2012-13 High School Graduates and Bright Futures (BF) Scholarships

1. Florida Department of EducationOffice of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA)Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program 1

2. 2012-13 High School Graduatesand Bright Futures (BF) Scholarships There are Three Different Award Categories • Florida Academic Scholars Award • Academic Top Scholars Award • Florida Medallion Scholars Award • Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholars Award 2

3. 2012 Florida Legislative ChangeNEW! Mid-Year HS Graduates • Students who graduate mid-academic year from HS during 2012-13 and thereafter, • May be evaluated for a Florida Bright Futures Scholarship and be provided an initial disbursement in the same academic year (spring term) • Must apply on the 2012-13 Florida Financial Aid Application by August 31, 2012, to receive funding in spring 2013 • Statutory Requirement = NO EXCEPTIONS 3

4. Florida Bright Futures Awards for 2012-13 • 2012-13 Bright Futures award • Myth - NOT a percentage of tuition and fees (since 2009-10) • Rather a dollar amount per credit hour enrolled This Year’s Amount Per Hour Enrolled at 4 year institutions: • FAS = $100 • FMS = $ 75 • GSV = $ 75 (returning students ONLY) • Chart with all legislative approved award amounts for 2012-13 available at: • www.FloridaStudentFinancialAid.org/SSFAD/bf/awardamt.htm 4

5. Florida Academic Requirements • Same as last year • 16 credits (college preparatory) • 3.5 weighted GPA (unrounded) in those 16 (or up to 18) courses • 100 Community Service Hours • Test sub-scores can be used from multiple testing dates (not mixed from different test types) • No End of Course assessment credits required • World Language Completer accepted for World Language Requirement • ACT = 28 Composite (excludes writing section) • New!!!!! • SAT = 1280 (critical reading and math) • Liberal Arts Math • is NOT an accepted math course and • will not be allowed as a mis-advisement exception 5

6. Florida Top Scholars Award • This award is given to the top Florida Academic Scholars awardees, one from each of the 67 districts, who attends a Florida participating institution in the fall following their High School graduation. • The awards are determined in November each year • The students receive an additional award; an amount per credit hour enrolled as determined by the legislature each year • The renewal criteria are the same as that for the Florida Academic Award 6

7. Florida Medallion Requirements • Same as last year • 16 credits (college preparatory) • 3.0 weighted GPA (unrounded) in those 16 (or up to 18) courses • 75 Community Service Hours • Test sub-scores can be used from multiple testing dates (not mixed from different test types) • No End of Course assessment credits required • World Language Completer accepted for World Language Requirement • New!!!!! • SAT = 1020 (critical reading and math) • ACT = 22 Composite (excludes writing section) • Liberal Arts Math • is NOT an accepted math course and • will not be allowed as a mis-advisement exception 7

8. Florida Gold Seal Vocational Requirements • Same as last year: • 16 credits (core required for HS graduation) • 3.0 weighted GPA (unrounded) in those 16 core courses • 3 career/technical credits in one vocational program • 3.5 unweighted GPA (unrounded) in those 3 credits • 30 Community Service Hours • Test Scores • SAT = 440 Critical Reading and 440 Math • ACT = 17 English, 18 Reading, 19 Math • Test sub-scores can be used from multiple testing dates (not mixed from different test types) 8

9. Florida Gold Seal Vocational Requirements 9 • New !!!!! • Additional Test Type • Postsecondary Educational Readiness Test (PERT) Reading 104, Writing 99, Math 113 • GSV program changed to focus initial scholarship students to the original program intent of pursuing postsecondary vocational study in vocational or career education programs. • Students may only use the GSV award to pursue specific degrees, diplomas and/or certificates. No Associate of Arts or baccalaureate degrees will be funded.

10. GSV Degree, Diploma and Certificates • Associate of Science Degrees (AS) • Associate of Applied Science Degrees (AAS) • College Credit Certificates (CCC) • Applied Technology Diplomas (ATD) • Career Certificates • Referred to as Postsecondary Adult Vocational [PSAV’s] 10

11. Methods to Qualify for Bright Futures • Coursework, GPA, test scores & Community Service • Standard Florida High School Diploma recipients • Out of State military or public service assignments • GED recipients • IB or AICE diploma • IB or AICE curriculum, test scores & Community Service • National Merit or Achievement Scholars & Finalists • National Hispanic Scholars • Home Education 11

12. Home-Educated Students • District Guidance Coordinators certify on-line: • 11th grade registration • 12th grade registration • Community Service Hours 12

13. Home-Educated Community Service Hours • Should be completed during high school and by high school graduation. • May not be hours that benefitted the student financially or materially, or be service to family members, • defined as: parents, grandparents, siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, and spouses, including all step relations. • The agency where the community service hours were earned must provide documentation on agency letterhead of the number of hours and dates of service completed. • The hours must be submitted through the student’s district where he or she is registered as a home-educated student for on-line certification. • Each award requires the following completed and approved community service hours: • FAS – 100 hours • FMS – 75 hours 13

14. www.FloridaStudentFinancialAid.orgState Grants, Scholarships & Applications 14

15. Bright Futures Homepage • What’s New • Chart of Eligibility and Award Criteria • Administrators • Counselor access • Timeline (Log on) • Training modules (Log on) • Comprehensive Course Table • Bright Futures Reports • Students • Requirements by HS Graduation Date • Financial Aid Recipient History to check status 15