2008-09
Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program
Fact Sheet
Florida Statutes 1009.53 - 1009.538
Program Description
The Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program establishes three lottery-funded
scholarships to reward Florida high school graduates for high academic achievement. The Florida Bright Futures Scholarship
Program is comprised of the following three awards:
Florida Academic Scholars Award (FAS)
(including Academic Top Scholars award (ATS)
Florida Medallion Scholars Award (FMS)
Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholars Award (GSV)
What are the Initial Eligibility Requirements to Receive Funding?
The student will:
- 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.
- Meet specific coursework and minimum grade point average (GPA) and test score requirements which are outlined
on the Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA) Web site
www.FloridaStudentFinancialAid.org/SSFAD/bf/acadrequire.htm.
- ATS – The Florida Academic Scholar with the highest academic
ranking in each county will receive a $750 award per semester (award amounts will
differ at quarter or clock hour institutions) in addition to the FAS
award, prorated by term and hours and excluding summer term.
How Does a Student Apply?
For Initial Eligibility the student will:
- Submit a fully completed error free
Initial Student Florida Financial Aid Application during his/her last year
in high school (after December 1 and prior to graduation) by accessing
www.FloridaStudentFinancialAid.org online (select State Grants, Scholarships
& Applications, then Apply Here). The application
gives the Florida Department of Education (FDOE) permission to evaluate the student’s
high school transcript and standardized test scores for eligibility for a Bright
Futures Scholarship and other state scholarships and grants.
- Apply during his/her last year in high school, before graduation, or forfeit
all future eligibility for a Bright Futures Scholarship.
How Does a Student Renew?
What if a Student Does Not Maintain the Minimum GPA Required for Renewal?
- If a student’s institutional cumulative GPA (unrounded and unweighted), as reported
by the home postsecondary institution, was less than a 2.75 and he/she was ineligible
for funding, the student may apply for restoration in an academic year after
which the 2.75 institutional cumulative GPA requirement was met. (The 2.75 GPA must
be met before the fall term for which the student is applying.)
- To request restoration, a student must complete a Reinstatement/Restoration
Application for Students available on the OSFA Web site at www.FloridaStudentFinancialAid.org
by selecting the links State Grants, Scholarships & Applications, Apply Here,
and then Reinstatement/Restoration Application for Students.
New applications are available February 1 each year.
- A student has a one-time opportunity to restore his/her scholarship.
- In addition to the application, the last Florida institution where the student attended
as degree- or certificate-seeking must certify online the institutional cumulative
GPA which will determine his/her eligibility to restore.
- A student who last attended an out-of-state postsecondary institution must request
that his/her transcripts be submitted to: OSFA, Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program,
1940 North Monroe Street, Suite 70, Tallahassee, Florida 32303-4759.
- By contacting the financial aid office at the last postsecondary institution
attended, a student may request that high school dual enrollment courses be used
in calculating the institutional cumulative GPA if the use of these courses benefits
the student.
- OSFA recommends that restoration applications be submitted
online by
July 1 for a timely fall disbursement or by December 15 for a belated
fall or timely spring disbursement. The deadline for submission of 2008-09
academic year restoration applications is May 30, 2009.
- Funding is not available to a student prior to restoring the scholarship.
Bright Futures Restoration Requirements
|
|
Florida Academic
Scholars Award |
Florida Medallion
Scholars Award |
Florida Gold Seal Vocational
Scholars Award |
Minimum
Cumulative GPA Required for Restoration (unrounded & unweighted |
3.0* |
2.75 |
2.75 |
*Florida Academic Scholars with 2.75-2.99 will restore as Florida Medallion Scholars. |
If a Student’s FAS is Renewed the Following Year to a FMS due to Receipt of a 2.75-2.99 Institutional
Cumulative GPA, How Can the FAS be Restored?
- A student has a one-time opportunity to restore his/her scholarship.
- Each subsequent renewal period, a renewing student will automatically be evaluated
for restoration to the FAS if the student’s institutional
cumulative GPA is reported by the home postsecondary institution at the minimum
required 3.0 or above. No application is required.
- Funding will then be available to the student at the FAS
level beginning in the fall of the upcoming academic year. This will be the one-time
restoration opportunity.
If a Student Did Not Receive Scholarship Funds During the Last Academic Year He/She was
Eligible, How Does He/She Reinstate?
- If an eligible student did not receive scholarship funds for the last academic year
(fall through spring), he/she must complete a
Reinstatement/Restoration Application for Students available on the OSFA Web site at
www.FloridaStudentFinancialAid.org to reinstate the scholarship. Select the
links State Grants, Scholarships & Applications, Apply Here, and then
Reinstatement/Restoration Application for Students. Please note
that the academic year for which a student is applying is at the top of the
application. New applications are available February 1 each year.
- OSFA recommends that reinstatement applications be submitted online by July 1 for
a timely fall disbursement or by December 15 for a belated fall or timely spring
disbursement. The deadline for submission of 2008-09 academic year reinstatement applications
is May 30, 2009.
- If eligible for reinstatement, the student will receive the Bright Futures award (FAS,
FMS, or GSV) for which he/she was last determined eligible.
- A student must receive funding within three years after high school graduation or
apply for reinstatement within three years after high school graduation and receive funds for the next academic year.
- Once a student has received funding (for a minimum of one term), he/she is
eligible to apply for reinstatement up to seven years from high school graduation.
What if an Eligible Student Enlists in the Military?
- An initially eligible student who enlists in the United States Armed Forces immediately after
high school graduation (within three years after separation from active duty), or
- 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, a student must:
- complete and submit a Reinstatement/Restoration Application for
Students online, and
- submit an official DD Form 214 via mail to verify time served in the
military. The DD Form 214 should be mailed to: OSFA, Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program,
1940 North Monroe Street, Suite 70, Tallahassee, Florida 32303-4759.
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 non-remedial 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. The FAS 2008-09 college-related expense allotment
is $375 per year prorated by terms 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
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.
- ATS – The Florida Academic Scholar with the highest academic
ranking in each county will receive a $750 award per semester in addition to the FAS
(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 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.
*For 2008-09, fees included in the cost per credit hour unless otherwise prohibited by Florida Statutes:
- Access and Transportation
- Activity and Service
- Athletic
- Building
- Capital Improvement
- Financial Aid
- Health
- Technology
FAS 2008-09 college-related expense allotment is $375 per year prorated by terms and hours.
Note: Award amounts will differ at quarter or clock hour institutions.
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 2009 summer awards.
How Long May a Student Receive Funding?
A Bright Futures Recipient:
- May receive funding up to 110% of his/her program of study or 132 semester hours (or the equivalent in
quarter or clock hours) toward completion of a certificate or a first baccalaureate degree, or for up to seven
years from high school graduation (if the student initially was funded within three years after high school
graduation), whichever comes first.
- If enrolled in an undergraduate program of study that requires more than 120 semester hours (or the equivalent
in quarter or clock hours), the student may apply for an extension of hours for funding. The application will be
mailed to the student automatically when he/she approaches the last 30 semester hours (or the equivalent in quarter
or clock hours) of his/her scholarship program.
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 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.
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.
A Department 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.
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 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, and then
- under Initial Student Update, select the appropriate option.
- By calling OSFA toll-free at 1-888-827-2004.
Students must keep their record current with accurate information. Failure to update changes in name, address, or
institution attended may affect the timely disbursement of a student’s award.
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 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 participating postsecondary institutions or OSFA, State Scholarship and Grant Programs,
1940 North Monroe Street, Suite 70, Tallahassee, Florida 32303- 4759. Contact OSFA toll-free at 1-888-827-2004.
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