Signed by Governor Jon Corzine

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that amends the eligibility and coverage requirements for the New Jersey Student Tuition Assistance Reward Scholarship (NJ STARS) and the New Jersey Student Tuition Assistance Reward Scholarship II (NJ STARS II).

Highlights:

- Amends the eligibility requirements for the NJ STARS program as follows (Secs. 1-2):

- Curtails the eligibility pool of students from the top 20 percent of their high school graduating class to the top 15 percent; - Supplements the requirement that students complete a "rigorous" high school course of study in accordance with the Commission on Higher Education; - Supplements the requirement that students pass a college placement exam or, upon failing to achieve the required score, demonstrate their readiness within one year of September 1 following the date of high school graduation; - Increases the number of credit hours per semester that may be covered by the program from 15 to 18; and - Extends the program coverage to include summer semesters.

- Increases the minimum G.P.A. for students graduating from county colleges and enrolling in a baccalaureate program from 3.0 to 3.25; - Amends the scholarship award, originally set at $2,000 per semester and incrementally increased depending on increases in tuition costs, to $3,000 per semester for students with a G.P.A. between 3.25 and 3.5 and $3,500 per semester for students with a G.P.A. equal to or greater than 3.5; - Prohibits students from receiving the scholarship if their annual family income is equal to or greater than $250,000; and - Specifies that 50 percent of the cost of the scholarships must be paid by the state and 50 percent must be paid by the institution of higher education.

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that amends the eligibility and coverage requirements for the New Jersey Student Tuition Assistance Reward Scholarship (NJ STARS) and the New Jersey Student Tuition Assistance Reward Scholarship II (NJ STARS II).

Highlights:

- Amends the eligibility requirements for the NJ STARS program as follows (Secs. 1-2):

- Curtails the eligibility pool of students from the top 20 percent of their high school graduating class to the top 15 percent; - Supplements the requirement that students complete a "rigorous" high school course of study in accordance with the Commission on Higher Education; - Supplements the requirement that students pass a college placement exam or, upon failing to achieve the required score, demonstrate their readiness within one year of September 1 following the date of high school graduation; - Increases the number of credit hours per semester that may be covered by the program from 15 to 18; and - Extends the program coverage to include summer semesters.

- Increases the minimum G.P.A. for students graduating from county colleges and enrolling in a baccalaureate program from 3.0 to 3.25; - Amends the scholarship award, originally set at $2,000 per semester and incrementally increased depending on increases in tuition costs, to $3,000 per semester for students with a G.P.A. between 3.25 and 3.5 and $3,500 per semester for students with a G.P.A. equal to or greater than 3.5; - Prohibits students from receiving the scholarship if their annual family income is equal to or greater than $250,000; and - Specifies that 50 percent of the cost of the scholarships must be paid by the state and 50 percent must be paid by the institution of higher education.

Full Bill Text