2007-08
Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program
Fact Sheet

How Does a Student Reinstate?

Students Who Enlist in the Military

• A student who enlists in the United States Armed Forces immediately after completion of high school must, within three years after separation from active duty:
  • request reinstatement by completing and submitting a Reinstatement/Restoration Application for Students & Teachers online and
  • submit an official DD Form 214 via mail to verify time served in the military.
• A student who is receiving a Florida Bright Futures Scholarship and discontinues his/her education to enlist in the United States Armed Forces commences the remainder of his/her seven-year renewal period upon the date of separation from active duty. To reinstate the scholarship, he/she must:
  • complete and submit a Reinstatement/Restoration Application for Students & Teachers online and
  • submit an official DD Form 214 via mail to verify time served in the military.

What if a Student Does Not Meet the Minimum Credit Hours Required for Renewal?

A student who does not earn the minimum hour requirements, during the academic year (fall through spring) or the summer after summer evaluation, will no longer be eligible for his/her Bright Futures award.

What is the Award Process?

The FDOE will:

• Begin funding the scholarship the fall term following an eligible student’s high school graduation.
• Send scholarship funds to postsecondary institution to be applied to the student’s account after the last day of the drop/add period.
• Fund an eligible student who registers for at least six semester hours (or the equivalent in quarter or clock hours) per term.

How much funding will a student receive as a Florida Academic Scholar?

• Public Institution – A student will receive an award equal to 100% of tuition and allowable fees* plus an amount established by the Florida Legislature in the General Appropriations Act for college-related expenses (excluding summer term) prorated by term and hours.
• Private Institution – A student will receive a fixed award amount based on 100% of the average tuition and allowable fees covered at a comparable Florida public institution including the specified amount established by the Florida Legislature in the General Appropriations Act provided for college-related expenses (excluding summer term) prorated by term and hours.  The Web site at http://www.floridastudentfinancialaid.org ( linking to State Grants, Scholarships & Applications, Postsecondary Institutions, and then Private School Award Amounts for Bright Futures) provides the current year award amount for private institutions.
• Academic Top Scholars Award – The Florida Academic Scholar with the highest academic ranking in each county will receive a $750 award per semester* in addition to the Florida Academic Scholars award (prorated by term and hours and excluding summer term).

How much funding will a student receive as a Florida Medallion Scholar?

• Public Community College – A student will receive an award equal to 100% of tuition and allowable fees* for college credit courses leading to an associate degree.
• Other Public Institution – A student will receive an award equal to 75% of tuition and allowable fees.*
• Private Institution – A student will receive a fixed award amount based on 75% of the average tuition and fees allowable fees covered at a comparable Florida public institution (excluding summer term) prorated by term and hours.  The Web site at www.floridastudentfinancialaid.org ( linking to State Grants, Scholarships & Applications, Postsecondary Institutions, and then Private School Award Amounts for Bright Futures) provides the current year award amount for private institutions.

How much funding will a student receive as a Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholar?

• Public Institution – A student will receive an award equal to 75% of tuition and allowable fees.*
• Private Institution – A student will receive a fixed award amount based on 75% of the average tuition and allowable fees covered at a comparable Florida public institution (excluding summer term) prorated by term and hours.  The Web site at www.floridastudentfinancialaid.org ( linking to State Grants, Scholarships & Applications, Postsecondary Institutions, and then Private School Award Amounts for Bright Futures) provides the current year award amount for private institutions.

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How are Awards Disbursed?

• All Bright Futures awards are fully funded by the Florida Lottery and administered by the FDOE. These scholarship funds are sent to postsecondary institutions and then applied to a student’s account after the last day of the drop/add period.
• Bright Futures funding is disbursed for fall through spring terms. Funds are not available for 2008 summer awards.

How Long May a Student Receive Funding?

Florida Academic and Medallion Scholars

• A student may receive up to 132 semester hours (or the equivalent in quarter or clock hours) towards completion of a certificate or a first baccalaureate degree. This also applies to students in 3/2 programs that are considered undergraduate programs as long as the student is classified as an undergraduate. Unused hours may not be used for further course funding after a student earns a baccalaureate degree.
• A student who is in an undergraduate program of study that requires more than 120 semester hours (or the equivalent in quarter or clock hours) may apply for an extension of hours for funding. The application will be mailed to the student automatically when he/she is within the last 30 semester hours (or the equivalent in quarter or clock hours) of his/her scholarship program.
• A student may participate up to seven years from high school graduation (if the student has met renewal, reinstatement, or restoration requirements) or up to completion of his/her first baccalaureate degree program, whichever comes first.

FAS and FMS Students Who Enlist in the Military

• A student who enlists in the United States Armed Forces immediately after completion of high school will begin the three-year eligibility period for his/her initial award upon the date of separation from active duty.
• A student who is receiving a Florida Academic Scholars Award or a Florida Medallion Scholars Award and discontinues his/her education to enlist in the United States Armed Forces commences the remainder of his/her seven-year renewal period upon the date of separation from active duty.

Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholars

• A student may receive a maximum of 90 semester hours (or the equivalent in quarter or clock hours).
• A Gold Seal Vocational Scholars who meets spring renewal requirements after his/her first year of award funding (for one or more terms) may renew as a Florida Medallion Scholar.
• A student may participate up to seven years from high school graduation (if the student has met renewal, reinstatement, or restoration requirements) or up to completion of his/her first baccalaureate degree program, whichever comes first.

GSV Students Who Enlist in the Military

• A student who enlists in the United States Armed Forces immediately after completion of high school will begin the three-year eligibility period for his/her initial award upon the date of separation from active duty.
• A student who is receiving a Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholars Award and discontinues his/her education to enlist in the United States Armed Forces commences the remainder of his/her seven-year renewal period upon the date of separation from active duty.

How May a Student Appeal?
An applicant who believes financial aid has been wrongly denied has certain rights to appeal.

• An applicant may appeal if he/she believes the FDOE erred in 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.

How Does a Student Make Changes in Information?
An applicant must notify OSFA of any change in name, address, or institution attended. A student may update information in the following ways:

• By accessing and updating the student record on OSFA Web site at www.FloridaStudentFinancialAid.org, using the assigned User ID and PIN:
  • Select State Grants, Scholarships & Applications,
  • select Application Status & Award History,
  • select Initial Student Update, and then the appropriate option.
• By calling OSFA toll-free at 1-888-827-2004.

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 financial assistance to correctly identify applicants.

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 postsecondary institutions or OSFA, Suite 70, 1940 North Monroe Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32303- 4759. Contact OSFA toll-free at 1-888-827-2004.