Washington Academic Competitiveness Grant and

2006-2007 National SMART Grant Programs

WASHINGTON
$2,710,765 in Academic Competitiveness (AC) Grants awarded to 3,346 students

$4,833,023 in National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent

(SMART) Grants awarded to 1,566 students
For AC and National SMART Grants, students must 1) apply for financial aid by submitting the
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and be determined to be eligible for a Federal Pell
Grant; 2) be a U.S. citizen; 3) be enrolled in a two- or four-year degree program; and 4) be enrolled
full-time.

The following are Washington’s pre-approved rigorous high school programs of study
students must complete to earn an Academic Competitiveness Grant:
• The Washington Scholar Designation;
• The Washington Opportunity Scholars Initiative;
• A set of courses similar to the State Scholars Initiative;
• Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) courses and test scores;
• Washington Coursework Requirements.

For more information about these programs visit:

http://www.ed.gov/admins/finaid/about/ac-smart/2007/wa07.doc

STUDENTS SHOULD SELF-IDENTIFY ON THE FAFSA THAT

THEY TOOK ONE OF THESE PROGRAMS

Academic Competitiveness and National SMART Grants were created by the Deficit
Reduction Act of 2005. Congress appropriated $4.5 billion for the programs between 2006 and
2011.

The Department of Education has set a goal to double the number of students
receiving AC and National SMART Grants by 2010-11. States, colleges, and high schools
should promote AC and National SMART Grants because completing a rigorous high school
program is the best way to increase college readiness, reduce remediation, and increase college
completion rates for low-income students. Increased postsecondary attainment will help the
United States compete in the 21st century.

In addition to the Pell Grant amount, up to $750 will be awarded to eligible first-year AC
Grant students, and up to $1,300 to second-year AC Grant students. Up to $4,000 will be
awarded to eligible National SMART grant students for each year in addition to the Pell Grant
funds. States and colleges can package these grants with the Pell Grant and state and institutional awards to
provide low-income students an early commitment that if they complete high school and take challenging courses,
college expenses can be fully paid.
Washington Academic Competitiveness Grant and
2006-2007 National SMART Grant Programs

Top five schools in Washington with the highest number of AC Grant recipients:
1. University of Washington 1,115
2. Washington State University 440
3. Central Washington University 277
4. Gonzaga University 160
5. Western Washington University 160

Top five schools in Washington with the highest number of National SMART Grant recipients:
1. University of Washington 632
2. Washington State University 295
3. Central Washington University 142
4. Eastern Washington University 132
5. Western Washington University 68

Washington’s Top National SMART Grant majors: Top Foreign Languages:

1. Biological and Biomedical Sciences 1. Japanese Language and Literature
2. Engineering 2. Russian Language and Literature
3. Computer Science 3. Chinese Language and Literature

High schools need to do a better job graduating more students on-time and ready for
college and work. Nationally, 4% of low-income high school students complete a rigorous
course of study.

• 20% of first-time, full-time Pell recipients in Washington received an AC Grant compared

to 25.6% nationally. States with the highest rates of AC Grant participation among the
eligible population include Nebraska (36.5%), Minnesota (34.1%), and Arkansas (31.1%).

• 2.8% of Washington’s recent high school graduates received an AC Grant compared to

about 5.3% nationally.
The effort in the first year of implementation can be improved upon going forward. To do this, high
school and postsecondary personnel, state policymakers, and access advocates should:
1. Know your state’s approved programs of rigorous study.
2. Accept the challenge to double the number of students in Washington receiving AC
and National SMART Grants by 2010-11.
3. Advocate for low-income students’ access to rigorous, college preparatory classes,
and pursuit of high-demand, high-wage majors in the National SMART Grant
program.
Washington Academic Competitiveness Grant and
2006-2007 National SMART Grant Programs

The Department of Education has set a goal to double the number of students receiving AC
and SMART grants by 2010-11. To do this, the Department has compiled descriptions of common
issues faced during the first year of implementation and how some innovative states and institutions
addressed them.

It is difficult for institutions to identify students who have taken a rigorous high
Issue: school curriculum.

Solution: Institutions and states can establish a branded core curriculum for college
admissions.
o University of California system: Four campuses of the University of California system are
among the top 10 schools receiving AC Grants nationally. The University of California’s
A-G coursework requirements for admissions are well-known by high schools and students
throughout the state. The A-G subject area requirements are approved as a course of study for
Californian students to receive AC Grants and are also used for admissions by the California State
University system.
For more information visit: http://www.ucop.edu/a-gGuide/ag/faq.html

Solution: The state can certify AC Grant eligibility by sending reports of eligible students
to postsecondary institutions.
o Florida: Students graduating from eligible high schools in Florida who have earned the Bright
Futures Scholarship have completed requisite test scores and GPA in the designated college
preparatory curriculum. This curriculum portion of their award is an approved course of study in
Florida to receive an AC Grant. The state informs colleges which students are scholarship
recipients and maintains a website where institutions can identify Florida Bright Futures Scholars
and therefore students who are potentially eligible for AC Grants.
For more information visit: http://www.floridastudentfinancialaid.org/ssfad/bf/

Solution: Institutions can reach out to all Pell Grant recipients, not just students who
self-identify as eligible.
o Brigham Young University (BYU)—Idaho: BYU Idaho had 674 AC Grant recipients. To
accomplish this, BYU Idaho conducted an exhaustive evaluation to identify AC Grant-eligible
students by contacting all students who self-certified on their FAFSA and by contacting other
students who appeared to be potentially eligible based on a review of transcripts and financial aid
records.
Washington Academic Competitiveness Grant and
2006-2007 National SMART Grant Programs

Issue: It’s a new program. How do we get the word out?

Solution: Include AC Grants in existing state, local, and school-level outreach

o Indiana Commission on Higher Education: Indiana provides an extensive college outreach
program to every student in the state. The initiative, called Learn More Indiana, includes sending
out magazines starting in eighth grade, a comprehensive website dedicated to information about
going to college, and publications on paying for college. AC Grant and National SMART Grants
are presented as options in every contact with students and high school counselors.
For more information visit: http://www.learnmoreindiana.org/Pages/default.aspx

Too few low-income students are encouraged to take, or have the opportunity to
Issue: take rigorous, college preparatory courses.

Solution: Make a college preparatory course of study the default requirement for high
school graduation
o Arkansas Department of Education: Arkansas requires its high school graduates to complete a
college preparatory curriculum, branded as Smart Core. The Arkansas Department of Education
hosted five regional summits across the state to explain the benefits of completing the Smart Core,
including receiving additional federal financial aid through the Academic Competitiveness Grant
program.
For more information visit: http://www.nextsteparkansas.org/educators/educators_whatis.html

Solution: Amplify the incentive, and/or tie to a similar state financial aid program
o Minnesota’s new ACHIEVE Scholarship: In 2007, Minnesota piggy-backed on the federal
Academic Competitiveness Grant program and created the ACHIEVE Scholarship. The
ACHIEVE Scholarship provides low-income students who take a rigorous high school curriculum
an extra $1,200 to attend a college in Minnesota. The additional money serves to greatly increase
the incentive to take a rigorous high school course of study.
For more information visit: http://www.getreadyforcollege.org/gPg.cfm?pageID=1789

Did you know students need to self-identify on the electronic FAFSA as having taken
an approved rigorous course of study in high school? Make sure your high school students
know which approved course of study they’ve completed and indicate it on the FAFSA.
Washington Academic Competitiveness Grant and
2006-2007 National SMART Grant Programs

ACG Program SMART Grant Program

STATE
RECIPIENTS TOTAL DISBURSED RECIPIENTS TOTAL DISBURSED
Alabama 3,697 $2,835,803 1,007 $3,098,359
Alaska 60 $43,373 63 $204,327
Arizona 1,448 $1,095,388 2,460 $7,591,975
Arkansas 4,049 $3,063,658 496 $1,489,899
California 29,808 $23,376,675 7,162 $22,532,651
Colorado 2,981 $2,314,696 1,375 $4,390,894
Connecticut 1,836 $1,531,646 292 $967,104
Delaware 234 $176,179 53 $181,813
District of Columbia 1,083 $958,091 133 $485,063
Florida 16,270 $11,948,147 2,644 $8,085,749
Georgia 9,782 $7,453,213 1,557 $4,948,483
Hawaii 345 $230,317 204 $650,964
Idaho 1,916 $1,474,914 1,088 $3,592,053
Illinois 9,353 $7,426,655 2,709 $8,994,836
Indiana 8,521 $6,656,111 1,215 $3,737,577
Iowa 4,343 $3,584,210 832 $2,701,519
Kansas 2,997 $2,463,473 688 $2,128,485
Kentucky 5,405 $4,093,931 826 $2,725,227
Louisiana 6,446 $4,816,553 954 $3,034,635
Maine 1,694 $1,373,295 227 $786,557
Maryland 3,466 $2,750,844 584 $1,974,145
Massachusetts 8,438 $7,165,041 1,336 $4,775,424
Michigan 6,469 $5,299,151 2,082 $6,632,723
Minnesota 5,591 $4,610,427 1,059 $3,487,519
Mississippi 3,900 $2,977,060 546 $1,720,030
Missouri 5,325 $4,242,149 1,163 $3,699,162
Montana 1,003 $786,501 384 $1,247,635
Nebraska 3,071 $2,461,156 367 $1,134,082
Nevada 522 $389,096 203 $604,500
New Hampshire 1,195 $1,009,072 195 $676,663
New Jersey 5,867 $4,164,988 835 $2,854,029
New Mexico 1,083 $797,187 499 $1,448,334
New York 24,916 $19,996,284 4,202 $13,143,354
North Carolina 11,510 $8,885,508 1,319 $4,321,772
North Dakota 1,351 $1,052,734 316 $993,153
Ohio 14,467 $11,114,321 1,877 $5,857,850
Oklahoma 4,754 $3,567,533 970 $2,941,144
Oregon 2,318 $1,836,362 1,106 $3,423,172
Pennsylvania 18,944 $14,963,404 2,856 $9,500,360
Rhode Island 1,921 $1,625,118 174 $638,001
South Carolina 5,440 $4,316,960 701 $2,298,277
South Dakota 1,422 $1,151,029 339 $1,090,490
Tennessee 6,707 $5,089,237 1,035 $3,354,357
Texas 27,668 $20,204,037 3,027 $9,913,929
Utah 744 $612,117 3,450 $11,397,721
Vermont 896 $756,858 142 $511,981
Virginia 6,020 $4,681,345 971 $3,251,321
Washington 3,346 $2,710,765 1,566 $4,833,023
West Virginia 2,065 $1,722,322 474 $1,564,095
Wisconsin 6,049 $4,926,247 1,129 $3,669,905
Wyoming 353 $257,227 84 $258,417
Total: 299,089 $233,038,410 60,976 $195,544,735