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Supporting Tennessee veterans in postsecondary education: The Helping Heroes Grant Program

Pvt. 1st Class Scott Wayne proudly holds his newly earned high school diploma with smiling family members at the Patriot Academy’s first graduating class’ graduation ceremony at the Muscatatuck Urban Training Center in Butlerville, Ind., March 18. Scott didn’t have enough credits to graduate with his high school class. He decided to join the Patriot Academy to earn his diploma and serve his country. The Patriot Academy is the U.S. military’s first ever accredited high school.

July 2014

Author: Kim Potts

Legislative Brief

In 2008, the General Assembly passed Public Chapter 1142 (PC 1142), creating the Helping Heroes grant program to provide postsecondary education financial assistance to Tennessee citizens who are decorated, post-9/11 veterans. The grant, established in Tennessee state law as part of the state’s system of lottery-funded scholarships, is intended to offset the costs of postsecondary education for qualifying veterans. Helping Heroes grant awards total either $500 or $1,000 per student per semester (according to part-time or full-time status), dependent upon students’ passing their courses. PC 1142 requires the Comptroller’s Office to review the program to determine its effectiveness in educating veterans, beginning in the fifth year of the program’s operation (2012-13) and every four years thereafter.This brief represents the Comptroller’s first review of the Helping Heroes grant program.