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Bright Futures Updates
Florida Legislative Session 2007C Enacts Changes to
State Scholarship & Grant Programs
Effective January 1, 2008
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Senate Bill 2C
State Appropriations
The overall state student financial aid budget was reduced by less than 2% for the 2007-08 academic
year due to State revenue shortfalls. The effect of this reduction should only be noticed by
students in two programs; the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship
Program changes are listed below under Senate Bill 10C, and in the First Generation Matching Grant Program,
some spring term awards may be reduced as determined by each institution.
Senate Bill 8C
Tuition and Fee Increases, effective January 1, 2008
- Tuition increases are authorized for public universities, community colleges, and vocational/technical
centers beginning January 1, 2008. Any state scholarship and grant program that calculates awards based on
tuition may include such increases for student awards in terms that begin on or after January 1, 2008. Fixed
award amounts for students attending private institutions will be adjusted to reflect any tuition increases.
- Beginning with the 2008-09 fiscal year and each year thereafter, tuition specified in Senate Bill 8C shall
increase at the beginning of each fall semester at a rate equal to inflation, unless otherwise provided in the
General Appropriations Act.
- Technology fees charged by state universities and authorized to be created beginning in the
2009-10 academic year, will not be paid by the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program.
Senate Bill 10C
Changes to the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program, effective January 1, 2008
- Early Admit students will no longer be eligible to apply for Bright Futures prior to their senior year
in high school. Students may apply for an award beginning December 1 of the
student’s high school graduation year.
- Early Admit students funded in the 2007-08 academic year will be disbursed Bright Futures
funds after January 1, 2008, contingent upon the availability of funds. OSFA will notify all
institutions of such student eligibility in December 2007 for potential Term 2 Early Admit awards.
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For any term beginning as of January 1, 2008, students will receive an educational allowance
of $225, reduced from $300, prorated by hours and terms, as specified
in the General Appropriations Act (Senate Bill 2C). Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program fixed
award amounts for private postsecondary institutions, with this allotment reduction, will be calculated
and posted to the Web site in December 2007.
- The Florida Legislature will annually determine the amount of the college-related expense
allotment beginning with the 2008-09 academic year.
The Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program is established by the Florida Legislature. For additional
general legislative information, please visit the Online Sunshine Web site at
www.leg.state.fl.us.
2006 Legislative Updates
Florida Medallion Scholars
House Bill 5005 permits Florida Medallion Scholars who attend public community colleges as associate degree-seeking students to receive funding for an amount equal to 100% of tuition and fees (may include lab fees up to $300 per semester). This applies to initial and renewal students beginning fall 2006.
AICE (Advanced International Certificate of Education) Information
House Bill 579 adds AICE as a Bright Futures initial eligibility option.
Another way to qualify for a Florida Academic Scholars award is to:
- Receive an AICE Diploma.
- Complete the AICE Curriculum with the best composite score of 1270 SAT or 28 ACT.
Another way to qualify for a Florida Medallion Scholars award is to:
- Complete the AICE Curriculum with the best composite score of 970 SAT or 20 ACT.
2004 Legislative Updates
High school graduation (diploma) options were established by the 2004 Florida Legislature via Senate Bill 364.
SAT and ACT Subtests
The new SAT and ACT writing subtests will not be used for determining Bright Futures eligibility for 2005 and 2006 graduates. Bright Futures eligibility will still be based on:
- SAT - Math and Critical Reading (formerly Verbal) sections
- ACT - English, Reading, Math, and Science sections
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