Can a student graduate from a public high school in December and then attend post-secondary in the spring and receive a portion of the scholarship funds?
No. The funds for the program are pulled from the state's portion of the per-student allocation made to each school district, and as a result any student who is included in the school district's enrollment count in the fall would not be eligible. The program specifically requires that a student must meet the high school graduation requirements prior to the start of the 4th year of high school.
Will receiving the Jump Start Scholarship affect a student's ability to receive the South Dakota Opportunity Scholarship?
No. A student receiving the Jump Start Scholarship will still be eligible to receive the South Dakota Opportunity Scholarship as long as they meet the initial eligibility requirements of that program.
What South Dakota post-secondary institutions qualify to accept a Jump Start Scholarship?
The scholarship may be used at any university, college, or technical school in South Dakota that is accredited by the North Central Association (NCA). Most institutions in South Dakota are regionally accredited by NCA. The school also must provide instruction from a campus located in South Dakota.
Can I extend my scholarship to cover the summer semester during my first year of post-secondary education.
No. The scholarship will only be paid to an approved institution on behalf of any eligible student in two equal installments during the consecutive fall and spring semesters of the year following the student's graduation from high school.
Do I need to be enrolled full-time in order to be eligible for the Jump Start Scholarship?
Yes, students must be enrolled full-time for both the fall and spring semester in order to qualify for the scholarship.