HB 5371 - Free 2 Start Scholarship Program Summary

• Establishes the Free 2 Start Scholarship program administered by the Board of Regents for Higher Education to provide awards to qualifying students attending regional community-technical colleges for their first two academic years, effective July 1, 2018.

• Defines qualifying students as those who graduated from a Connecticut high school within two years, enroll full-time for the first time at a community-technical college, are classified as in-state, maintain satisfactory academic progress, and have an expected family contribution of $5,300 or less.

• Awards cover unpaid portions of tuition and required fees after subtracting all scholarships and grants (excluding student loans), or $500 minimum, whichever is greater.

• Requires each regional community-technical college to conduct financial audits to determine award amounts and mandates participating students engage in volunteer-based mentorship and counseling programs.

• Appropriates $5 million from the General Fund for fiscal year 2018-2019 to implement the program and requires annual reporting to the General Assembly's higher education and appropriations committees.