Bill > A05063

This bill expands the New York State Excelsior Scholarship program to provide more flexible educational funding options for students. Specifically, the bill modifies eligibility criteria to include part-time students and those enrolled in BOCES (Board of Cooperative Educational Services) or approved vocational programs at SUNY or CUNY community colleges. The scholarship will now be available to students enrolled full-time or part-time, with adjusted credit hour requirements and income thresholds. For full-time students, the scholarship can cover up to $5,500 or actual tuition (whichever is less), while part-time students can receive up to $2,750. The bill increases the maximum duration of scholarship support to five academic years for full-time students pursuing a four-year degree (or six years if the program normally requires five years), and ten academic years for part-time students. Additionally, the bill raises the income eligibility limits, incrementally increasing from $135,000 to $150,000 across different academic years. Importantly, the bill also ensures that students will not be penalized if they do not complete their degree, and allows for extensions due to circumstances like medical leave, military service, or parental leave. The changes will take effect for the 2025-2026 academic year, providing more inclusive educational financial support for New York students.