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Program Overview and State Plans
The Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG) and National SMART Grant Programs were created in the Higher Education Reconciliation Act of 2006, which became effective July 1, 2006. The program awards need-based Academic Competitiveness Grants to first- and second-year undergraduates who completed a rigorous high school curriculum, and National SMART Grants to third- and fourth-year undergraduates majoring in certain technical fields or foreign languages deemed vital to national security.
Participation in a rigorous secondary school program of study may qualify a postsecondary student to receive an ACG, if otherwise eligible. All students, including private school students, home-schooled students, students enrolled in Department of Defense Overseas Schools, and Bureau of Indian Affairs students may qualify for an ACG under the rigorous secondary school program of study options pre-recognized by the Secretary, if the student is otherwise eligible. The pre-recognized options are as follows:
A set of courses similar to the State Scholars Initiative in which a student completes at a minimum the following courses:
- Four years of English
- Three years of mathematics, including algebra I and a higher-level class such as algebra II, geometry, or data analysis and statistics.
- Three years of science, including one year each of at least two of the following courses: biology, chemistry, and physics.
- Three years of social studies.
- One year of a language other than English.
Any secondary school program for a student who completes at least two courses in the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program sponsored by the International Baccalaureate Organization, Geneva, Switzerland, and receives a score of “4” or higher on the examinations for at least two of those courses.
Any secondary school program for a student who completes at least two Advanced Placement courses and receives a score of “3” or higher on the College Board’s Advanced Placement Program Exams for at least two of those courses.
The Secretary recognizes at least one rigorous secondary school program of study for each state annually. States may submit proposals for recognition or may elect to accept rigorous secondary school programs of study pre-recognized by the Secretary.
Recognized rigorous secondary school programs of study by year of high school graduation
Overview of Academic Competitiveness and National SMART Grants
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