Tennessee Code Title 49. Education § 49-4-903

(a) The scholarship and grant programs established by this part shall be administered by TSAC, which shall be responsible for determination of eligibility of students and for the distribution of funds appropriated by the general assembly for scholarships and grants awarded under the program.  In the event net proceeds from lottery revenues are insufficient to fund fully the scholarships and grants created by this part, then TSAC is authorized to review and reduce the amounts to be awarded for such scholarships and grants pro rata.

(b) THEC shall provide assistance to the general assembly and to TSAC by researching and analyzing data concerning the scholarship and grant programs created under this part, including, but not limited to, student success and scholarship retention.  THEC shall report its findings annually to the education committee of the senate and the education committees of the house of representatives by March 15.

(c) Postsecondary educational institutions that enroll students receiving scholarships or grants under this part shall provide all information required by TSAC and THEC that is necessary for administering, reviewing, and evaluating such programs.  TSAC and THEC may choose to collect data from higher education institutions or through the University of Tennessee system, board of regents or the Tennessee Independent Colleges and Universities Association.  TSAC and THEC shall maintain confidentiality of individual student records in accordance with the Family Educational Right to Privacy Act, codified in 20 U.S.C. § 1232g.

(d) THEC shall study and include in its report required under subsection (b) an analysis of the general assembly merit scholarship program and its success in promoting exceptional academic achievement in college.  Specifically, THEC shall report the number of students in each class who retain general assembly merit scholarships throughout their college careers and the number of students who do not retain general assembly scholarships and the reasons therefore.  THEC shall analyze whether the retention standards for general assembly scholarships should be increased to promote further exceptional academic achievement in college.

(e) In light of the stated intention of the American Council on Education to create a new GED® test aligned with the common core state standards, THEC shall study whether any changes should be made to the requirements for receipt of Tennessee HOPE lottery scholarships by recipients of GED® diplomas under § 49-4-908.  The department of labor and workforce development, division of adult education, the department of education and the office of research and education accountability in the office of the comptroller of the treasury shall assist THEC.  THEC shall report its progress in determining whether any changes should be made to the requirements for receipt of Tennessee HOPE lottery scholarships by recipients of GED® diplomas to the education committees of the house of representatives and the senate by February 1, 2013.  THEC shall report its final findings and conclusions and make any recommendations for changes to the statute to the general assembly by January 14, 2014.