NC H128

Creates the High Achieving Tuition Scholarship Program to provide tuition scholarships to high-achieving high school graduates attending North Carolina community colleges.

Eligible students must have a minimum 3.5 unweighted grade point average from a North Carolina high school, be U.S. citizens or eligible noncitizens, meet state residency requirements, and have no felony convictions for controlled substance offenses.

Scholarships cover tuition for up to 16 credit hours per semester for a maximum of four semesters, with awards beginning fall 2020-2021 for students graduating in 2019-2020; scholarship amounts are reduced by other state or federal aid received.

Scholarships are renewable annually if students maintain a 3.0 cumulative grade point average and complete at least 30 semester credit hours; scholarships are revoked if students drop below 12 credit hours or default on financial aid.

Appropriates $50,000 for fiscal year 2019-2020 for administrative costs and $2,000,000 for fiscal year 2020-2021 for administrative costs and scholarship awards; requires annual reporting to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee beginning in 2021.