Updated September 20, 2010
When will the Alaska Performance Scholarship be available?
Is funding available for scholarships?
How much is the scholarship award?
What determines the level of scholarship earned?
Who can get an Alaska Performance Scholarship?
What does a “rigorous high school curriculum” mean?
What are the curriculum requirements for the class of 2011?
When will the curriculum requirements for the class of 2012 be known?
Where can the scholarship be used?
What costs does the scholarship cover?
Must scholars be enrolled full-time in the postsecondary institution?
Does the scholarship expire?
What must students do to earn a scholarship?
What are the specific examination and grade-point average requirements?
What if a student has a grade-point average qualifying for a first-level award but an examination score that qualifies for a lower award level?
How does a student apply for a scholarship?
Once students receive the scholarship, what do they need to do to continue to qualify?
What can families do now?
How can I learn more about the Alaska Performance Scholarship?
When will the Alaska Performance Scholarship be available?
Upon legislative appropriation, the high school graduating class of 2011 will be the first Alaskans eligible for award, if attending a qualifying program in Alaska during the 2011-2012 academic year.
Is funding available for scholarships?
Funding has not yet been appropriated for the Alaska Performance Scholarship. It is expected that funding will be considered in the 2011 Legislative session.
How much is the scholarship award?
There are three maximum award levels: $4,755 a year, $3,566 a year, and $2,378 a year. Alaska Performance Scholarship recipients may remain eligible for up to eight semesters of enrollment. However, scholars must apply for and
use any other non-loan aid they receive, such as state or federal grants or other scholarships before they may apply an Alaska Performance Scholarship toward their remaining costs. The scholar will not receive an Alaska Performance Scholarship amount that
is more than the remaining
costs of attendance.
What determines the level of scholarship earned?
A combination of the eligible student’s high school GPA and score on a college-entrance or career-readiness examination. For eligible students at schools that do not award grades, the Department of Education & Early Development
will develop alternate, equivalent requirements. These alternate requirements are scheduled to be published in fall 2010.
See also: What are the specific examination and grade-point-average requirements?
Who can get an Alaska Performance Scholarship?
An Alaska resident who graduates from an Alaska high school, on or after January 1, 2011, and who meets the following requirements:
This includes graduates from public schools and private schools, and home school students who have taken the required courses. Students who hold GEDs are not eligible.
What does a “rigorous high school curriculum” mean?
There are two pathways students may take to be eligible for the scholarship. The exact courses have not been identified yet. The State Board of Education & Early Development will set these requirements by regulation through a public process.
The two pathways are:
- Four years of math, four years of English, four years of science, and four years of social studies. However, one of the four years of social studies can be substituted with one year of foreign language, Alaska Native language, fine arts, or cultural heritage.
- Three years of math, four years of English, three years of science, four years of social studies, and two years of the same foreign language or Alaska Native language.
Students who are independently home schooled will provide information about their courses and grades to the Department of Education & Early Development.
Important note: The curriculum requirements will be phased in for the high school graduating classes of 2011 and 2012. Members of the 2011 class must graduate from high school having successfully completed a curriculum
that includes a minimum of five credits, combined, in math and science (with no fewer than two credits in each) to be eligible.
What are the curriculum requirements for the class of 2011?
Members of the 2011 class must graduate from high school having successfully completed a curriculum that includes a minimum of five credits, combined, in math and science (with no fewer than two credits in each)
to be eligible.
When will the curriculum requirements for the class of 2012 be known?
Draft regulations by the Department of Education and Early Development establishing the curriculum requirements for the class of 2012 are open for public comment until 4 p.m. October 29, 2010. For more information and/or to read the proposed regulations,
go to
https://www.eed.state.ak.us/regs/comment.html.
It is expected that regulations will be finalized in early December, 2010.
Where can the scholarship be used?
At any regionally accredited college or university in Alaska, or for career and technical education programs approved by the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development. The scholarship will be paid directly to the postsecondary institution.
What costs does the scholarship cover?
Scholars may use the funds for costs of attendance certified by the postsecondary institution. These costs may include tuition, fees, books, tools and supplies, room and board and transportation, in accordance with the standard
budgets published by the institution. However, scholars must apply for and use any other non-loan aid they receive, such as state or federal grants or other scholarships before they may apply an Alaska Performance Scholarship toward their remaining costs.
The scholar will not receive an Alaska Performance Scholarship amount that is more than the remaining costs of attendance.
Must scholars be enrolled full-time in the postsecondary institution?
No. Undergraduate students enrolled at least half time or for at least six semester credits can receive scholarships. Half-time graduate students enrolled in at least five semester credits and half-time vocational students enrolled
in programs meeting at least 30 hours per week for at least six weeks may also qualify for a scholarship award. The scholarship award amount will be proportionally reduced.
Does the scholarship expire?
Yes. It must be used within six years of graduating high school unless the scholar qualifies for an extension, such as military service. Allowable extensions will be set in regulation by the State Board of Education & Early Development
through a public process.
What must students do to earn a scholarship?
For all three levels of scholarship, students must complete a
specified core curriculum. For each level of scholarship, there is a related minimum grade-point average and a minimum score on a college-entrance or career-ready assessment. Students must complete these requirements while in high school; students may
not gain eligibility after high school graduation.
What are the specific examination and grade-point average requirements?
A combination of an examination result and GPA determine the level of scholarship eligible students can receive:
- For up to $4,755 a year - a GPA of 3.5 and a score of 25 on the ACT or 1680 on the SAT*
- For up to $3,566 a year - a GPA of 3.0 and a score of 23 on the ACT or 1560 on the SAT*
- For up to $2,378 a year - a GPA of 2.5 and a score of 21 on the ACT or 1450 on the SAT*
*Students entering a career and technical education certificate program can substitute WorkKeys scores of 5 in
applied mathematics, reading for information, and locating information.
What if a student has a grade-point average qualifying for a first-level award but an examination score that qualifies for a lower award level?
A student will be eligible for the award level for which he or she satisfies all eligibility requirements. In the situation described in the question, the student would qualify for the lower award level.
How does a student apply for a scholarship?
Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as soon as possible after January 1, 2011, but no later than June 30, 2011. There will be an alternate application available on the Alaska Commission on Postsecondary
Education web site for students attending schools that are not FAFSA-eligible. Students may also be required to provide additional information about attendance plans and give authorization for release of high school transcripts. It is expected that students
will be able to log on to the Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education web site to meet these requirements.
Once students receive the scholarship, what do they need to do to continue to qualify?
To continue to receive the scholarship, students need to:
- file a new FAFSA or approved alternate application by the deadline each year;
- meet the annual satisfactory academic progress requirements, including number of credits earned and GPA applicable to your postsecondary grade level; and
- continue to be enrolled in a qualifying program of study
They must document successful completion of all these requirements.
What can families do now?
Encourage and support your student to take challenging courses and do well in school. Remember, an Alaska Performance Scholarship is based on rigorous course selection, overall grade-point average in high school and an examination
score. Achieving a higher grade-point average and exam score will result in a student eligible for a higher level of scholarship -- The difference could be several thousand dollars over a student’s postsecondary years.
When your student is selecting high school courses for the upcoming year, consult with your student’s school counselors on academic courses that will best prepare and align your student for an Alaska Performance Scholarship award. Also,
plan to apply for other aid. Remember that scholars must apply for and use any other non-loan aid they receive, such as state or federal grants or other scholarships before they may apply an Alaska Performance Scholarship toward their remaining
costs of attendance.
If your student is in middle school, take time to talk about career aspirations and goals for education beyond high school, and help your student select 9th grade classes wisely. Students who want to earn an Alaska Performance
Scholarship need to be prepared to take a challenging curriculum for all four years of high school.
How can I learn more about the Alaska Performance Scholarship?
Updated information will be posted to the Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education (ACPE) website as it becomes available. You may also get information from your high school counselor, from the financial aid office at your
Alaska postsecondary institution, by visiting the Department of Education and Early Development online at www.eed.state.ak.us
or by visiting ACPE’s Success Center in Anchorage located at the Dimond Mall.