ACTION REQUIRED

October 10, 2005

To the Administrator Addressed

Senate Bill 1227 and House Bill 2109, passed by the 79th Texas Legislature, make several amendments to the Early High School Graduation Scholarship Program for the 2005-06 school year, as reflected below.

• Texas Education Code (TEC), §56.203 amends the eligibility requirements for the scholarship program.
  
• TEC, §56.204 amends the amount of financial assistance students will receive and the purposes for which funds may be used, based on eligibility.
  
• TEC, §56.210 requires each public school in the state to provide information regarding the requirements of the Early High School Graduation Scholarship Program to all students who enroll in the school.

In accordance with legislation, the Texas Education Agency (TEA) has prepared a publication that includes the required information and has posted the publication on the agency's website in a format that enables schools to reproduce the information for distribution to students and parents. The document, entitled Early High School Graduation Scholarship Program – A Guide for Students and Parents, is available on TEA's website at www.tea.state.tx.us/curriculum. The scholarship is awarded by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB); the application form, designed to be completed by the high school counselor, is available on THECB's website at www.thecb.state.tx.us/reports/PDF/0666.PDF.

If you have questions or need additional information about the guide, please contact Monica Martinez, Division of Curriculum, at (512) 463-9581.

Sincerely,

Shirley J. Neeley
SJN/mgm

Attachment: Early High School Graduation Scholarship Program – A Guide for Students and Parents

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