Partnership Members:

Attention!  High School Graduates
New Hampshire Students Eligible for New Federal Grants
  

The Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG) will provide funds to college students who successfully completed a rigorous high school program, as determined by the state and recognized by the Secretary of Education, and are eligible to receive Pell Grants. Under the program, freshmen could receive up to $750 and sophomores could receive up to $1,300; this is in addition to Pell Grant funds students are already receiving. The program will be available for the first time for the 2006-07 school year for first year students who graduated from high school after January 1, 2006 and for second year students who graduated from high school after January 1, 2005 . These grants provide further incentive for students to take more challenging courses in high school and to pursue college majors that are in high demand in the global economy, such as science, math, technology, engineering and critical foreign languages.

The options for eligibility for the 2006-07 school year for a student from New Hampshire are:

• A set of courses similar to the State Scholars Initiative. This program of study requires passing grades in the following:
• Four years of English;
• Three years of Math (including Algebra I and a higher level course such as Algebra II, Geometry, or Data Analysis and Statistics);
• Three years of science (including at least two courses from biology, chemistry or physics);
• Three years of social studies; and
• One year of a foreign language.

• Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) courses and test scores. This program requires a minimum of two Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) courses in high school and a minimum passing score on the exams for those classes. Students must score 3 or higher on AP exams and 4 or higher on IB exams.

• New Hampshire Dual Enrollment Program. This program has the following requirements:
• Students enrolled in "Running Start" and other dual enrollment programs offered across New Hampshire in partnerships between the public two and four-year systems and private four-year institutions of higher education. Students are expected to achieve a Grade of B or above to qualify for this designation. Recommended coursework:   
• Arts Education - 1 credit
• Business Education - 1 credit
• World Languages - 2 credits
• English - 4 credits
• Mathematics (Algebra I, Algebra II, and Geometry) - 3 credits
• Science - 3 credits
• Social Studies - 3 credits

• All students engaged in, and successfully complete, courses that meet or exceed national program standards for Career Technical Education and Project Lead the Way. Recommended coursework:
• Career Technical Program - 4 credits
• Arts Education - 1 credit
• Business Education - 1 credit
• World Languages - 2 credits
• English - 4 credits
• Mathematics (Algrebra I, Algebra II, and Geometry) - 3 credits
• Science - 3 credits
• Social Studies - 3 credits

• All students engaged in, and successfully complete, Programs of the Arts that meet or exceed program competency with a grade of B or better. Recommended coursework:
• Performing or Visual Arts Education - 4 credits
• Business Education - 1 credit
• World Languages - 2 credits
• English - 4 credits
• Mathematics (Algebra I, Algebra II, and Geometry) - 3 credits
• Science - 3 credits
• Social Studies - 3 credits

Secretary Spellings also announced the National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent (SMART) Grants. A National SMART Grant will provide up to $4,000 for each of the third and fourth years of undergraduate study to full-time students who are U.S. citizens, eligible for a Federal Pell Grant, and majoring in physical, life, or computer sciences, mathematics, technology, or engineering or in a foreign language determined critical to national security. The student must also have maintained a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.0 in coursework required for the major. The National SMART Grant award is in addition to the student's Pell Grant award.

For more information about these grants visit the US Department of Education website and Federal Student Aid.