April 11, 2003, M E M O R A N D U M
Graduating Classes of 2004 and Thereafter:
RE: High School Transcript Formatting Requirements for State Scholarship Eligibility
"In order for home school students to be eligible for state scholarships, students must provide official rank verification from either the approved home school association or the high school the student would have attended if he or she had not home schooled."
CHASE SC:
Is there a standard form, application or process for the home school to use or proceed with in requesting their local high school to provide the official rank verification? If there is not, will one be made and implemented statewide? When will this occur?
SC Commission on Higher Education:
We do not have a standard form and at this point in time do not anticipate creating one. With the Palmetto Fellows Scholarship Program, we have been working with the high schools for several years in obtaining rank information for home-school students. <* Inserted for your convenience.> We are accepting the information on official school letterhead with an official school official’s signature. The letter should include the student’s name and GPR/rank on the Uniform Grading Scale.
CHASE SC:
Are all SC public high schools aware that homeschools may contact them for "official rank verification"?
SC Commission on Higher Education:
Yes, the directive was sent to all public high schools, as well as all home-school associations and district superintendents.
CHASE SC:
Should the home school contact the guidance counsel office to have this done? If the local public high school is unaware of this policy, whom should they (the public high school) be referred to for clarification, in order to aid the home school family?
SC Commission on Higher Education:
Yes, we would suggest contacting the guidance office at the high school the student would have attended if he/she has chose not to home-school.
Again, the high school should be aware. But if you encounter problems when trying to obtain a rank for the Palmetto Fellows Scholarship, then refer the guidance counselor to me, Sherry Hubbard (803) 737-2262. If you encounter problems when trying to obtain rank information for the LIFE Scholarship, the guidance counselor should contact Ms. Bichevia Green (803) 737-2280.
CHASE SC:
For those homeschools that provide the "official rank verification" from the public school that "the student would have attended if he or she had not home schooled",
do you accept the home school transcript for the scholarships?
SC Commission on Higher Education:
Yes. We would still need the letter described below. <* See the above noted section for these details.>
A Note from CHASE SC:
Make sure that your letter includes everything required, and then attach the transcript you have prepared for your homeschooled student.
The letter needed from the public school your child would have attended-
1. should be on official school letterhead with an official school official’s signature,
2. the letter should include the student’s name, and GPR/rank on the Uniform Grading Scale, and
3. don't forget to attach the transcript you have prepared for your homeschooled student with the letter.
The Palmetto Fellows Scholarship Program is a merit-based scholarship program administered by the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education. Each Palmetto Fellow may receive a scholarship of up to $6,700 annually. Half of the scholarship is disbursed in the fall term and half is disbursed in the spring term. The scholarship must be applied directly toward the cost of attendance, less any other gift aid received. Palmetto Fellows may be supported for a maximum of eight full-time semesters of study toward the first baccalaureate degree at a participating college or university.
The financial aid office on each public college campus administers the Need-based Grants Program. The S.C. Higher Education Tuition Grants Commission administers the Need-based Grants Program for private colleges and universities as a part of the Tuition Grants Program. A student may receive up to $2,500 annually if enrolled full-time and up to $1,250 annually if enrolled part-time. The college at which the student is enrolled determines the exact amount, less any other gift aid received. The Grant must be applied directly towards the cost of attendance at the college for a maximum of eight full-time equivalent terms. Students must be enrolled in their first one-year program, first associate degree, first two-year program leading to a baccalaureate degree, first baccalaureate degree, or first professional degree.
The Legislative for Future Excellence (LIFE) Scholarship Program is a merit-based scholarship program approved by the General Assembly in 1998. The purpose of the LIFE Scholarship program is to increase access to higher education; improve employability of South Carolina students; provide incentives for students to be better prepared for college; and to encourage students to graduate from college on time.
The SC HOPE Scholarship Program was established under the SC Education Lottery Act approved by the General Assembly during the 2001 legislative session. The program is a merit-based scholarship created for students attending a four-year institution who do not qualify for the LIFE or Palmetto Fellows Scholarships. The scholarship is awarded during the freshman-year of attendance only. Funding for the program is included in the annual appropriation to the Commission on Higher Education and will be dependent upon the annual proceeds generated by the SC Education Lottery.
The financial aid office on each two-year college campus administers the Lottery Tuition Assistance Program. C. Board for Technical and Comprehensive Education administers the Lottery Tuition Assistance Program for technical colleges, http://www.sctechsystem.com/lottery/lotteryinfo.htm.
A student may receive up to the cost-of-tuition. In calculating the amount awarded in Lottery Tuition Assistance, any all federal grants and Need-based Grants must be awarded first before determining the amount eligible in Lottery Tuition Assistance to be used for payment towards cost-of-tuition. The college at which the student is enrolled will notify each student of the exact award amount based upon the number of eligible recipients and available funding each academic year.
Questions About the
Palmetto Fellows Scholarship Program,
Need-based Grants,
LIFE Scholarship Program,
South Carolina
South Carolina
HOPE Scholarship Program
HOPE Scholarship Program, and
Lottery Tuition Assistance Program
are covered in detail including the requirements and apply for each at:
http://www.che400.state.sc.us/Finance/Chemis/ACIR/Scholarship Programs Fall 2002.pdf
The SC HOPE Scholarship Summary can be found at:
http://www.che400.state.sc.us/web/Chemis/ACIR/SC HOPE Scholarship Summary.pdf
Available also in html compliments of google search engine.
Bichevia Green
Program Coordinator - LIFE and SC HOPE Scholarship Programs
S.C. Commission on Higher Education
1333 Main Street, Suite 200
Columbia, SC 29201
(803) 737-2280 Direct
(877) 349-7183 Toll Free (Select Option #1)
(803) 737-2297 Fax
bgreen@che.sc.gov
Thank you Sherry Hubbard and Bichevia Green for your assistance to the home school community!
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