§5024. Academic requirements

A.(1) Except as otherwise provided by this Subsection, students shall meet the following minimum grade point average requirements, calculated on a 4.00 scale using only the grades obtained by the student in completing the core curriculum requirements established by this Chapter, for the respective awards:

(a) For an Opportunity Award, a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.50.

(b) For a Performance Award, a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.25.

(c) For an Honors Award, a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.50.

(d) For a TOPS-Tech Award, a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.50.

(2)(a) For a student who graduated prior to the 2002-2003 school year, the minimum cumulative grade point average shall be calculated by using the grades obtained by the student in completing all classes taken.

(b) For a student who graduated prior to the 2007-2008 school year, the minimum cumulative high school grade point average necessary for such student to be eligible for a Performance Award or Honors Award shall be 3.50 on a 4.00 scale.

(c)(i) For a student who graduated during or after the 2007-2008 school year but prior to the 2020-2021 school year, the minimum cumulative high school grade point average necessary for such student to be eligible for an Opportunity Award shall be 2.50 on a 4.00 scale.

(ii) For a student who graduated during or after the 2007-2008 school year but prior to the 2020-2021 school year, the minimum cumulative high school grade point average necessary for such student to be eligible for a Performance Award shall be 3.00 on a 4.00 scale.

(iii) For a student who graduated during or after the 2007-2008 school year but prior to the 2020-2021 school year, the minimum cumulative high school grade point average necessary for such student to be eligible for an Honors Award shall be 3.00 on a 4.00 scale.

(3)(a) The calculation of the minimum cumulative grade point average specified in Paragraph (1) of this Subsection shall use a five-point scale for grades earned in certain Advanced Placement courses, International Baccalaureate courses, gifted and talented courses, honors courses, articulated courses for college credit, and dual enrollment courses as approved by the Board of Regents and the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, which may result in a student earning a cumulative grade point average that exceeds 4.00. For such courses, five quality points shall be assigned to a letter grade of "A", four quality points shall be assigned to a letter grade of "B", three quality points shall be assigned to a letter grade of "C", two quality points shall be assigned to a letter grade of "D", and zero quality points shall be assigned to a letter grade of "F".

(b) The provisions of Subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph do not apply to students who graduated prior to the 2017-2018 school year.

B.(1) Except as otherwise provided by this Subsection, a student shall earn the following minimum test scores for the respective awards:

(a) For an Opportunity Award, a composite score on the 1990 version of the ACT which is at least equal to or higher than the state's average composite score, truncated to a whole number, reported for the prior year but never less than twenty or an equivalent concordant value on an enhanced or revised version of such test or on the SAT.

(b) For a Performance Award, a composite score on the 1990 version of the ACT of twenty-three or higher or an equivalent concordant value on any enhanced or revised version of such test or on the SAT.

(c) For an Honors Award, a score of twenty-seven or higher on the 1990 version of the ACT or an equivalent concordant value on any enhanced or revised version of such test or on the SAT.

(d) For a TOPS-Tech Award, a composite score on the specified ACT of seventeen or higher or an equivalent concordant value on any enhanced or revised version of such test or on the SAT. The student may, as an alternative requirement, have attained a silver level score on the assessments of the ACT WorkKeys system.

(2)(a) For a student who graduated prior to the 2010-2011 school year, the ACT WorkKeys system is not an alternative assessment for establishing eligibility for a TOPS-Tech Award.

(b) For a student who graduated prior to the 2000-2001 school year, the minimum ACT score for a TOPS-Tech Award is nineteen.

C. A student who graduated after the 2002-2003 school year but prior to the 2006-2007 school year is eligible to receive a Performance Award pursuant to this Chapter if he meets the other requirements of this Chapter and each of the following conditions is met:

(1) The student has a composite score on the 1990 version of the ACT of twenty-four or higher or an equivalent concordant value on any enhanced or revised version of such test or on the SAT.

(2) The student achieved a minimum cumulative high school grade point average of 3.00 on a 4.00 scale when calculated in accordance with applicable rules adopted by the administering agency and such calculation is based on ten or more of the grades being grades for completion of honors curriculum courses, gifted curriculum courses, or advanced placement courses, or any combination of such courses, and the high school awards grades for such courses on a 4.0 scale or higher.

Acts 2015, No. 227, §1; Acts 2016, No. 18, §1, eff. May 9, 2016; Acts 2016, No. 388, §1, eff. June 5, 2016; Acts 2017, No. 97, §1.