Missouri Code of State Regulations
Title 6 - DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
Division 10 - Commissioner of Higher Education
Chapter 2 - Student Financial Assistance Programs
Section 6 CSR 10-2.170 - Kids Chance Scholarship Program

Universal Citation: 6 MO Code of State Regs 10-2.170

Current through Register Vol. 49, No. 18, September 16, 2024

PURPOSE: This amendment updates gender-specific language, clarifies the citizenship requirement, and adds a policy for award disbursement and delivery.

PURPOSE: This amendment updates the definition of institution of postsecondary education or approved institution to reflect statutory revisions.

(1) Definitions.

(A) Academic year shall be from July 1 of any year through June 30 of the following year.

(B) Applicant means an eligible child, as defined in this rule, who applies for a Kids' Chance scholarship.

(C) Award year shall be from July 1 of any year through June 30 of the following year, excluding summer terms.

(D) Consortium agreement means a written agreement between two (2) or more approved institutions that allows students to take courses at a school other than the home school and have those courses count toward the degree or certificate at the home school and that complies with United States Department of Education requirements for federal student financial assistance.

(E) Coordinating board, CBHE, or board is the Coordinating Board for Higher Education created by section 173.005, RSMo.

(F) Department means the Department of Higher Education created by section 173.005, RSMo.

(G) EFC means Expected Family Contribution, the amount of money a student and family should pay toward the cost of post-secondary education as calculated annually by the United States Department of Education as a result of an official federal need analysis based on the student's federal need-based aid application form.

(H) Eligible child is a natural child, adopted child, or stepchild who meets the requirements set forth in section 173.254, RSMo, and this regulation.

(I) Initial recipient means any applicant who has filed an accurate and complete application by the deadline established by the CBHE for the Kids' Chance program and has not received a Kids' Chance award in any prior academic year.

(J) Institution of postsecondary education or approved institution means any institution located in the state of Missouri that meets the requirements set forth in sections 173.1102(2) or (3), RSMo, and that has been approved under 6 CSR 10-2.140.

(K) Kids' Chance or scholarship program shall mean the Kids' Chance Scholarship Program set forth in sections 173.254 through 173.258, RSMo.

(L) Kids' Chance Inc. of Missouri means the registered Missouri nonprofit corporation established to provide scholarships for tuition, education materials, living expenses, and other related incidental expenses for education to children of employees who have been seriously injured or killed in work-related accidents which have been either judicially determined to be, or accepted as, compensable under the Missouri Workers' Compensation Law, or any corresponding provisions of any future Missouri law.

(M) Missouri citizen, for the purpose of this rule, shall be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident who meets the standards set forth in the determination of student residency rule, 6 CSR 10-3.010.

(N) Renewal recipient means any applicant who has received a Kids' Chance award and who has filed an accurate and complete application by the deadline established by the department for the Kids' Chance program.

(O) Satisfactory academic progress means meeting the requirements established by the approved institution in which the student is enrolled for students at the approved institution to receive assistance under Title IV financial aid programs included in the Higher Education Act of 1965, with the exception of grade point average.

(P) Scholarship assistance, award, or funds shall be an amount of money paid by Missouri to a qualified applicant pursuant to the provisions of this rule.

(Q) Serious injury shall be an injury that led to a paid settlement or judicial award that can be identified by the injured party's inclusion on the Dependent Outreach List provided by the Missouri Division of Worker's Compensation.

(2) Responsibilities of Institutions of Postsecondary Education. Institutions participating in the Kids' Chance program must meet the requirements set forth in 6 CSR 10-2.140 Institutional Eligibility for Student Participation.

(3) Eligibility Policy. To qualify for an award, an initial or renewal recipient, at the time of application and throughout the period during which the recipient receives the award, must:

(A) Meet the requirements set forth in section 173.254, RSMo, and this regulation;

(B) Be a Missouri citizen as defined in subsection (1)(M) of this rule;

(C) Be enrolled or accepted for enrollment at least half-time in an approved institution, where half-time enrollment is determined by the standards of the institution;

(D) Establish financial need by having an EFC that is less than or equal to the maximum EFC used to determine eligibility for the Access Missouri Student Financial Assistance Program;

(E) Not be enrolled or intend to use the award to enroll in a course of study leading to a degree in theology or divinity; and

(F) Complete an application for scholarship assistance according to the provisions of this rule.

(4) Application and Evaluation.

(A) The department shall annually prescribe the time and method for filing applications for an award under the Kids' Chance program. It shall make announcement of its action in these respects.

(B) Students shall apply annually for an award under the Kids' Chance program by completing and submitting the application form as prescribed by the department.

(C) The department will evaluate each application for a Kids' Chance award based on the information provided by Kids' Chance Inc. of Missouri and according to the extent to which each applicant meets the requirements set forth in this regulation and section 173.254, RSMo.

(5) Award Policy.

(A) Kids' Chance awards shall be allotted for one (1) award year, but an applicant shall be eligible for renewed assistance until the applicant has reached the age of twenty-two (22) years, except the applicant may receive such scholarship assistance through the completion of the semester or similar grading period in which the eligible child reaches twenty-two (22) years of age.

(B) Award amounts will be calculated and issued for each semester of that award year.

(C) Within the limits of amounts appropriated therefore, a renewal recipient may continue to receive an award so long as the recipient:
1. Maintains a cumulative grade point average of at least two and one-half (2.5) on a four-point (4.0) scale, or its equivalent;

2. Maintains satisfactory academic progress; and

3. Otherwise meets the criteria of the Kids' Chance program.

(D) Provided that sufficient funds are appropriated, initial and renewal recipients who meet the eligibility requirements set forth in section 173.254, RSMo, and this rule shall be eligible for a Kids' Chance award, with the maximum scholarship award amount for each semester being the least of:
1. The actual tuition as defined in section 173.260, RSMo, charged at the approved institution where the individual is enrolled or accepted for enrollment for the number of credit hours in which the individual is enrolled; or

2. The amount of tuition charged a Missouri resident at the University of Missouri for attendance based on the same number of credit hours in which the individual is enrolled.

(E) The applicant's scholarship award shall be reduced when necessary pursuant to section 173.093, RSMo.

(F) Eligible renewal recipients shall have award priority. If funds are not available to make awards to all applicants who would otherwise meet the requirements to be renewal recipients, the department will make awards first according to priority based on the students with the lowest EFCs and then on the earliest complete and accurate applications received by the department.

(G) Applicants who qualify as initial recipients under the provisions of this rule shall receive awards if sufficient funds are appropriated and subject to the priorities described above.

(H) If funds are not available to make awards to all applicants who would otherwise meet the requirements to be initial recipients, the department will make awards first according to priority based on the students with the lowest EFCs and then on the earliest complete and accurate applications received by the department.

(I) Award notifications will be sent to the eligible applicants by the department once the applications have been approved. Notification of award eligibility will also be sent to the student financial aid office at the approved institution where the student plans to enroll or has enrolled.

(J) Institution of postsecondary education or approved institution means any institution located in the state of Missouri that meets the requirements set forth in subdivisions 173.1102.1(2) or (3), RSMo, and that has been approved under 6 CSR 10-2.140.

(K) Kids' Chance awards will be made for use during the academic year, but no funds for Kids' Chance awards will be granted for use for summer school.

(L) No Kids' Chance award will be made retroactive to a previous academic year. A Kids' Chance award will be made retroactive to a previous semester only upon the sole discretion of the department.

(M) Kids' Chance awards will be issued only after certification of at least half-time attendance of the student by the institution. For students enrolled as part of a consortium agreement, the student must be considered to be enrolled at least half-time at the home institution to be certified.

(N) The applicant's award will be sent to the approved institution to be delivered to the student's account. The institution shall retain the portion of the award that the student owes for expenses and promptly give the applicant any remaining funds.

(O) An applicant's failure to provide an accurate and complete application or any additional information by any deadline may result in loss of the Kids' Chance award.

(P) The CBHE may withhold payment of any Kids' Chance award after initiating an inquiry into the initial or continued eligibility of a student or into the approved status of an institution.

(Q) A student may transfer the Kids' Chance award from one (1) approved institution in Missouri to another without losing eligibility for assistance, but the CBHE shall make any necessary adjustments in the amount of the award.

(6) Information Sharing Policy. All information on an individual's Kids' Chance application will be shared with the financial aid office of the institution to which the individual has applied or that the individual is attending to permit verification of data submitted. Information may be shared with federal financial aid officers if necessary to verify data furnished by the state or federal governments as provided for in the Privacy Act of 1974, 5 U.S.C. sections 552, 552a.

*Original authority: 173.254, RSMo 1998.

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