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Under the Texas early High School Graduation Scholarship Program, students who complete the Recommended or Advanced (Distinguished Achievement) High School Program may earn financial credits in varying amounts to apply to college tuition. The amounts depend on the number of consecutive months in which the student completed graduation requirements and the number of early college credits earned and may be used at public or private Texas higher education institutions within the state. The counselor can provide additional information about meeting the program’s eligibility requirements.

Students who have financial need according to federal criteria and who complete the recommended High School Program or Distinguished Achievement Program may be eligible under the TEXAS Grant Program for tuition and fees to Texas public universities, community colleges, and technical schools as well as to private institutions.

The Texas Legislature recently approved HB 713, establishing the "Toward EXcellence, Access, & Success (TEXAS)" Grant Program. This program establishes grants to cover tuition and fees to Texas public and independent colleges and universities, including community colleges and technical schools for students with financial need who have successfully completed the advanced, advanced with honors, recommended, or distinguished achievement high school graduation programs. Students who graduated in 1999 or later are eligible for an award through this program.

The purpose of the program is to provide a grant of money to enable well-prepared eligible students to attend public and private nonprofit institutions of higher education in Texas. The priority in making awards is to provide continued funding to recipients already enrolled in the program who are in college and are making progress towards their degrees. Because funding for awards to new students is limited, many students who meet the eligibility requirements will not be able to receive awards in 2003-2004 and in 2004-2005.

A student who:
• is a Texas resident;
• has financial need and an expected family contribution (EFC) of no more than $8,500;
• has applied for any available financial aid or assistance;
• has not been previously granted a baccalaureate degree;
• enrolls at least ¾ time in an undergraduate degree or certificate program at a Texas non-profit college or university;
• has not been convicted of a felony or a crime involving a controlled substance;
• graduated from an accredited high school in Texas no earlier than the 1998-1999 school year;
• completed the recommended or distinguished achievement high school curriculum or its equivalent; and
• enrolls in an eligible Texas college or university within 16 months of high school graduation.

Please note that funding in this program is limited. Though you may meet eligibility requirements, your financial aid package may not include this Grant if funds are not available at your college.

Funding in this program is limited, thus students should apply as early as possible. Deadlines vary by institution, but fall and spring grants are generally awarded in the spring prior to enrollment.

The award amount depends on the tuition and fees to be paid by the student. In general, it is an amount equal to the student's tuition and required fees at public institutions. (For 2003-2004, the award is approximately: $1,570 per semester for public university students; $635 per semester for community college students; and $930 per semester for technical college students, based on enrollment of 12 hours per semester.) Private institution awards are based on the public university amount.

No. Students who qualify on the basis of their high school curriculum and who continue to meet program academic standards in college can receive awards for up to 150 credit hours or for six years or until they receive their bachelor's degree, whichever occurs first. In the first year of college, the academic standards are set by the institution. In subsequent years, the requirements are completion of at least 75 percent of the hours taken in the prior year, plus an overall college GPA of at least 2.5 on a 4.0 scale.

Awards will be made by the financial aid office at the student's college or university. Persons interested in the program should contact the financial aid office at the student's college or university to find out about deadlines and additional procedures.