Georgia-2009-SB340-Engrossed

To amend Part 3 of Article 6 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to educational programs, so as to require school systems and private schools to adopt a reporting system for freshman, sophomore, and junior high school students for the purpose of determining potential HOPE eligibility; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:

Part 3 of Article 6 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to educational programs, is amended by revising Code Section 20-2-157, relating to uniform reporting system for certain purposes, by adding a new subsection to read as follows:

"(c)(1) Beginning with the school year beginning after May 1, 2011, each school system and private school shall adopt the reporting system described in this subsection for purposes of determining potential eligibility for freshman, sophomore, and junior high school students for the HOPE scholarship program and other programs identified in this Code section.

(2) Each school system and private school shall transmit to the Georgia Student Finance Commission, in such manner and at such times as the commission may prescribe, an electronic transcript of courses and course grades for each freshman, sophomore, and junior high school student that reflects the complete high school academic record of the student, including scores on any state tests required for graduation, the grading scales used by the school system or private school for the time periods referenced by the transcripts, and any other pertinent information as determined by the Georgia Student Finance Commission. Each grade reported by a school system or private school to the commission for the purpose of calculating the grade point average for potential HOPE scholarship eligibility shall be the actual grade earned by the student with no weighting or addition of points by the school system or private school.

(3) The Georgia Student Finance Commission shall calculate a grade point average for the purpose of determining eligibility for the HOPE scholarship from these electronic transcripts and shall notify students of their potential eligibility and high schools as to the potential eligibility of students."