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2009 High School Graduates and earlier
2010 High School Graduates
2011 High School Graduates
2011 High School Graduates Renewal Information
2012 High School Graduates
Academic Requirements for Initial Eligibility
AICE - Advanced International Certificate of Education
Appeal Process
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Comprehensive Course Table
Course Code Directory: Course Descriptions
Eligibility and Award Criteria, Chart of
Enrollment Requirements
FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)
FFAA - Florida Financial Aid Application
Financial Aid Recipient History
Florida Legislative Session and History
Florida Academic Scholars
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Florida Medallion Scholars
Frequently-Asked Questions
GED - General Educational Development Diploma
General Requirements for Awards
Gold Seal Vocational Scholars
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IB - International Baccalaureate
Information Page
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Out-of-State Applicants
Receiving Scholarship Funding
Reinstated
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Restored
Scholarship Length
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Transfer of Award Between Schools
Vocational Course Descriptions
Weighting For Bright Futures GPA
World Language Requirement

Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholars Award

Initial Eligibility Requirements for 2013 High School Graduates

NOTE:  These requirements are subject to change with each legislative session.

  • A student graduating from high school during the 2012-13 academic year and applying for state aid for the 2013-14 academic year must apply for a Florida Bright Futures Scholarship after December 1 and prior to high school graduation. To apply a student must submit a completed Initial Student Florida Financial Aid Application (FFAA) during the last year in high school.
  • NEW - An eligible student who graduates mid-year may receive an initial award in the spring term following the student’s graduation.  The FFAA must be submitted by August 31 of the student’s graduation year (prior to the spring term enrolled).
  • A student may receive funding for only one award (Florida Academic Scholars, Florida Medallion Scholars, or Gold Seal Vocational Scholars).  The highest award earned by the student will be selected.
  • Initial eligibility requirements must be met prior to high school graduation from a Florida public or FDOE-registered private high school.
  • The submission of a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is an annual requirement for Bright Futures eligibility.  Note: The student’s FAFSA does not have to indicate need; however, must be complete and processed error-free prior to a student’s first disbursement of an award.  (The Florida State Programs May 15 deadline does not apply to Bright Futures.)

Public and Private Institutions All students will receive the specified (cost per credit hour) award amounts established by the Florida Legislature in the General Appropriations Act.  Award amounts for the 2013-14 academic year will be available in summer 2013 after the legislative session.  Institutional fees are not included in the award.
Grade Point Average
(GPA)
 3.0 weighted GPA using the 16 core credits required for high school graduation with a 4-year diploma (listed below) and a 3.5 unweighted GPA in a minimum of three Career and Technical Education credits in one vocational program, combined with the test scores and community service hours listed below.  Weighting for more challenging, higher level courses is prescribed by law as .50 per course per year. (Note: GPAs are not rounded.)

(See "Other Ways to Qualify" below for 3-year graduation options.)

Required Credits
Credits must be in the 16 core credits required for high school graduation with a 4-year diploma.

4-year Diploma
Credits must include the 16 core credits required for high school graduation.
  •   4 English
  •   4 Mathematics (including Algebra I)
  •   3 Natural Science (2 with lab component)
  •   3 Social Science (U.S. Hist., World Hist., U.S. Govt. and Economics)
  •   1 Fine; OR Identified Practical Art; OR .5 credit in each
  •   1 Physical Education (to include integration of health)

    • 16 Credits
Plus a minimum of three Career and Technical Education credits in one vocational program

Physical Education Requirements

(24-credit diploma only)

The one-credit physical education requirement may be satisfied in one of three ways:

  1. Completion of one-half credit in Personal Fitness (PE) and one-half credit in any Physical Education elective course (PE elective – PL).


  2. Completion of HOPE Core course (3026010) – beginning with 2011 high school graduates.


  3. Completion of HOPE Physical Education Variation course (1506320) – beginning with 2011 high school graduates.

The following physical education waiver options are available:

Interscholastic Sports:  Participation in an interscholastic sport at the junior varsity level for two full seasons shall waive the one-credit requirement in physical education if the student passes a competency test on personal fitness (documentation retained at the district level).

For PE/PL and HOPE options:

  • Record the non-credit course number 1500410 to indicate the student has completed one semester of interscholastic sports.
  • Record the non-credit course number 1500420 to indicate the student has completed a second semester of interscholastic sports.
  • When the two non-credit courses have been recorded and the competency test has been passed, record the non-credit course number 1500430 to indicate all three requirements have been met.  On the transcript, enter "PE" in the subject field, 0 credit, and no grade.
    Please remember that all students who choose to waive their physical education requirements by playing an interscholastic sport must complete additional credits in elective courses to meet the 24 credits required by the state for graduation.

Marching Band: Completion (no courses in progress), with a grade of "C" or better, of one semester in a marching band class or in a physical activity class that requires participation in marching band activities as an extracurricular activity will waive one half of the one-credit requirement in physical education (PL).  The one-half credit Personal Fitness course is still required.  For PE/PL option only—may not be used for HOPE option.

  • Record the non-credit course 1500440, Marching Band Physical Education Waiver (on the transcript, enter "PE" in the subject field, 0 credit, and no grade) to indicate the student has completed one half of the one-credit physical education requirement through marching band, AND


  • Record the course number for an official Band course I-VI completed by the student, or the course number for a Eurhythmics course I-IV (if an integral part of marching band), or the course number for a Jazz Ensemble I-IV (if an integral part of marching band).

Dance (beginning with the high school Class of 2011):  Completion (no courses in progress), with a grade of "C" or better, of one semester of a dance class will waive one half of the one-credit requirement in physical education (PL).  The one-half credit Personal Fitness course is still required.  For PE/PL option only--may not be used for HOPE option.

  • Record the non-credit course 1500445, Dance Waiver (on the transcript, enter "PE" in the subject field, 0 credit, and no grade) to indicate the student has completed one half of the one-credit physical education requirement through dance , AND


  • Record the course number for one of the following dance courses:
      • 0300300 Ethnic Dance
      0300310 Dance Technique 1
      0300320 Dance Techniques 2
      0300330 Dance Techniques 3
      0300340 Ballet 1
      0300350 Ballet 2
      0300360 Ballet 3
      0300370 Ballet 4
      0300380 Dance Choreography/Performance 1
      0300390 Dance Choreography/Performance 2
      0300400 Dance Repertory 1
      0300410 Dance Repertory 2
      0300420 Dance Repertory 3
      0300430 Dance Repertory 4
      0300440 Dance for Disabled Students
      0300450 Dance History/Appreciation 1
      0300460 Dance History/Appreciation 2
      0300470 Dance Aesthetics 1
      0300480 Dance Kinesiology 1
      0300490 Dance Techniques 4
      0300600 Dance Kinesiology II
      0300610 Dance Aesthetics 2
      0300620 Dance Career Preparation
      0300630 Introduction to Dance Career Opportunities
      0300640 Introduction to Dance Therapy
      0300650 Dance Preinternational Baccalaureate
      0300660 Dance 2-International Baccalaureate
      0300670 Dance 3-International Baccalaureate
      0300990 Dance Transfer

ROTC: Completion of two full years in an ROTC class, a significant component of which is drills.  This will waive both the:

    1. one-credit physical education requirement.  For PE/PL and HOPE options.  (The one-half credit Personal Fitness course is still required for the PE/PL option.)

      2. AND

    2. the full one-credit performing arts requirement.  For PE/PL and HOPE options.

      • Record the non-credit course 1500450, ROTC PE YR 1 Waiver, to indicate the student has completed one year of an ROTC course.  On the transcript, enter "PE" in the subject field, 0 credit, and no grade.
      • Record the non-credit course 1500460, ROTC PE YR 2 Waiver to indicate the student has completed year two of an ROTC course.  On the transcript, enter "PE" in the subject field, 0 credit, and no grade.
      • Record the course numbers for two of the following ROTC courses:

        • Air Force: 1800300, 1800310, 1800320, 1800330, 1800340, 1800350, 1800360, 1800400, 1800410
        Army: 1801300, 1801310, 1801320, 1801330
        Coast Guard: 1804300, 1804310, 1804320, 1804330, 1804340, 1804350
        Marine Corps: 1803300, 1803310, 1803320, 1803330
        Navy: 1802300, 1802310, 1802320, 1802330
      • For PE/PL option, record the non-credit course 1500470, ROTC PE WAIVER COM, when the Personal Fitness requirement is met.  On the transcript, enter "PE" in the subject field, 0 credit, and no grade.

NOTE:  Marching band, dance, and ROTC students are not required to pass the personal fitness competency test to waive the one-half credit physical education requirement.  The marching band, dance and ROTC options may not be used in combination with participation in an interscholastic sport for only one season in order to waive the full-credit physical education requirement.

Nonparticipation due to a Health Condition
There is no waiver for students who cannot participate in physical activity due to a health condition.  Because physical education is required for high school graduation, the Department of Education requires that the activities of a physical education/personal fitness course be modified to meet the needs of those students.

Performing Fine Arts Requirements

(24-credit diploma only) 		Beginning with the high school Class of 2011, the one-credit performing fine arts requirement must be satisfied in one of two ways:

  1. Completion of one full credit of performing fine arts (PF) or one full credit of an identified practical arts (PA) course.
    OR

  1. Completion of two full years in an ROTC class, a significant component of which is drills.  This will satisfy both the:
    • one-credit physical education requirement.  For PE/PL and HOPE options.  (The one-half credit Personal Fitness course is still required for the PE/PL option.)

      • AND

    • the full one-credit performing arts requirement.  For PE/PL and HOPE options.

      • Record the non-credit course 1500480, ROTC PE/Performing Arts waiver, to indicate the student has completed two years of an ROTC course.  On the transcript, enter "PF" in the subject field, 0 credit, and no grade.
      • Record the course number for one of the following ROTC courses with drill identified in the course description:
        Air Force: 1800300, 1800310, 1800320, 1800330, 1800340, 1800350, 1800360, 1800400, 1800410
        Army: 1801300, 1801310, 1801320, 1801330
        Coast Guard: 1804300, 1804310, 1804320, 1804330, 1804340, 1804350
        Marine Corps: 1803300, 1803310, 1803320, 1803330
        Navy: 1802300, 1802310, 1802320, 1802330

Community Service 30 hours, as approved by the district or private school
Test Scores


NEW! 		Students must earn the minimum score on each section of either the SAT or ACT or Florida Postsecondary Education Readiness Test (PERT).  Composite scores are not accepted.  A student must qualify on the ACT alone or the SAT alone or the PERT alone.  Test types cannot be combined.
 
  • SAT Reasoning Test:
 Critical Reading
Math		 440
440
OR
  • ACT:
 English
Reading
Math		   17
  18
  19
OR
  • PERT:
 Reading
Writing
Math		   104
    99
  113

  • For spring eligibility evaluations, test dates through January 31 will be admissible
  • For summer eligibility evaluations, test dates through June 30 will be admissible
  • For mid-year 7th semester eligibility evaluations, test dates through June 30 will be admissible
  • For mid-year 8th semester eligibility evaluations, test dates through January 31 will be admissible
  • Sections of the SAT, ACT, or PERT from different test dates may be used to meet the test criteria
Other Ways to Qualify The other ways to qualify listed below must also include a 3.5 unweighted GPA in a minimum of three Career and Technical Education credits in one vocational program and minimum test section scores listed above
  • 3-year Career Preparatory Diploma with a 3.0 weighted GPA using the 14 core credits required for graduation listed below

      4 English (3 with substantial writing)
      4 Mathematics (including Algebra I)
      3 Natural Science (2 with lab component)
      3 Social Science (U.S. Hist., World Hist., U.S. Govt., and Economics)
    14 credits
  • 3-year College Preparatory Diploma with 3.0 weighted GPA using the 16 core credits required for graduation listed below

      4 English (3 with substantial writing)
      4 Mathematics (Algebra I and above)
      3 Natural Science (2 with lab component)
      3 Social Science (U.S. Hist., World Hist., U.S. Govt., and Economics)
      2 World Language (sequential, in the same language) *
    16 credits

    *View World Language Requirement information by selecting World Language Requirement from the Site Index.


  • GED with 3.0 weighted GPA using the core credits required for your selected high school graduation option (standard, career, or college)

GSV requirements for future high school graduates (These are subject to change with each legislative session.)

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