(1) DEFINITIONS.

(a) Core courses – courses chosen from English/language arts, mathematics,science, social studies, and foreign language for a College Preparatory or College Preparatory with Distinction program of study. For a Technology/Career-preparatory or Technology/Career-preparatory with Distinction program of study, four vocational units are also considered to be core courses.

(b) Fine arts courses – courses chosen from visual arts, music, dance, or dramatic arts.

(c) Georgia Scholar – a graduating high school senior who has met specified criteria, been nominated by his or her school, and approved by the Department.

(d) Interscholastic activity – any school-sponsored program involving competition between individuals or groups representing two or more schools.

(2) REQUIREMENTS.

(a) Participating schools shall be public schools, or private schools accredited by or holding provisional status from the Georgia Accrediting Commission and/or one of the accrediting agencies that is a member of the Georgia Private School Accreditation Council, and/or the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, and/or any other accrediting agency recognized by the Georgia Student Finance Commission. 

(b) Participating schools shall be accredited by the date the candidate graduates.

(c) Local school systems or private schools that choose to participate shall designate an individual to coordinate the activities of the Georgia Scholar Program.

(d) Schools shall nominate only those students who have:

1. A minimum combined score of 1360 on the Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) at one sitting or a composite score of 31 at one sitting on the American College Test (ACT)

2. Earned 22 Carnegie units of credit for graduation including: 

(i) Three units in science, including one unit in chemistry or physics;

(ii) Four units in mathematics, including one unit in Algebra II;

(iii) Three units in social studies, including economics and citizenship, world history and U.S. studies;

(iv) Four units in English language arts;

(v) Two units of a single foreign language;

(vi) One unit in fine arts;

3. Courses taken prior to grade 9 that are taught using 9-12 Georgia Performance Standards shall be considered as meeting the requirements for the purposes of this rule.

4. A non-weighted, cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) of at least 3.75 on a 4.0 scale, where A = 4, B = 3, C = 2, and D = 1 in core courses;

5. Participated in a minimum of three different competitive interscholastic activities during grades 9-12;  

6. Been appointed by school official or elected to positions of leadership in a minimum of two different activities sponsored by the school;  

7. Shown evidence of leadership in a minimum of two different youth activities outside the school, including being appointed by an organization sponsor or elected to a position of leadership or role of responsibility in a minimum of one of these activities;

8. Registered to vote if a United States citizen and 18 years of age on or before March 1 of the year in which their application for the Georgia Scholar Program is submitted to the Georgia Department of Education;

9. Shown evidence of self-esteem and concern for others in day-to-day activities.

(e) The private or public school shall submit to the Georgia Department of Education postmarked no later than March 1 of each year Georgia Scholar Program applications. Each application shall be accompanied by:

1. An official transcript of all high school work, including all transfer records and the schedule of courses being taken for the remainder of the applicant’s senior year that are not shown on the transcript;

2. An SAT or ACT score sticker (or photocopy of sticker) from the testing company if the score does not appear on the transcript;

3. A copy of the applicant’s voter registration card, if applicable; 

4. A resumé of all competitive interscholastic activities, school-sponsored activities and youth activities outside the school in which the student has participated and specific leadership or elected/appointed positions held in each of these activities by the student; and, 

5. A letter of reference from someone outside the school or family.

(f) The State Board of Education authorizes the state school superintendent to approve waivers of this rule when, in the judgment of the state school superintendent, such requests are consistent with the goals and objectives of this program.