Tennessee HOPE Foster Child Tuition Grant

 The Foster Child Tuition Grant is established and funded from the net proceeds of the state lottery.  The grant is awarded to students who meet the minimum eligibility requirements.

  1. A Tennessee HOPE Foster Child Tuition Grant for a student attending an eligible public postsecondary 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 postsecondary 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.
  2. A Tennessee HOPE Foster Child Tuition Grant for a student attending an eligible four-year OR two-year independent postsecondary institution shall not exceed the statewide average tuition and mandatory fees for a public four-year or two-year postsecondary institution.

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.

Foster Child Definition

A foster child is a student who meets one of the following requirements:

  1. Was in state custody at any time when the individual was thirteen (13) years of age or older;
  2. Was in state custody at any time when the individual was thirteen (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
  3. Was in state custody at any time and was placed in permanent guardianship by DCS after reaching thirteen (13) years of age.

The receipt of a Tennessee HOPE Foster Child Tuition Grant is contingent upon the following:

  1. Student must meet the high school requirements for the Tennessee HOPE scholarship; and
  2. Be admitted to an eligible postsecondary institution. Academically qualifying for any of these award programs does not guarantee admission to an eligible postsecondary institution.

Continuation Requirements

The student shall be eligible for the Tennessee HOPE Foster Child Tuition Grant:

  1. For a period of no more than four (4) years after the date of graduation from high school or equivalent; and
  2. For a period of six (6) years after admittance to an eligible public postsecondary institution, if, except as provided by TSAC Rule 1640-1-19-.20 or 1640-1-19-.21, the student maintains satisfactory progress in a course of study in accordance with the standards and practices used for Title IV programs by the postsecondary institution in which the student is currently enrolled.

Nothing in these requirements shall be construed to limit the participation of a youth in or formerly in the custody of the state in any other program of financial assistance for postsecondary education.