2012-13
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| Florida Statutes 295.01 | State Board of Education Rule 6A-20.019 |
Program Description
The Scholarships for Children and Spouses of Deceased or Disabled Veterans (CSDDV) provides scholarships for dependent children or unremarried spouses of Florida veterans who died as a result of service-connected injuries, diseases, or disabilities sustained while on active duty or who have been certified by the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs as having service-connected 100% permanent and total disabilities. CSDDV also provides funds for dependent children whose parent is classified as a prisoner of war or missing in action by the Armed Forces of the United States or as civilian personnel captured while serving with the consent or authorization of the United States Government during wartime service. CSDDV provides funding for tuition and registration fees at an eligible postsecondary institution or the equivalent at an eligible private postsecondary institution in Florida.
Initial Eligibility Requirements to Receive Funding
The veteran will:
- Be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen.
- Be a Florida resident for one year immediately preceding time of death, determination of 100% disability, or prisoner of war/missing in action classification.
- Have died as a result of a service-connected disability(ies) sustained while on active duty.
- Have been certified by the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs as having a service-connected 100% permanent and total disability.
- Have been classified as a prisoner of war or missing in action by the Armed Forces of the United States or as civilian personnel captured while serving with the consent or authorization of the United States Government during wartime service for a dependent child to receive scholarship funding.
- Be a Florida resident and a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen. A student’s residency and citizenship status are determined by the postsecondary institution. Questions regarding such status should be directed to the financial aid office or admissions office of the institution the student plans to attend.
- Not owe a repayment or be in default under any state or federal grant, loan, or scholarship program unless satisfactory arrangements to repay have been made.
- Not have previously received a baccalaureate degree.
- Enroll in an undergraduate degree or certificate program for a minimum of six credit hours, 180 clock hours, or the equivalent, per term at an eligible participating postsecondary institution.
- Meet State of Florida’s general eligibility requirements for receipt of state aid.
The child will: |
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The spouse will: |
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The spouse will: |
The student will:
- Submit a fully completed error free Initial Student Florida Financial Aid Application by April 1.
- Ensure that the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs certifies the applicant’s eligibility by April 1.
Student Award Renewal
- A renewal application is not required. A recipient is automatically considered for a renewal award.
- Eligibility for renewal is determined at the end of the second semester or third quarter or the equivalent each academic year. Credit or clock hours earned the previous summer can be counted toward the total number of credit hours required for renewal.
- To be eligible for renewal, a participant must have earned a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale and earned six credit hours or 180 clock hours per term, or the equivalent, for the number of terms for which the award was received.
Failure to Meet the Minimum Renewal GPA
- If a student does not meet the minimum institutional cumulative GPA, a probationary award may be granted for two semesters or three quarters.
- To be eligible for renewal the following year after probation, the student must have earned the required credits or clock hours and institutional cumulative GPA of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale.
Failure to Meet the Minimum Renewal Credit Hours
- If a student does not meet the annual minimum 6 hours per semester (or equivalent) requirement for renewal (for one or both semesters), funding may not be received the following academic year.
- To be eligible for restoration in a subsequent year, the student must apply for restoration, meet the general eligibility requirements for restoration, and have earned an institutional cumulative GPA of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale.
Student Award Restoration
- The student may be eligible for restoration if an institutional cumulative GPA of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale is earned at the end of the second semester or third quarter of the academic year for which the student was ineligible.
- To request restoration, the student must complete the Reinstatement/Restoration Application for Students by April 1.
- The online Reinstatement/Restoration Application is available beginning February 1 at www.FloridaStudentFinancialAid.org by selecting the links State Grants, Scholarships & Applications, Apply Here, and then Reinstatement/Restoration Application for Students.
Student Award Reinstatement
- A student who was eligible for an award but did not accept an award during the previous academic year must complete the Reinstatement/Restoration Application for Students by April 1.
- The online Reinstatement/Restoration Application is available beginning February 1 at www.FloridaStudentFinancialAid.org by selecting the links State Grants, Scholarships & Applications, Apply Here, and then Reinstatement/Restoration Application for Students.
Award Procedures
- A student enrolled in at least six credit hours at an eligible Florida public postsecondary institution will receive an award equal to the amount of tuition and required registration fees.
- A student who is enrolled in a nonpublic postsecondary institution, and who is assessed tuition and fees that are the same as those of a full-time student at that institution, shall receive a fixed award calculated by using the average matriculation and fee calculation for full-time attendance at a public postsecondary education institution at the comparable level. A student enrolled part-time shall receive a reduced award by either one-half or three-fourths of the maximum award, depending on the level or fees assessed. If funds are insufficient to award all eligible applicants, the Florida Department of Education will prorate awards.
- Applications received after April 1 will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis if sufficient funds remain.
Award Disbursement
- From the funds available, the Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA) awards a student who meets the eligibility requirements.
- The postsecondary institution will disburse the scholarship to an eligible student each term after the end of regular registration, inclusive of the drop/add period.
- Awards are made for the first and second semesters; or the first, second, and third quarters; or the equivalent of the regular academic year.
Terms of Eligibility
- An eligible student may receive funding for up to 110% of the number of the required credit hours of an initial baccalaureate degree or certificate program for which the student is enrolled.
- Unused hours may not be used for further course funding after a student earns a baccalaureate degree.
Appeal Process
An applicant who believes financial aid has been wrongly denied has certain rights to appeal.
- An applicant may appeal if he or she believes the Florida Department of Education (FDOE) erred determining eligibility or in failing to transfer an award.
- If aid is denied for failure to meet state academic progress requirements, an applicant may appeal the denial to the institution by providing proof of illness or other emergency beyond the applicant's control.
An FDOE appeal is to be filed in writing within 30 days of the date of the notice of ineligibility. An institutional academic progress appeal is to be filed within 30 days of the denial letter or by the date established by the institution's financial aid office, whichever is later.
Updating Information
An applicant must notify OSFA of any change in name, address, or institution attended. A student may update information the following ways:
- By accessing and updating the student record on the OSFA website at www.FloridaStudentFinancialAid.org, using the assigned User ID and PIN:
- Select State Grants, Scholarships & Applications,
- select Application Status & Award History, and then
- under Initial Student Update, select the appropriate option.
- By calling OSFA toll-free at 1-888-827-2004.
Transferring from one institution to another could affect an applicant’s award.
Use of an Applicant’s Social Security Number/Non-discrimination Statement
The Privacy Act of 1974 requires state agencies to inform applicants of the reasons for requesting their Social Security numbers (SSN). The FDOE requests an SSN on all applications for student financial assistance in order to correctly identify applicants, match each applicant's financial aid record with the student record at the postsecondary institution the applicant attends, and help coordinate state student aid programs with federal student aid programs.
An applicant will not be denied financial assistance for failure to disclose the SSN. Without an SSN, correct identification of an applicant's record cannot be assured and may result in an error in the award amount or a delay in the disbursement of an award.
Pursuant to Section 1000.05, Florida Statutes, state student financial assistance is provided to eligible applicants without discriminating on the basis of race, sex, national origin, marital status, or handicap. Minority status will be considered when required by law as a condition of eligibility or selection.
For further information contact the financial aid office at eligible participating postsecondary institutions or the Florida Department of Education, Office of Student Financial Assistance, State Scholarship and Grant Programs, 325 West Gaines Street, Suite 1314, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0400. Contact OSFA toll-free at 1-888-827-2004.
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