2013 Maryland Code
EDUCATION
§ 18-303 - Qualifications of recipient

§18-303.

(a) Subject to subsection (d) of this section, each recipient of a Delegate Howard P. Rawlings Educational Excellence Award shall:

(1) Be accepted for admission in the regular undergraduate program at an eligible institution or be enrolled in a 2-year associate degree program in which the course work is acceptable for transfer credit for an accredited baccalaureate program in an eligible institution;

(2) Be a resident of this State;

(3) Demonstrate to the Office a definite financial need; and

(4) Accept any other conditions attached to the award.

(b) Each recipient of a Guaranteed Access Grant shall:

(1) Have attained a grade point average of at least 2.5 on a 4.0 scale or its equivalent at the end of the first semester of the senior year in high school and have completed high school or, failing to do so, on the recommendation of the recipient’s high school principal, provide evidence satisfactory to the Office of extenuating circumstances;

(2) Begin college within 1 year of completing high school or, failing to do so, provide evidence satisfactory to the Office of extenuating circumstances;

(3) Be under the age of 22 years at the time of receiving the first award;

(4) Have successfully completed a college preparatory program in high school;

(5) Enroll in college as a full-time student;

(6) Subject to subsection (c) of this section, have an annual family income below a poverty index determined by the Commission; and

(7) Satisfy any additional criteria the Commission may establish.

(c) To determine the annual family income eligibility of an applicant for a Guaranteed Access Grant, the Office may not consider an amount received by the applicant as an earned income credit under § 32 of the Internal Revenue Code.

(d) A student in grade 9 or grade 10 who applies and qualifies for a Guaranteed Access Grant on the basis of financial need as established by the Commission shall prequalify for a Guaranteed Access Grant to be used at the time of enrollment in an institution of higher education by agreeing in writing, as a secondary and undergraduate student, to:

(1) Satisfy the attendance policy of the applicable school;

(2) Refrain from substance abuse;

(3) Provide information required by the Commission or the State Board of Education;

(4) Complete and file on a timely basis applications for federal student aid for each year that the student plans to enroll in postsecondary education;

(5) Participate in the College Readiness Outreach Program established in § 18-303.1 of this subtitle until the student graduates from high school and matriculates at an institution of higher education; and

(6) Satisfy any other program requirements set by the Office, the Commission, the State Board of Education, or the State Department of Education.

§ 18-303 - 1. College Readiness Outreach Program

(a) "Program" defined. -- In this section, "Program" means the College Readiness Outreach Program.

(b) Administration. -- The Commission and the Department, in collaboration with county boards of education, county superintendents, and institutions of higher education, shall jointly administer the College Readiness Outreach Program.

(c) Purpose. -- The Program shall provide guidance to students who qualify for a Guaranteed Access Grant in 9th or 10th grade to assist the students in successfully:

(1) Completing a college preparatory curriculum;

(2) Graduating from high school; and

(3) Matriculating at an institution of higher education as defined in §§ 18-305 and 18-308 of this subtitle.

(d) Coordinators. --

(1) The Commission and the Department shall designate statewide and regional coordinators for the Program.

(2) The statewide and regional coordinators shall:

(i) Work with county boards of education and county superintendents to provide guidance and one-on-one mentoring to participating students in high school; and

(ii) Publicize the Program through community outreach and marketing materials.

(e) Counseling and mentoring services. -- The Commission and the Department may enter into agreements with existing organizations that provide counseling and mentoring services to fulfill the requirements of this section.

(f) Mentors. -- The Commission and the Department may supplement professional mentors with:

(1) Postsecondary students receiving work-study assistance at Maryland institutions of higher education; and

(2) Secondary students in 11th and 12th grades who are successfully completing high school graduation requirements.

(g) Funding. --

(1) Funds for the Program shall be as provided in the State budget.

(2) To the extent that funds are provided, the State shall provide 50 percent of the costs associated with the local administration and one-on-one mentoring components of the Program, except that in a county that meets the requirements of a "qualified distressed county" under § 1-101 of the Economic Development Article the State shall provide 75 percent of the costs.

(h) Regulations. -- The Commission and the Department may adopt regulations necessary to implement this section.