Under present law, the Tennessee Promise scholarship is available to students who meet certain eligibility criteria and who enroll in an eligible postsecondary institution. Present law defines "eligible postsecondary institution" to include: (1) A postsecondary institution that was eligible for the Tennessee education lottery scholarship on July 1, 2013, and remains eligible thereafter; and (2) The William R. Moore College of Technology. This bill expands the list of eligible postsecondary institutions for purposes of the Tennessee Promise scholarship to include an institution accredited by the National Accrediting Commission of Career Arts and Sciences (NACCAS) that has its primary campus domiciled in this state. The scholarship amount will be the same as what is available to recipients who enroll at the William R. Moore College of Technology, which is the average cost of tuition and mandatory fees at the public two-year postsecondary institutions less all other gift aid. The scholarship will be available to qualified students enrolling in a NACCAS-accredited institution who pursue a course of study leading to a certificate, diploma, or other credential. To be eligible for the scholarship at a NACCAS-accredited institution, this bill requires that TSAC must first determine that there are no available enrollment slots at a TCAT in the county in which the student resides for the student's desired program of study. If there are available enrollment slots at a TCAT in the county in which the student resides for the student's desired program of study, then the student must be enrolled in a TCAT in order to receive the scholarship.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 49-4-708(b)(3), 49-4-708, 49-4-708(b)(1), 49-4-708(b)(4), 49-4-708(b)(5), 49-4-708(c)(3), 49-4-708(c)