Govenor's Scholars Program

On September 11, 2000, California's Governor Gray Davis signed into law two new merit-based scholarship programs that he proposed earlier in the year. The goals of the new programs are to encourage students to study hard in order to master the State content standards and to pursue rigorous coursework in order to excel in mathematics and the sciences.

9th, 10th and 11th grade students who demonstrate high academic achievement on statewide Standardized Testing and Reporting (STAR) exams can earn scholarships of $1000. Additional scholarships of $2500 will be awarded to those students who first win a $1000 scholarship and then go on to achieve the highest scores on the calculus and science portions of the Advanced Placement (AP), Golden State, and the International Baccalaureate Program exams.

Both the $1000 and $2500 scholarship awards are deposited into a Golden State ScholarShare Trust account until the recipient attends a postsecondary educational institution. Awards must be used to defray qualified higher education costs associated with attending any eligible higher education institution. Please read the eligibility requirements for both awards.

Eligibility Criteria for Scholarships
Governor's Awards ($1000):

  • Must attend California public school for at least one continuous year prior to taking the exam; and
  • Must take standards-based STAR examination (both English/language arts and mathematics) and Stanford 9 examination (reading and mathematics) in 9th, 10th, or 11th grade.

Selection of scholars is based on the following criteria:

  • Must attain a score on the Stanford 9 examination that places him/her in the top 5% of test-takers statewide in the 9th, 10th, or 11th grade (combined reading and mathematics score); OR
  • Must attain a score on the Stanford 9 examination that places him/her in the top 10% of the test-takers within each California comprehensive public high school in the 9th, 10th, or 11th grade (combined reading and mathematics score).
  • Students who score in both the 5% statewide and the top 10% by school on the Stanford 9 examination are eligible to receive only one Governor's Scholars Award of $1000 each year.
  • Students are eligible to receive Governor's Scholars Awards for each of 3 years (9th, 10th, and 11th grades).

Distinguished Math and Science Awards ($2500):

  • Must have been awarded and claimed a $1000 Governor's Scholars award;
  • Must attend California public school for at least one continuous year prior to taking the exam; and
  • Must take Advanced Placement (AP) Calculus exam and one of the following three AP science exams: Biology, Chemistry, or Physics.
  • If a student's school does not offer AP Calculus and at least one of the three AP science courses, he or she may take instead the Golden State Examination (GS) in High School Mathematics, in place of AP Calculus and one of the four sciences offered (Biology, Chemistry, Physics, or Second-year Coordinated Science) in place of AP Biology, Chemistry, or Physics.
  • If a student's school offers only AP Calculus and no AP science courses, he or she must take the AP Calculus and one of the four GSE science exams. Similarly, if a student's school offers only AP biology, Chemistry or Physics but no AP Calculus, he or she must take the AP science exam and the GSE High School Mathematics exam.
  • If a student's school offers an International Baccalaureate Program (IB), he or she must attain high scores on the science and mathematics portions of the IB examinations.

Selection of Scholars shall be based on the following criteria:

  • Must attain a score of 5 (top score) on the AP Calculus AP exam and on one of the three AP science exams; OR
  • Must attain a score of 4 or 5 on the higher-level AP Calculus BC and Physics C exam; OR
  • If a student's school does not offer AP Calculus, student must score a 6 (highest honors) on the GSE High School Mathematics exam in place of AP Calculus or on one of four GSE science exams in place of AP science.
  • If a student's school offers an International Baccalaureate Program (IB), he or she must attain high scores on the science and mathematics portions of the IB examinations. (Qualifying scores on the IB exam are currently under consideration and will be posted to http://www.scholarshare.com soon.
  • Students are eligible to receive only one Governor's Distinguished Math and Science Award.

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