NC H644

Creates tuition grant program for North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics (NCSSM) graduates beginning with the 2019-2020 school year, providing grants for up to four academic years of full-time enrollment at eligible North Carolina institutions.

Eligible institutions include University of North Carolina constituent institutions and private institutions of higher education located in North Carolina; grants cover full tuition at UNC schools or up to the highest UNC undergraduate resident tuition rate for private institutions.

Grants are reduced by the amount of any other scholarships or grants received, and if funding is insufficient, eligible students receive pro-rata shares of available funds.

Appropriates $2,950,000 in recurring funds for fiscal year 2019-2020 and $1,850,000 for fiscal year 2020-2021, with intent to appropriate additional funds for fiscal years 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 to support four years of grants per cohort.

Grants are administered by the Authority through guidelines including application processes, certification requirements, and provisions allowing waiver of continuous enrollment requirements for military service, medical debilitation, disability, or extraordinary hardship.