE access grant shall be awarded to an eligible student only until the end of the semester in which the student has attempted a total of twenty-four (24) semester hours. A student who is eligible for a Tennessee HOPE Scholarship shall be ineligible for a Tennessee HOPE access grant.
(2)
A student receiving a Tennessee HOPE access grant shall maintain continuous enrollment at an eligible postsecondary institution.
(3)
If a student ceases to be eligible for a Tennessee HOPE access grant at any time for any reason, then the student may not regain the Tennessee HOPE access grant and shall not be eligible for a Tennessee HOPE scholarship.
(c)
The receipt of a Tennessee HOPE access grant is contingent upon admission to an eligible postsecondary institution. Financially and academically qualifying for a Tennessee HOPE access grant does not guarantee admission to an eligible postsecondary institution.
(d)
Subject to the amounts appropriated by the general assembly and any law relating to a shortfall in funds available for postsecondary assistance from the net proceeds of the state lottery, a Tennessee HOPE access grant shall be fifty percent (50%) of the combined award of the ASPIRE award under §
49-4-915
and the Tennessee HOPE scholarship awarded under §
49-4-914
that is applicable to Tennessee HOPE scholarship recipients at the eligible postsecondary institution at which the Tennessee HOPE access grant recipient is enrolled.
(e)
(1)
TSAC shall review a student's eligibility at the end of the semester in which the student has attempted twenty-four (24) semester hours. If a student receiving a Tennessee HOPE access grant has achieved a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.75 at the end of the semester in which the student has attempted twenty-four (24) semester hours, then the student shall be eligible for a Tennessee HOPE scholarship. If the student meets the requirements of §
49-4-915(a)(2)
, the student shall be eligible for an ASPIRE award.
(2)
If a student receiving a Tennessee HOPE access grant does not achieve a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.75 at the end of the semester in which the student has attempted twenty-four (24) semester hours, but the student, without financial assistance from lottery proceeds, continues to attend an eligible postsecondary institution and meets the requirements of §
49-4-911(a)(1)
at the end of the semester in which the student has attempted forty-eight (48), seventy-two (72), ninety-six (96) or any subsequent multiple of twenty-four (24) semester hours or the requirements of §
49-4-911(a)(2)
at the end of forty-eight (48) semester hours or at the end of any subsequent semester, then the student shall be eligible for a Tennessee HOPE scholarship if the student meets all other applicable requirements. If, at that time, the student meets the requirements of §
49-4-915(a)(2)
, the student shall be eligible for an ASPIRE award.
(f)
A student may receive a Tennessee HOPE scholarship after having received a Tennessee HOPE access grant until the first of the following events:
(1)
The student has earned an advanced degree; or
(2)
Five (5) years have passed from the date of the student's initial enrollment at any postsecondary institution.
Amended by 2023 Tenn. Acts, ch. 368, s 9, eff. 7/1/2023.
Amended by 2020 Tenn. Acts, ch. 794, Secs.s 40, s 41 eff. 8/1/2020.
Amended by 2020 Tenn. Acts, ch. 794, s 39, eff. 8/1/2020.
Amended by 2017 Tenn. Acts, ch. 328, s 4, eff. 5/9/2017.
Amended by 2014 Tenn. Acts, ch. 900, s 8, eff. 7/1/2015.
Acts 2003 , ch. 298, § 1; 2004, ch. 840, §§ 16, 24, 25; 2004, ch. 881, §§ 6, 7; 2005, ch. 481, §§ 3, 11 - 13, 17, 29; 2008 , ch. 1142, §§ 5, 9; 2011 , ch. 437, § 4.