Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that expands the Delaware Technical Community College's Student Excellence Equals Degree Scholarship Program (SEED).

Highlights:

• Requires each institution to annually report to the General Assembly of the State the names of its students enrolled in the SEED program and the total amount of expenditures made under this subchapter. The report must identify which of those students enrolled in the program pursue a bachelor’s degree after completion of an associate degree (Sec. 1-3403A.c).

• Establishes a student who satisfies the state residency requirements outlined in the Institution’s residency policy is eligible for a grant if that student is enrolled on a full time, degree-seeking basis, or is a student with a disability seeking a degree through the institution’s academic accommodation policy, or is enrolled in a credit or non-credit program leading to the award of a recognized academic credential at Delaware Technical and Community College (Sec. 1-3404A-1).

• Requires a student who enrolls in an associate’s degree program as the holder of a Delaware State Board of Education Endorsement Secondary Credential to have earned a cumulative score on the GED examination that is equivalent to a 2.5 G.P.A. on a 4.0 scale based on the standard formula for converting GED to GPA (Sec. 3404A-4).

• Requires an adult student to have been a Delaware resident for not less than 5 consecutive years before the date of enrollment in addition to meeting the other requirements (Sec. 3404A-6).

• Requires tuition assistance to be provided to qualifying applicants in an amount equal to the following (Sec. 3405A):

• A grant recipient receiving no other financial assistance specifically designated for tuition and/or other regularly assessed fees except loans will receive a grant equal to the full amount of tuition charged by the institution;

• A grant recipient receiving other financial assistance specifically designated for tuition and other regularly assessed fees to receive a grant equal to the difference between the amount of tuition charged by the institution and the amount of the other financial assistance; and

• If, as a result of applying for federal and state student financial aid, or through other means, it becomes apparent that deliberate fraud was involved in the application process, the institution may reevaluate the recipient’s eligibility for grant assistance and may withdraw a grant award. Any grant award made as the result of deliberate fraud may be recovered by the State through action at law.

• Authorizes students who are enrolled in an associate’s degree program to take a leave of absence for one academic year without affecting their eligibility for continued funding. Students who take a leave of absence will remain subject to the limitations (Sec. 3406A-1).

• Prohibits disbursement on behalf of an individual student, who is enrolled in a credit or non-credit program leading to a recognized academic credential from exceeding the amount of full-time tuition charged by the Institution during the corresponding academic year (Sec. 3407A.c).

• Requires the Department of Education to ensure that every school district, and each charter and nonpublic high school, designate at least 1 SEED program contact person, who will be either a counselor or teacher, at each high school site in this State (Sec. 3408A.b).

Full Bill Text