Bright Futures Scholarship Program

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Florida Bright Futures
Scholarship Program
Formation1997; 27 years ago (1997)
TypeMerit-based scholarship
Parent organization
Florida Department of Education
Budget
$226 million (2016)
WebsiteOfficial website

Bright Futures is a scholarship program in the state of Florida. It is funded by the Florida Lottery and was first started in 1997.

Scholarships

As of January 2022, the program funds four scholarships, available to those who attend a Florida high school, earn a GED as a Florida resident, homeschooled students who are registered with their local district for at least two school years, or out-of-state students who earn a diploma from a non-Florida school while living with a parent or legal guardian who is on military or public service assignment outside of Florida; and attend an eligible Florida post-secondary institution.[1]

Requirements

This section does not list every possible scenario that can be used to qualify for a Bright Futures scholarship, but it does list the most common ways. For the full list of ways to qualify as of January 2022, see here.

  • Florida Academic Scholars (FAS): Minimum weighted GPA of 3.50; and completion of required courses;[a] and an ACT composite score of 29 or SAT combined reading/math score of 1330; and 100 volunteer service hours. Alternatively, be a National Merit Finalist or Scholar, or National Hispanic Scholar, or receive an Advanced International Certificate of Education (AICE) diploma, or receive an International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma; and completion of required courses;[a] and 100 volunteer service hours.[1]
  • Florida Medallion Scholars (FMS): Minimum weighted GPA of 3.00; and completion of required courses;[a] and an ACT composite score of 25 or SAT combined reading/math score of 1210; and 75 volunteer service hours. Alternatively, be a National Merit Finalist or Scholar, or National Hispanic Scholar, or receive an Advanced International Certificate of Education (AICE) diploma, or receive an International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma; and completion of required courses;[a] and 75 volunteer service hours.[1]
  • Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholars (GSV): Minimum weighted GPA of 3.00 in non-elective courses; and minimum weighted GPA of 3.50 in career education courses (must take at least 3 career education courses); and minimum ACT Reading, English, and Math scores of 19, 17, and 19 respectively, or minimum SAT Reading, Writing, and Math scores of 24, 25, and 24, respectively, or Florida Postsecondary Education Readiness Test (P.E.R.T.) Reading, Writing, and Math scores of 106, 103, and 114, respectively; and 30 volunteer service hours. May only be used at postsecondary institutions that offer an applied technology diploma, technical degree education program or a career certificate program.[1]
  • Florida Gold Seal CAPE Scholars (GSC): Earn a minimum of five postsecondary credit hours through Career and Professional Education (CAPE) industry certifications that count for college credit; and 30 volunteer service hours.[1] May only be used at institutions that offer an applied technology diploma, technical degree education program (associate in applied science or associate in science), or a career certificate program. Upon completion of an eligible associate degree program, a GSC Scholar may also receive an additional award for a maximum of 60 credit hours toward an eligible baccalaureate degree.

Additionally, the Bright Futures program gives an Academic Top Scholar (ATS) award to the student with the highest academic rank in each of Florida's 67 counties, based on multiplying the student's GPA and ACT/SAT score.[2]

Requirements for all levels must be met by January 31 of a mid-year graduating senior's graduation year (i.e. students who graduate after one semester of their senior year) or June 30 of a regular graduating senior's graduation year.[1]

Renewal requirements

The scholarship is renewable for each level for up to five years (or more in rare cases), but certain requirements must be met regarding GPA and courses completed, depending on the level.[3]

  • FAS: 3.00 GPA, must earn credits in all classes taken[4]
  • FMS: 2.75 GPA, must earn credits in all classes taken[4]
  • GSV: 2.75 GPA, must earn credits in all classes taken[4]
  • GSC: 2.75 GPA, must earn credits in all classes taken[4]

If a FAS awardee drops below the 3.00 GPA requirement, they are allowed to renew at the FMS level (provided their GPA is still above 2.75). They may also be reinstated if they bring their GPA back above 3.00; FMS awardees can also be reinstated if they drop below the 2.75 requirement and then bring their GPA back up, but they cannot earn FAS even if their GPA meets the FAS requirement of 3.00. ATS, on the other hand, cannot be lost even if an awardee's GPA falls below the FAS or FMS threshold.

Award amounts

  • FAS: 100% of tuition and fees at public institutions or comparable amount at private institutions[3]
  • FMS: 100% of tuition and fees if enrolled in an associate degree program at a Florida College System member; otherwise 75% of tuition and fees at public institutions or comparable amount at private institutions[3]
  • GSV: For institutions with semester systems: $39/credit hour for Career Certificate Program (CCP) or Applied Technology Diploma Program (ATDP), $49/credit hour for Technical Degree Education Program (TDEP, meaning associate degree program) or Bachelors of Science (BS)/Bachelors of Applied Science (BAS) program. For institutions with quarter systems: $26/credit hour for CCP or ATDP, $32/credit hour for TDEP or BS/BAS program. Cannot be used for summer courses.[3]
  • GSC: For institutions with semester systems: $39/credit hour for CCP or ATDP, $49/credit hour for TDEP or BS/BAS program. For institutions with quarter systems: $26/credit hour for CCP or ATDP, $32/credit hour for TDEP or BS/BAS program. Cannot be used for summer courses.[3]
  • ATS: Extra $44/credit hour on top of FAS scholarship[3]

History

The Bright Futures Scholarship Program was meant to emulate neighboring state Georgia's HOPE Scholarship.[citation needed] Originally the Program disbursed just above 42,000 scholarships for about $70 million.[5] At the program's peak in 2008, it provided scholarships to 39% of Florida high school graduates,[6] including 94 percent of incoming freshmen and 70 percent of all undergraduates at the University of Florida.[7]

The program was solely based on academic merit and not on financial need. At its height in 2008, the program was criticized for subsidizing the education of students from wealthy families using lottery proceeds collected largely from lower-income individuals.[8] UF Chief Financial Officer Matt Fajack criticized the program for keeping state university tuition artificially low, since any tuition raise would mean that the state would have to spend more money to cover scholarships under the program.[7]

The Florida Legislature enacted cuts to Bright Futures funding in 2011 by increasing the minimum SAT score required to qualify for the program. The changes took full effect for the graduating class of 2014, increasing the minimum score for A students from 1280 to 1290, and increasing the minimum score for B students from 980 to 1170. The cuts disproportionately impacted black and Latino students as well as students from predominantly poor schools.[9] By the 2015–16 school year, the program covered only 20% of Florida high school graduates and paid an average of $2,000 per year.[6]

In 2014, the United States Department of Education launched an investigation of the Bright Futures program due to allegations of racial bias against black and Latino students, focusing particularly on its effects on students from Miami–Dade County and at Florida International University.[10] The department ultimately found evidence of disparate impacts on minorities but no evidence of discriminatory intent.[11]

In 2018, the scholarship became more valuable, with the FAS increasing to cover 100% of tuition and fees plus a $300 per semester book stipend and the FMS increasing to cover 75% of tuition and fees.[12]

In 2021, the book stipend was removed as part of the budgetary process.[13] This change came among many controversies surrounding Florida Senate Bill 86, a piece of legislation that would have made massive structural changes to Bright Future's implementation and administration. It also raised the SAT score requirements from 1290 to 1330 for FAS and 1170 to 1210 for FMS, but the ACT score requirement remained the same for both levels.

See also

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d 4 years of English (3 of which must include substantial writing)
    4 years of Mathematics (all at or above Algebra I)
    3 years of Natural Sciences (2 of which must include substantial laboratory work)
    3 years of Social Sciences
    2 years of World Languages (must be sequential classes in the same language)

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f "Bright Futures Student Handbook 2021-23" (PDF).
  2. ^ "Bright Futures". fmh.leeschools.net. Retrieved March 11, 2022.
  3. ^ a b c d e f "Bright Futures Handbook ch2 2021-23" (PDF).
  4. ^ a b c d "Bright Futures Student Handbook ch 3 2021-23" (PDF).
  5. ^ "Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Disbursement History" (PDF). Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program.
  6. ^ a b Carter, Cathy. "Negron Eyes Bright Futures As Key To Senate's Ed Plan". WLRN. Retrieved January 4, 2017.
  7. ^ a b Stewart, Thomas. "UF official says Bright Futures may be adding to budget woes". The Independent Florida Alligator. Retrieved January 4, 2017.
  8. ^ "Popular Bright Futures Penalizes Needy Florida Students, Critics Say". Associated Press. September 21, 2008. Retrieved January 4, 2017.
  9. ^ McGlade, Caitlin; Travis, Scott. "Minorities, poor hit hardest by stricter Bright Futures requirements". Sun-Sentinel. Retrieved January 4, 2017.
  10. ^ Smiley, David (March 22, 2014). "Feds investigate Florida's Bright Futures scholarships". The Miami Herald. Retrieved January 4, 2017.
  11. ^ McGrory, Kathleen (January 22, 2015). "Gov. Scott proposes Bright Futures expansion but doesn't address criticisms". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved January 4, 2017.
  12. ^ "Florida students get boost from Bright Futures changes". www.bizjournals.com. Retrieved March 11, 2022.
  13. ^ Staff, Crow's Nest. "Legislature eliminates $600 book stipend for Bright Futures recipients – The Crow's Nest at USF St. Petersburg". Retrieved July 31, 2021.

External links

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