HB1417: HB1417 Education; inclusion of advanced placement, international baccalaureate, and Cambridge fine arts courses in calculation of grade point averages for determining student eligibility for HOPE scholarships and other scholarships; provide

Under current Georgia law (O.C.G.A. § 20-2-157), the Georgia Student Finance Commission calculates a student's grade point average for HOPE scholarship eligibility using grades in English, math, science, social studies, fine arts, and foreign language, with weighting for advanced placement, dual credit, and international baccalaureate coursework. This bill adds a definition of 'fine arts' that specifically includes advanced placement, international baccalaureate, or Cambridge fine arts courses that the Department of Education has given a unique course number identifying them as such. The bill also clarifies that these fine arts course grades will not count toward the GPA calculation for any student who graduated from high school before July 1, 2026, meaning the change applies only going forward. The bill would take effect on July 1, 2026, and repeals any conflicting laws.

• Adds a legal definition of 'fine arts' to cover advanced placement, international baccalaureate, or Cambridge courses that the Department of Education has classified with a unique course number.
• Confirms that grades in these specially classified fine arts courses will be included when the Georgia Student Finance Commission calculates GPA for HOPE scholarship eligibility.
• Excludes any student who graduated from high school before July 1, 2026, from having fine arts course grades counted in their GPA calculation.
• Sets the effective date of the changes as July 1, 2026.
• Repeals any existing laws that conflict with the new provisions.

Georgia high school students taking advanced placement, international baccalaureate, or Cambridge fine arts courses who plan to apply for the HOPE scholarship or other state scholarships, along with the Georgia Student Finance Commission and the Department of Education, which administer and classify these courses.

Students who take rigorous fine arts courses like AP, IB, or Cambridge classes could see those grades weighted into their GPA for HOPE eligibility, potentially affecting whether they qualify for the scholarship. The change only applies to students graduating on or after July 1, 2026.

• Section 1 amends O.C.G.A. § 20-2-157(a.1) to define 'fine arts' as advanced placement, international baccalaureate, or Cambridge fine arts courses with a Department of Education designated course number.
• Section 1 revises paragraph (3.1) of subsection (b) to confirm fine arts grades are part of the GPA calculation used for HOPE and other scholarship eligibility, alongside English, math, science, social studies, and foreign language grades.
• Section 1 revises paragraph (3) of subsection (c) to bar inclusion of fine arts course grades in GPA calculations for students who graduated before July 1, 2026.
• Section 2 sets the effective date of the Act as July 1, 2026.
• Section 3 repeals any conflicting laws.

1. 2026-02-25House Second Readers (House)
2. 2026-02-24House First Readers (House)
3. 2026-02-20House Hopper (House)

• Lisa Campbell (D, HD-035)Primary sponsor
• Karen Lupton (D, HD-083)
• Chris Erwin (R, HD-032)
• David Wilkerson (D, HD-038)
• Doreen Carter (D, HD-093)
• Lydia Glaize (D, HD-067)

• HOPE scholarship
• education policy
• grade point average
• advanced placement courses
• school funding