AUTHORIZATION:

Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, Executive Order Title IV, Part A, Subpart 6.

OBJECTIVES:

To provide scholarships to support postsecondary education to outstanding high school seniors who show promise of continued academic achievement in an effort to recognize and promote student excellence and achievement.

TYPES OF ASSISTANCE:

Formula Grants Place Cursor Here for Definition

USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS:

Scholarships of $1,500 are awarded to support a maximum of 4 years of study at any eligible institution of higher education.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Applicant Eligibility:   The State educational agencies (SEA), which supervise public elementary and secondary schools in the States, are responsible for administering the program. For the purposes of this program, the States include the fifty States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, and Palau.

Beneficiary Eligibility:   A student must meet residency and citizenship requirements, be a graduate of a public or private secondary school or have been accepted for enrollment at an institution of higher education, have demonstrated outstanding academic achievement, and show promise of continued academic achievement to be eligible to receive a scholarship.

Credentials/Documentation:   To receive allotments for scholarships, a State must submit a participation agreement to the Department of Education as required by Section 419E of the program statute. A State is not required to provide further application information for funding unless the State wants to modify an approved agreement. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-87.

Pre-application Coordination:   Preapplication coordination is not applicable. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.

Application Procedure:   OMB Circular No. A-102 applies to this program. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-110.

Award Procedure:   Annual allotments are provided through grant awards to the State educational agencies for making scholarships to qualifying students. Students apply to their State of legal residence for a scholarship under this program. Student applicants must follow the application procedures as directed by each State. Each participating State awards scholarships to eligible students in accordance with selection procedures developed by the State.

Deadlines:   Contact the headquarters or regional office, as appropriate, for application deadlines.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time:   

Not Applicable.

Appeals:   

Not Applicable.

Renewals:   

To be eligible for allotments for any year, States must enter into an agreement with the Department of Education in accordance with Section 419E of the program statute and the program requirements for the year as published in the Federal Register by the Secretary. To be eligible for renewal of scholarships, students must continue to meet residency and citizenship requirements, be enrolled as a full-time student, and maintain satisfactory academic progress. Renewals are subject to the availability of appropriations.

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ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:

Formula and Matching Requirements:   

This program has no statutory formula. Matching Requirements: Each participating State is allotted funds based on the ratio of the State's population ages five through seventeen years to the population ages five through seventeen in all participating States, except that no State shall receive less than 10 scholarships of $1,500 each. MOE requirements are not applicable to this program.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance:   

Awards may be made for up to four years. Renewals are subject to the availability of appropriations. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: Electronic transfer.

POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Reports:   An annual performance report of the expenditure of Scholarship funds and other reports as required by the Secretary. Cash reports are not applicable. Progress reports are not applicable. Expenditure reports are not applicable. Performance monitoring is not applicable.

Audits:   In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133.

Records:   Records must be maintained for 5 years after the activity for which the funds were awarded or until completion of the Department Audit, whichever is later.

FINANCIAL INFORMATION:

Account Identification:  

91-0201-0-1-502.

Obligations:   (Formula Grants) FY 08 $40,283,730; FY 09 est $40,642,000; FY 10 est $40,642,000

Range and Average of Financial Assistance:  

Range: $60,000 - $5,037,000; Average: $725,732.

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