Tennessee Hope Foster Child Tuition Grant

A foster child is defined as one who was in the custody of the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services:

1. For at least one (1) year after reaching fourteen (14) years of age;
   
   
2. For at least one (1) year after reaching fourteen (14) years of age and placed for adoption by the Department of Children’s Services or one of its adoption contract agencies and the adoption was finalized; or
   
   
3. For at least one (1) year and placed in permanent guardianship by the Department of Children’s Services after reaching fourteen (14) years of age.

The receipt of a Tennessee HOPE Foster Child Tuition Grant is contingent upon the following:

1. Student must be a recipient of either the Tennessee HOPE scholarship or Tennessee HOPE Access grant; and
   
   
2. Be admitted to an eligible postsecondary institution.  Academically qualifying for any of these awards program does not guarantee admission to an eligible postsecondary institution.

Eligibility – Tennessee HOPE Foster Child Tuition Grant

1. In addition to the general eligibility requirements in Rule 1640-1-19-.04 and the applicable requirements of Rule 1640-1-19-.05(1), to be eligible for a Tennessee HOPE Foster Child Tuition Grant, a student shall present the Corporation with official certification from the Department of Children’s Services that the student meets the eligibility requirement for the grant.
   
2. Any student eligible for the Tennessee HOPE Foster Child Tuition Grant shall apply for all available financial aid, including, but not limited to, the Tennessee HOPE scholarship or Tennessee HOPE access grant, if eligible, and funds provided through the Federal Foster Care Independence Act of 1999, if applicable.  All financial assistance available to a student, other than the Tennessee HOPE Foster Child Tuition Grant, shall be applied to the student’s total cost of attendance prior to the granting of a Tennessee HOPE Foster Child Tuition Grant.

Award Amounts

1. A Tennessee HOPE Foster Child Tuition Grant for a student attending an eligible public postsecondary institution shall cover any costs of tuition and all associated fees remaining after applying all other student financial assistance from all sources towards the student’s cost of attendance.
   
2. A Tennessee HOPE Foster Child Tuition Grant for a student attending an eligible four-year OR two-year independent postsecondary institution shall be the cost of tuition and all associated fees remaining after applying all other student financial assistance from all sources towards the student’s cost of attendance, or the average of the sum of full tuition and associated fees charged at all four-year OR two-year public postsecondary institutions, whichever is less.

Continuation Requirements

Subject to meeting retention standards provided by regulations outlined in Chapter 1640-1-19-.12 for a TELS award, the student shall be eligible for the Tennessee HOPE Foster Child Tuition Grant:

1. For a period of no more than four (4) years after the date of graduation from high school or equivalent; and
   
   
2. For a period of six (6) years after admittance to an eligible public postsecondary institution, if, except as provided by Rule 1640-1-19-.20 or 1640-1-19-.21, the student maintains satisfactory progress in a course of study in accordance with the standards and practices used for Title IV programs by the postsecondary institution in which the student is currently enrolled.