A Tennessee HOPE Foster Child Tuition Grant for a student attending an eligible public post-secondary institution shall be the cost of attendance less any gift aid with the total award not exceeding the cost of tuition and mandatory fees at an eligible post-secondary institution. Gift aid means scholarships and grants from any source that do not require repayment, including funds provided through the federal Foster Care Independence Act of 1999 and other similar programs. Student loans and work-study programs shall not be considered gift aid. Applications must be received by September 1st for fall semester, March 1st for spring semester and May 1st for summer semester. To be eligible, applicants must be admitted to an eligible postsecondary institution within four years from the date of high school graduation or its equivalent. The number of recipients and the maximum dollar amounts will vary.
In addition to meeting the minimum HOPE Scholarship high school eligibility requirements, 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 HOPE Foster Child Tuition Grant. A foster child is a student who was in state custody at any time when the individual was 13 years of age or older; was in state custody at any time when the individual was 13 years of age or older and was placed for adoption by the Department of Children Services (DCS) or one of its adoption contract agencies, and the adoption was finalized; or was in state custody at any time and was placed in permanent guardianship by DCS after reaching 13 years of age.
