Division 3 - Academic Achievement Incentive Scholarships

20 USC 1070a31 - Scholarships authorized

The Secretary is authorized to award scholarships to students who graduate from secondary school after May 1, 2000, to enable the students to pay the cost of attendance at an institution of higher education during the students first 2 academic years of undergraduate education, if the students

(1) are eligible to receive Federal Pell Grants for the year in which the scholarships are awarded; and

(2) demonstrate academic achievement by graduating in the top 10 percent of their secondary school graduating class.

20 USC 1070a32 - Scholarship program requirements

(a) Amount of award

(1) In general
Except as provided in paragraph (2), the amount of a scholarship awarded under this division for any academic year shall be equal to 100 percent of the amount of the Federal Pell Grant for which the recipient is eligible for the academic year.

(2) Adjustment for insufficient appropriations
If, after the Secretary determines the total number of eligible applicants for an academic year in accordance with section 1070a–33 of this title, funds available to carry out this division for the academic year are insufficient to fully fund all awards under this division for the academic year, the amount of the scholarship paid to each student under this division shall be reduced proportionately.

(b) Assistance not to exceed cost of attendance
A scholarship awarded under this division to any student, in combination with the Federal Pell Grant assistance and other student financial assistance available to such student, may not exceed the students cost of attendance.

20 USC 1070a33 - Eligibility of scholars

(a) Procedures established by regulation
The Secretary shall establish by regulation procedures for the determination of eligibility of students for the scholarships awarded under this division. Such procedures shall include measures to prevent any secondary school from certifying more than 10 percent of the schools students for eligibility under this section.

(b) Coordination
In prescribing procedures under subsection (a) of this section, the Secretary shall ensure that the determination of eligibility and the amount of the scholarship is determined in a timely and accurate manner consistent with the requirements of section 1089 of this title and the submission of the financial aid form required by section 1090 of this title. For such purposes, the Secretary may provide that, for the first academic year of a students 2 academic years of eligibility under this division, class rank may be determined prior to graduation from secondary school, at such time and in such manner as the Secretary may specify in regulations prescribed under this division.

20 USC 1070a34 - Student requirements

(a) In general
Each eligible student desiring a scholarship under this division shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may reasonably require.

(b) Continuing eligibility
In order for a student to continue to be eligible to receive a scholarship under this division for the second year of undergraduate education, the eligible student shall maintain eligibility to receive a Federal Pell Grant for that year, including fulfilling the requirements for satisfactory progress described in section 1091 (c) of this title.

20 USC 1070a35 - Authorization of appropriations

There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this division $200,000,000 for fiscal year 1999 and such sums as may be necessary for each of the 4 succeeding fiscal years.