Florida Bright Futures Program
Florida Bright Futures
Scholarship Program
General Eligibility Requirements
• Florida residents and U.S. citizen or eligible non- citizen as determined by your postsecondary institution.
• Florida High School standard diploma (or equivalent)
• Not guilty of a felony (or pled nolo contendere)
• Apply online during semester 2 before graduation
• Use scholarship within 3 years of graduation
• May renew up to 7 years
• Attend a Florida College/University
• Enroll for a minimum of 6 credit hours per semester for up to 45 credit hours per year
• Subject to Legislative approval
The Florida Bright Futures Scholarship establishes a lottery-funded scholarship for Florida High School graduates with high academic achievement who enroll in eligible Florida public or private colleges or universities. Students receive weighted credit for International Baccalaureate courses, academic dual enrollment courses, advanced placement courses, and other exceptionally rigorous courses. There are three levels for which high school seniors may qualify. The scholarship may be used for either full-time or part-time enrollment and is renewable. Basic information and qualification requirements are outlined below:
The Application
You must apply for the Bright Futures Scholarship by submitting a completed Florida Financial Aid Application during your last year in high school. You may apply online at: www.floridastudentfinancialaide.org or submit a hard copy application available through your high school guidance counselor. The application gives the Department of Education (DOE) permission to evaluate your high school transcripts for eligibility for the Bright Futures Scholarship and will initiate your evaluation for other state scholarships and grants as well. You must apply during your last semester in high school or you will forfeit eligibility for a Bright Futures Scholarship.
Important Note: The GPA is computed by the state using specified courses. This GPA is different from the GPA listed on a Lee County report card.
Florida Academic Scholars Award (FASA)
The FASA replaces the Florida Undergraduate Scholar’s Fund (FUSF) Scholarship. Students graduating will qualify as Florida Academic Scholars under the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship by earning a seventh semester weighted, un-rounded GPA of at least a 3.5 (this GPA includes credits required by the State University System for admissions, as either completed or as part of the student’s eight semester enrollment) and the student must also have an SAT score of 1270 or an ACT score of 28. Students earning this scholarship and attending a Florida PUBLIC technical center, community college or university will receive 100% of their tuition and $600 for college related expenses. A student who attends an eligible Florida PRIVATE post-secondary institution will receive an award equal to the amount of the post-secondary institution at comparable level and the college related expense allocation as stated above. To be eligible for an Academic Scholars Award, 75 hours of community volunteer services is required.
Florida Merit Scholars Award (FMSA)
Students graduating will qualify for The Florida Merit Scholarship Program by earning a seventh semester weighted, un-rounded GPA of at least a 3.0 (this GPA includes credits required by the State University System for admissions, as either completed or as part of the students eight semester enrollment) and the student must have an SAT score of 970 or an ACT of 20. Students who earn the Florida Merit Scholars Award and attend a PUBLIC technical center, community college or university will receive 75% of their tuition and fees. Students who attend a PRIVATE post-secondary institution will receive an award equal to the amount of the tuition and fees of a post-secondary institution at the comparable level.
Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholars Award (FGSA)
Students graduating will qualify as Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholars by completing a sequential program of studies that requires at least three vocational credits (on the job training excluded) during high school with a GPA of 3.5 in these vocational courses. The student must also earn a 7th semester weighted, un-rounded GPA of at least 3.0 (this GPA includes the subjects required for high school graduation, excluding electives). The student must continue in a related educational program. The Gold Seal Vocational Scholar must pass the College Placement Test (Reading Comprehension 83, Sentence Skills 83 and Elementary Algebra 72), or have SAT scores of Verbal 440, Math 440, or ACT scores of 18 in Reading, 19 in Math and a 17 in English. Recipients are not required to take the SAT or ACT tests. Students who earn a Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholarship and attend a Florida PUBLIC technical center, community college, or university will receive an award of 75% of their tuition and fees. A student who attends an eligible Florida PRIVATE post-secondary institution will receive an award equal to the amount of the tuition and fees at a public post-secondary institution at the comparable level.
Requirement for 2007 Graduates Receiving Bright Futures Awards
Florida Academic and Merit Scholars awards recipients (this does not apply to Gold Seal Vocational Scholars) who will attend state universities or community colleges must take at least five CLEP examinations as determined by their college counselor. There are two things students must know about these CLEP examinations:
1. They must be chosen from the following academic areas: English, Humanities, Mathematics, Natural Sciences and Social Studies.
2. They must be completed: before registration for the first
semester college courses, in those areas, and not later than registration for the second semester.
These examinations, administered at no cost to the students at the college of their choice, will enable them to receive college credit if they earn a specific score on the test for a subject. Completing, before high school graduation, Advanced Placement (AP) examinations, International Baccalaureate (IB) examinations, or dual enrollment courses, in the above academic areas, for which college credit was earned, may also satisfy the CLEP requirement. The maximum number of Bright Futures award hours will be reduced by the number of hours earned per CLEP requirement (or its equivalent). Contact the College Admissions/Registrar’s office at the postsecondary institution you plan to attend for more information about CLEP requirements you have not yet met, testing sites and dates.
For more Bright Futures specific award information, contact Bright Futures toll free at 1-888-827-2004.
Florida Gold Seal Scholarship Program
QUALIFIES YOU FOR A RENEWABLE SCHOLARSHIP
Gold Seal is part of the Bright Futures Scholarship program provided by the state of Florida. A graduating senior that qualifies will be able to receive a scholarship paying 75% of the college tuition, renewable every year.
To qualify for this Gold Seal Endorsement, the senior needs to meet the following criteria:
* Meet all district requirements for graduation with an overall 3.0 weighted grade-point average.
* Complete a vocational job prep program of 3 credits or more with a 3.5 unweighted grade-point average in a vocational program.
To meet the second criteria, the student must follow a specific sequence of vocational classes, which are listed below:
BUSINESS EDUCATION
Business Systems and Technology OR
Introduction to Information Technology (Pre IB)
Accounting 1
Accounting 2
Business Systems and Technology OR
Introduction to Information Technology (Pre IB)
Business Computer Programming 1
Business Computer Programming 2
Business Systems and Technology OR
Introduction to Information Technology (Pre IB)
Business Software Applications 1
Business Software Applications 2
Business Systems and Technology OR
Introduction to Information Technology (Pre IB)
Business Software Applications 1
Administrative Office Technology—CBE
Business Systems and Technology or
Digital Publishing 1
Digital Publishing 2
Business Systems and Technology OR
Introduction to Information Technology (Pre IB)
Legal Aspects of Business
Business and Entrepreneurial Principles
Business Systems and Technology OR
Introduction to Information Technology (Pre IB)
Web Design 1
Web Design 2
FAMILY AND CONSUMER SCIENCE EDUCATION
Child Care 1
Child Care 2
Child Care 3
TELEVISION PRODUCTION
Television 1
Television 2
Television 3
