(a) A high school student who is also enrolled in an eligible postsecondary institution shall be eligible for a dual enrollment grant if the student:

(1) Is not ineligible for the grant under § 49-4-904;

(2) Is a Tennessee resident and has been a Tennessee resident, as defined by regulations promulgated by the board of regents under § 49-8-104, for at least one (1) year immediately preceding the date of application for a grant or for the renewal of a grant;

(3) Is admitted to an eligible postsecondary institution as a dual enrollment student; and

(4) Makes application for the dual enrollment grant.

(b) An eligible student must submit an application for the dual enrollment grant each academic year. To be eligible for a dual enrollment grant for a semester beyond the first semester of receipt in an academic year, the student shall continue to meet all eligibility requirements for the grant and shall achieve a cumulative grade point average of 2.75 for all postsecondary courses attempted under a dual enrollment grant.

(c) A student receiving a dual enrollment grant may enroll for one (1) course per semester at an eligible postsecondary institution. Courses attempted as a dual enrollment student under this subsection (c) shall not count toward the limitation under § 49-4-913 on the receipt of a HOPE scholarship.

(d) If a student:

(1) Is a junior or senior in high school;

(2) Is receiving a dual enrollment grant; and

(3)

(A) Has qualified academically for a Tennessee HOPE scholarship by attaining the required composite ACT score or the concordant equivalent score on the SAT; or

(B) Has achieved an overall weighted high school grade point average of at least 3.0 for all high school work completed prior to the semester of enrollment as a dual enrollment student, if the student is enrolled in an eligible high school;

(e) If a dual enrollment student enrolls in an eligible public postsecondary institution after graduation from high school, then such institution shall not deny credit towards an associates or baccalaureate degree for any college course taken as a dual enrollment student if the student successfully completed the course, and, if the course was not taken at the institution in which the student enrolls after graduation from high school, the course qualifies for transfer credit.

(f)

(1) It is the intent of the general assembly that:

(A) Funding for Tennessee HOPE scholarships, Tennessee HOPE access grants, and Wilder-Naifeh technical skills grants take priority over funding for dual enrollment grants; and

(B) The dual enrollment grant program be fully funded before any funds in the lottery for education account are transferred to the Tennessee Promise scholarship endowment fund pursuant to § 49-4-708.

(2) Subject to the amounts appropriated by the general assembly and any law relating to a shortfall in funds available for postsecondary financial assistance from the net proceeds of the state lottery, TSAC shall determine the award for a credit hour taken under a dual enrollment grant. TSAC shall not award an amount for a credit hour taken under a dual enrollment grant that exceeds the cost per credit hour of courses taken at community colleges in the state university and community college system.

(g) Courses for which a dual enrollment grant is received may be taken at any time during the junior or senior year in high school.