House Bill 1417
By: Representatives Campbell of the 35th, Lupton of the 83rd, Erwin of the 32nd, Wilkerson
of the 38th, Carter of the 93rd, and others
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Code Section 20-2-157 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to
uniform reporting system for certain purposes, dual credit courses, and academic eligibility
requirements to receive HOPE scholarship, so as to provide for the inclusion of advanced
placement, international baccalaureate, and Cambridge fine arts courses in the calculation
of grade point averages for determining student eligibility for the HOPE scholarships and
other scholarships; to provide for applicability; to provide for a definition; to provide for
related matters; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other
purposes.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION 1.
Code Section 20-2-157 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to uniform
reporting system for certain purposes, dual credit courses, and academic eligibility
requirements to receive HOPE scholarship, is amended by revising subsection (a.1),
paragraph (3.1) of subsection (b), and paragraph (3) of subsection (c) as follows:
"(a.1) As used in this Code section, the term:
<ins>(1) 'Dual</ins> <del>'dual</del> credit course' shall have the same meaning as in Code Section 20-2-161.3.
<ins>(2) 'Fine arts' means an advanced placement, international baccalaureate, or Cambridge
fine arts course for which the Department of Education has designated a unique course
number and name indicating that such course is classified as advanced placement,
international baccalaureate, or Cambridge."
</ins> "(3.1) For students otherwise qualified and enrolling in the ninth grade for the first time
during the 2008-2009 school year and thereafter, the Georgia Student Finance
Commission shall calculate grade point averages for determining eligibility for the HOPE
scholarship and other scholarships referenced in this Code section by equating each grade
for a student in attempted coursework in English, mathematics, science, social studies,
<ins>fine arts,</ins> and foreign language during the student's ninth, tenth, eleventh, or twelfth grade
year to a grade on a 4.0 scale, such that a grade of 'A' = 4.0, a grade of 'B' = 3.0, a grade
of 'C' = 2.0, a grade of 'D' = 1.0, and a grade of 'F' = 0. Grades for coursework that is
classified as advanced placement, a dual credit course, or international baccalaureate shall
be weighted uniformly by the Georgia Student Finance Commission in calculating the
overall grade point averages for students, provided that the weighting of such course
grades is uniformly applied to all students in this state taking the specified coursework.
The sum of the equated grades shall be divided by the number of course grades, adjusted
for term length, to yield a grade point average on a 4.0 scale; and"
"(3) The Georgia Student Finance Commission shall calculate a grade point average for
the purpose of determining eligibility for the HOPE scholarship from these electronic
transcripts and shall notify students of their potential eligibility and high schools as to the
potential eligibility of students; <ins>provided, however, that the Georgia Student Finance
Commission shall not include fine arts course grades in the calculation of any grade point
average for any student who graduated from high school before July 1, 2026."
</ins> SECTION 2.
This Act shall become effective on July 1, 2026.
SECTION 3.
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.