DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Office of the Secretary

1200 Higher Education - Scholarships

1211 Needs Based Scholarship Programs Administered by the Delaware Office Excluding Memorial Scholarships

1.0 Purpose

The purpose of this regulation is to provide the eligibility criteria, application requirements, and award process for all needs based scholarship programs administered by the Delaware Higher Education Office pursuant to 14Del.C.Ch. 34 including: the Scholarship Incentive Program (14Del.C.§3411); Career-Based Scholarship Program (14Del.C.§3416); Educator Support Scholarship Program (14Del.C.§3438); and the Mental Health Services Scholarship Program (14Del.C.§3439(a)). Memorial scholarships are not included in this regulation.

2.0 Definitions

The following words and terms, when used in this regulation, shall have the following meaning:

"Area of need"means 1 of the specific areas of need in which there is a shortage of teachers or specialists in Delaware as determined annually by the DHEO.

"Award" means a scholarship awarded under 14Del.C.Ch. 34 as delineated in Section 1.0 of this regulation.

"Delaware Higher Education Office" or "DHEO" means the Department of Education's office which administers specific programs related to higher education, including student financial assistance programs.

"Free Application for Federal Student Aid" or "FAFSA" means the data supplied in connection with the federal government's application for federal financial aid.

"Full-time student"means a student enrolled in a minimum of college credit hours as required by the student’s college or university for full time status. Generally, for an undergraduate program, this is a minimum of 12 credit hours per term and for a graduate program, a minimum of 9 credit hours.

"High need field" means 1 of the specific fields identified as an area of need in Delaware by the committee established pursuant to14Del.C.§3416(b).

"Satisfactory academic progress"means that a student is successfully completing coursework according to the standards of the college or university in which the student is enrolled and the student is eligible to continue to receive financial aid.

"Semester"means a half-year term in a college or university typically lasting 15 to 18 weeks.

"Student account access site" means the webpage on the DHEO's website where students can access scholarship opportunities.

3.0 Application Requirements and Submission Period

1. 3.1 The application acceptance and submission period for all needs based scholarship programs shall be posted on the DHEO's website by December 1 of each calendar year.
2. 3.2 DHEO will not accept or process incomplete applications or applications submitted outside the posted application acceptance period.

3. 3.3 In order for an application to be considered complete, an applicant must, by the last date of the application acceptance and submission period:

   1. 3.3.1 Establish an account through the student account access site and provide the applicant’s valid email address and permanent mailing address.
   2. 3.3.2 Complete an online application through the student account access site. Applicants may update their enrollment on the student account access site through the last date of the application acceptance process.
   3. 3.3.3 The applicant shall complete the FAFSA for the school year in which the scholarship is sought prior to the end of the submission period for the scholarship program the applicant is pursuing.

4.0 Eligibility

1. 4.1 In order to be eligible for any scholarship awards under this regulation, an applicant must:

   1. 4.1.1 Meet the definition of residency in14Del.C.§3402(f); and
   2. 4.1.2 Complete the FAFSA and demonstrate financial need.

2. 4.2 In order to be eligible for the Scholarship Incentive Program (14Del.C.§3411), an applicant must meet the requirements under subsection 4.1 and be a full-time student enrolled in:

   1. 4.2.1 An undergraduate degree program at a higher education institution that is located in Delaware and has accreditation from an accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education; or
   2. 4.2.2 An undergraduate degree program at a higher education institution that is located outside of Delaware and has accreditation from an accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and that is not offered by a publicly assisted college or university in Delaware; or
   3. 4.2.3 A graduate degree program at a higher education institution that is located outside of Delaware and has accreditation from an accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and that is not offered by a publicly assisted college or university in Delaware.

3. 4.3 In order to be eligible for the Career-Based Scholarship Program (14Del.C.§3416), an applicant must meet the requirements under subsection 4.1 and:

   1. 4.3.1 Be enrolled in an undergraduate program of study leading to a career in a high need field; and
   2. 4.3.2 Be enrolled at a college or university that is located in Delaware and is accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education.

4. 4.4 In order to be eligible for the Educator Support Scholarship Program (14Del.C.§3438), an applicant must meet the requirements under subsection 4.1 and be enrolled in:

   1. 4.4.1 A program of study leading to a career as a teacher or specialist in an area of need;
   2. 4.4.2 An undergraduate program of study full-time or a graduate program of study either full-time or part-time;
   3. 4.4.3 A college or university that is located in Delaware and is accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education.

5. 4.5 In order to be eligible for the Mental Health Services Scholarship Program (14Del.C.§3439(a)), an applicant must meet the requirements under subsection 4.1 and be enrolled:

   1. 4.5.1 As a full-time or part-time student;
   2. 4.5.2 In a graduate level master’s degree program;
   3. 4.5.3 In a Delaware postsecondary institution; and
   4. 4.5.4 That will lead to certification as a school counselor, school psychologist, or school social worker in a Delaware public school.

5.0 Awards

1. 5.1 DHEO determines the amount of scholarships to be awarded annually. Contingent upon funding appropriated. For the Career-Based Scholarship Program, at least 1 applicant in each high need area career field will be awarded a scholarship annually.

2. 5.2 To determine an applicant's financial need for a scholarship, DHEO will consider:

   1. 5.2.1 The applicant's student aid index, or SAI, which is the number that is calculated using the financial information an applicant provides on the applicant's FAFSA to determine the applicant's eligibility for federal student aid;
   2. 5.2.2 The expense of attending the applicant's college or university; and
   3. 5.2.3 The applicant's eligibility for Pell grants and other federal, state, or private grant assistance.
3. 5.3 An award shall be used for, and not in excess of, tuition, mandatory fees, room, board, books, and other direct and indirect educational expenses.
4. 5.4 Students can submit a new application each year.

5. 5.5 Students may not receive more than 4 annual awards per type of scholarship except:

   1. 5.5.1 When the law states otherwise; or
   2. 5.5.2 If the student receives an award from the Scholarship Incentive Program, they may receive that award 5 times; or
   3. 5.5.3 If the student receives an award from the Mental Health Services Scholarship Program, they may receive that award only twice.

6.0 Award Payment

1. 6.1 DHEO will disburse award payments directly to the student’s college or university only. DHEO will contact the recipient’s college or university to verify the recipient’s financial and enrollment status and to verify that the recipient is making satisfactory academic progress each semester prior to the scholarship funds being disbursed.
2. 6.2 If a student withdraws from school or otherwise does not qualify for full payment at the end of the add/drop period for a semester, DHEO will apply the refund policies set forth in14Del.C.§3402(k).

29 DE Reg. 599 (01/01/26)

28 DE Reg. 128 (08/01/24)

28 DE Reg. 874 (06/01/25)

29 DE Reg. 599 (01/01/26)

28 DE Reg. 128 (08/01/24)

28 DE Reg. 874 (06/01/25)

29 DE Reg. 599 (01/01/26)

29 DE Reg. 599 (01/01/26)

28 DE Reg. 128 (08/01/24)

28 DE Reg. 874 (06/01/25)

29 DE Reg. 599 (01/01/26)

29 DE Reg. 599 (01/01/26)

26 DE Reg. 1054 (06/01/23)

28 DE Reg. 128 (08/01/24)

28 DE Reg. 874 (06/01/25)

29 DE Reg. 599 (01/01/26)