(a) To be eligible for a Tennessee HOPE foster child tuition grant, a student shall:

Terms Used In Tennessee Code 49-4-933

  • Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
  • Cost of attendance: means the combined cost of tuition, mandatory fees, room and board, books and other educational expenses as determined by the financial aid office of the eligible postsecondary institution. See Tennessee Code 49-4-902
  • Eligible independent postsecondary institution: means :
    (A) An institution created by testamentary trust for which the state acts by statute as trustee and for which the governor is authorized to appoint commissioners with the advice and consent of the senate and that offers courses leading to undergraduate degrees. See Tennessee Code 49-4-902
  • Eligible postsecondary institution: means an eligible independent postsecondary institution or an eligible public postsecondary institution. See Tennessee Code 49-4-902
  • Eligible program of study: means , beginning with the fall semester of the 2021-2022 academic year:
    (A) A curriculum of courses leading to a certificate or diploma at a Tennessee college of applied technology. See Tennessee Code 49-4-902
  • FAFSA: means the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. See Tennessee Code 49-4-902
  • Full-time student: means a student attending a postsecondary educational institution and enrolled for at least twelve (12) semester hours during each semester of attendance. See Tennessee Code 49-4-902
  • Gift: A voluntary transfer or conveyance of property without consideration, or for less than full and adequate consideration based on fair market value.
  • Scholarship: means a Tennessee HOPE scholarship or a Tennessee HOPE access grant. See Tennessee Code 49-4-902
  • State: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the several territories of the United States. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • Tennessee HOPE access grant: means a grant for coursework in an eligible program of study in pursuit of an associate or baccalaureate degree at an eligible postsecondary institution that is funded from net proceeds of the state lottery and awarded to freshman students meeting the requirements of §. See Tennessee Code 49-4-902
  • TSAC: means the Tennessee student assistance corporation. See Tennessee Code 49-4-902
(1) Not be ineligible for the grant under § 49-4-904;
(2) Meet the requirements of § 49-4-905;
(3) Meet the applicable academic requirements for a Tennessee HOPE scholarship or Tennessee HOPE access grant that apply to the method by which the student completed high school;
(4) Apply for a Tennessee HOPE foster child tuition grant and file a FAFSA; and
(5) Be admitted to, and enroll in, an eligible program of study at an eligible postsecondary institution as a part-time or full-time student.
(b) This section applies to a student who:

(1) Was in state custody at any time after the student reached thirteen (13) years of age;
(2) Was in state custody at any time after the student reached thirteen (13) years of age and was placed for adoption by the department of children’s services or one of its adoption contract agencies, and the adoption was finalized; or
(3) Was in state custody and placed in permanent guardianship by the department of children’s services after reaching thirteen (13) years of age.
(c) The student shall present TSAC with official certification from the department of children’s services that the student meets the eligibility requirements of subsection (b) for the tuition grant.
(d) The student shall be eligible for the Tennessee HOPE foster child tuition grant:

(1) For entrance to an eligible postsecondary institution for a period of no more than four (4) years after the date of graduation from high school or its equivalent; and
(2) For a period of six (6) years after admittance to an eligible postsecondary institution if satisfactory progress is achieved and maintained.
(e) The Tennessee HOPE foster child tuition grant shall be the cost of attendance less any gift aid, with the total HOPE foster child tuition grant amount not to exceed the cost of tuition and mandatory fees at the eligible postsecondary institution attended. Additionally, at an eligible independent postsecondary institution, the Tennessee HOPE foster child tuition grant shall not exceed the statewide average public tuition and mandatory fee rate for the type of institution, two-year or four-year, attended.
(f) Nothing in this section shall be construed to:

(1) Guarantee acceptance by, or entrance into, any eligible postsecondary institution for youth in, or formerly in, the custody of the state; or
(2) Limit the participation of a youth in, or formerly in, the custody of the state in any other program of financial assistance for postsecondary education.