(1) "Board" means the higher education coordinating board.

(2) "OSPI" means the office of the superintendent of public instruction.

(3) "High school" means a secondary institution in Washington state identified by the office of the superintendent of public instruction as qualified to confer high school diplomas to a graduating senior class.

(4) "Parent(s)" mean the biological or adoptive parent of the student applicant and the spouse of a biological or adoptive parent. In cases of divorce or separation the parent for purposes of reporting income and family size is the biological or adoptive parent who provided more than one-half of the applicant's support in the previous twelve months. The term parent does not include either foster parents or legal guardians.

(5) "Family size" is the number of people for whom the applicant's parent(s) provided more than one-half of the support in the previous twelve months.

(6) "Income," in most cases means the applicant parent's adjusted gross income (AGI) as reported on the previous calendar year's federal tax return. For the independent student, income means the student's adjusted gross income as reported on the previous calendar year's federal tax return.

(7) "Independent student" means a student whose biological parents are both deceased and there is no adoptive parent, or the student is a "ward of the court," or the student has been legally emancipated by court order. The board may also recognize a student as independent due to exceptional circumstances as recognized by the appeal committee.

(8) "Appeals committee" means a committee convened by the board to review petitions and requests by students for consideration of individual exceptional circumstances.

(9) "Median family income (MFI)" means the median income for the state of Washington, by family size, as compiled by the federal Bureau of the Census and reported annually in the Federal Register.

(10) "Income cutoff" means one hundred thirty-five percent of the median family income.

(11) "Academic year" means the fall, winter, and spring quarters or the fall and spring semesters between July 1st and June 30th.

(12) "Eligible student" means a person who:

(a) Graduates from a public or private high school located in the state of Washington; and

(b) Is in the top fifteen percent of his or her 2000 graduating class; or

(c) Attained a cumulative score of 1200 or better on the Scholastic Assessment Test I (SATI) on the first attempt; or

(d) Attained a cumulative score of 27 or better on the American College Test (ACT) on the first attempt; and

(e) Has a family income less than one hundred thirty-five percent of the state's median; and

(f) Enrolls at least half time in an eligible postsecondary institution in the state of Washington; and

(g) Is not pursuing a degree in theology.

(13) "Eligible postsecondary institution" means:

(a) A public institution authorized by the Washington legislature and receiving operating support through the state general fund; or

(b) A postsecondary institution, whose campus or branch campus is physically located in the state of Washington, and who is accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting body. The recognized accrediting bodies are:

(i) Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges or a similar regional accrediting body as determined by the board;

(ii) Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools;

(iii) Accrediting Council for Continuing Education and Training;

(iv) Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges of Technology;

(v) The Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools;

(vi) The National Accrediting Commission of Cosmetology Arts and Sciences;

(vii) Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Higher Education;

(viii) New England Association of Schools and Colleges;

(ix) North Central Association of Colleges and Schools;

(x) Southern Association of Colleges and Schools;

(xi) Western Association of Schools and Colleges; or

(c) An accredited Oregon postsecondary institution that offers a program not offered in Washington and is located in either Columbia, Gilliam, Hood River, Multnomah, Clatsop, Clackamas, Morrow, Sherman, Umatilla, Union, Wallowa, Wasco or Washington county. The institution must be accredited by one of the accrediting bodies listed above; and

(d) Agrees to administer the program in accordance with the applicable rules and program guidelines.

(14) "Authorized use period" means the period of time the eligible student has to complete using his or her scholarship.