Florida Administrative Code
6 - DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
6A - State Board of Education
Chapter 6A-20 - STUDENT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
Section 6A-20.028 - Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program

Universal Citation: FL Admin Code R 6A-20.028

Current through Reg. 50, No. 187; September 24, 2024

(1) General eligibility requirements. To receive an initial or renewing Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program award a student shall:

(a) Not have previously received a recognized baccalaureate degree. A degree is recognized if it is acceptable for purposes of transferring credits to a Bright Futures-eligible institution.

(b) Be enrolled in an eligible Florida postsecondary institution in a degree, certificate, or applied technology program of study.

(c) Be enrolled in a minimum of six (6) semester credit hours, or equivalent quarter or clock credit hours, per term.

(2) Military and public service assignment. For purposes of eligibility, in accordance with Section 1009.531(1)(b)2., F.S.:

(a) Military assignment is defined as active duty assignment, as defined in Section 250.01, F.S.

(b) Public service assignment is defined as the occupational assignment of a Florida resident employed by the United States Government or State of Florida, who as a condition of initial public service employment is relocated to work outside the State of Florida. A student whose parent or guardian is on public service assignment may reside with either a natural parent or another adult designated by either natural parent or guardian. Acceptable proofs of public service assignment are the Request Authorization for Department of Defense Civilian Permanent Duty or Temporary Change (DD Form 1614) or Request and Authorization for Temporary Duty Travel of Department of Defense Personnel (DD Form 1610), and State of Legal Residence Certificate (DD Form 2058). A copy of DD Form 1610, DD Form 1614, and DD Form 2058 may be obtained from the Department of Defense website at http://www.dtic.mil/whs/directives/forms/index.htm.

(3) Initial eligibility requirements.

(a) Information about the scholarship program is made available via the Florida Department of Education (FDOE), Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA) website (http://www.floridastudentfinancialaidsg.org).

(b) For purposes of eligibility, in accordance with Section 1009.531(1)(e), F.S., a student is not eligible for a Bright Futures Scholarship if the student has been found guilty of a felony charge by a plea, jury verdict or a judge, or pled nolo contendere to a felony charge but has had adjudication of guilt withheld. However, a student is not deemed to have been found guilty of, or entered a plea of nolo contendere to, a felony charge if the student:
1. Has been tried in juvenile court for a felony charge, or

2. Has been tried as an adult for a felony charge, but adjudicated delinquent in a juvenile proceeding, or

3. Has had his or her criminal record expunged or sealed by a court order.

(c) For the purposes of initial eligibility, in accordance with Section 1009.531(1), F.S.:
1. A Florida public or private high school graduate, GED recipient, or home-educated student whose high school graduation date is no later than August 31 will be initially eligible for the term after the spring of the year of graduation.

2. The student must file the FFAA-1, Florida Financial Aid Application for Students, as incorporated by reference in Rule 6A-20.019, F.A.C., or the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), as incorporated by reference in Rule 6A-20.023, F.A.C., no later than August 31 immediately following high school graduation, and meet all Bright Futures academic requirements provided in Florida Statutes. A copy of Form FFAA-1 may be obtained from the Office of Student Financial Assistance, Department of Education, 325 West Gaines Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0400 or online at https://www.floridastudentfinancialaidsg.org. A copy of the FAFSA is available at www.fafsa.gov.

3. Students who intend to graduate high school mid-year must file the FFAA-1, Florida Financial Aid Application for Students, or the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), by December 31 of the student's last year in high school, and meet all Bright Futures academic requirements provided in Florida Statutes. A mid-year high school graduate seventh semester evaluation includes completed spring coursework and grades, fall coursework in progress, volunteer service hours or paid work hours, and test scores for test dates through the end of June. A mid-year high school graduate eighth semester evaluation includes all coursework and grades through fall semester of high school graduation, volunteer service hours or paid work hours, and test scores for test dates through the end of January and a graduation date from an official standard diploma or its equivalent.

4. A student's initial year of eligibility is defined as the first academic year immediately following high school graduation or its equivalent, whether funded or not.

(d) A home-educated student applying for a Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program award under Section 1009.53(2), F.S., must complete volunteer service hours or paid work hours that meet the following requirements during high school and by high school graduation:
1. Volunteer service hours or paid work hours may not be hours that benefitted the student financially or materially while in the service of family members defined as: parents, grandparents, siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, and spouses, including aforementioned step relations.

2. The agencies where the volunteer service hours or paid work hours were earned must provide on agency letterhead documentation of the number of hours and dates of service or paid work completed.

3. The documented hours must be submitted by the district where the student is registered as a home-educated student.

4. Students attending public or private Florida high schools are required to follow volunteer service hour or paid work hour requirements during high school and by high school graduation as specified in subparagraphs (3)(d)1. and (3)(d)2. of this rule.

5. Volunteer service hours and paid work hours are separate paths to satisfy the hours requirement; however, they may be combined to achieve a minimum of one hundred (100) total hours.

(e) A candidate for initial eligibility for the scholarship may be evaluated following the seventh semester in high school based on his/her grade point average (GPA) in completed courses and in courses-in-progress. Courses-in-progress may include up to one (1) credit per required academic unit as outlined in subparagraph (3)(g)1. of this section, as specified in Rule 6A-1.09441, F.A.C. If this student is found eligible, the student will not be re-evaluated for the same award and will not lose the award unless the student does not earn a standard high school diploma or its equivalent from a Florida public or FDOE registered private high school, or has committed a felony as defined in paragraph (3)(b) of this rule. An eligible seventh semester student will be re-evaluated on an eighth semester final transcript to validate high school graduation with a standard diploma and only may improve his/her award if applicable upon eighth semester information.

(f) GED candidates for initial eligibility for the scholarship may be evaluated based on a cumulative GPA in all required courses, as specified in Rule 6A-1.09441, F.A.C.

(g) Initial Academic Criteria:
1. For the purposes of student eligibility, in accordance with Sections 1009.534(1)(a) and 1009.535(1)(a), F.S., coursework must include a minimum of four (4) credits in English, four (4) credits in mathematics, three (3) credits in science, three (3) credits in social science, and completion of the foreign language component of the scholar designation pursuant to Section 1003.4285, F.S.
a. Required coursework, as listed in the Course Code Directory, incorporated in Rule 6A-1.09441, F.A.C., and, therefore, approved by the State Board of Education for initial eligibility for the Florida Academic Scholars or Florida Medallion Scholars awards, includes the minimum college preparatory academic courses as required for state university system admissions and outlined in the Florida Board of Governors Regulation 6.002 Admission of Undergraduate First-Time-in-College, Degree-Seeking Freshmen which is hereby incorporated by reference (http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-07541). A copy of the Florida Board of Governors Regulation 6.002 may be obtained online at https://www.flbog.edu/regulations/active-regulations/ or from the Florida Board of Governors, 325 West Gaines Street, Suite 1614, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0400.

b. A student may use up to two (2) additional academic college preparatory course credits from the Course Code Directory and/or from fine arts courses in Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, or Advanced International Certificate of Education programs to raise the GPA.

c. The GPA on a 4.0 scale shall be computed to two (2) decimals and shall not be rounded. Additional weighting is applied for all courses in level three (3) and above as outlined in the Course Code Directory.

d. A student must earn at least the minimum standardized Evidence-Based Reading and Writing and Math scores on the SAT combined composite, excluding the Essay section, or the minimum standardized scores on the ACT, or the minimum standardized scores on the Classic Learning Test (CLT) either administered by January 31 for the seventh semester evaluation or by August 31 for the eighth semester evaluation of the student's last year in high school, as identified for each award level specified in Section 1009.531(6), F.S. ACT scores are rounded up for scores with .5 and higher; SAT and CLT scores do not require rounding. Sections of the SAT, ACT, or CLT from different test dates may be used to meet the test criteria, but test types cannot be mixed. Scores from CLT test dates prior to July 1, 2023, may not be used.
I. To be eligible for the Florida Academic Scholars award, a student must achieve the required examination score at the 89th SAT User percentile, the concordant ACT score, or the concordant CLT score.

II. To be eligible for the Florida Medallion Scholars award, a student must achieve the required examination score at the 75th SAT User percentile, the concordant ACT score, or the concordant CLT score.

III. The required scores may be adjusted annually based on the test score distribution report provided by the College Board. In the event that the 89th or 75th percentile is not listed, the next higher percentile score is used.

IV. Before each school year, examination score requirements applicable to students graduating in the next two (2) years will be published on the OSFA website (https://www.floridastudentfinancialaidsg.org).

2. For purposes of meeting the requirements of a passing score on the college entry level placement test or its equivalent, in accordance with Section 1009.536, F.S., a student applying for the Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholars award must earn at least the minimum qualifying subtest scores from the Florida Postsecondary Education Readiness Test (PERT), SAT, or ACT, as specified in Rule 6A-10.0315, F.A.C. Sections of the PERT, SAT, or ACT from different test dates may be used to meet the test criteria, but test types cannot be mixed.

(h) For the purposes of student eligibility, in accordance with Section 1009.531(5), F.S., a student who wishes to qualify for any Bright Futures Scholarship award but does not meet all of the requirements may be allowed additional time to complete the requirements if the principal of the student's school or the district superintendent verifies on letterhead that deficiencies are due to school personnel providing inaccurate or incomplete information. The private high school may and the public school district shall allow the student to correct the deficiencies and the principal or school district will provide an updated high school transcript as necessary. The student is required to submit official postsecondary transcript(s) to the FDOE with any postsecondary coursework taken to satisfy deficiencies. The student must complete all requirements by December 31 of the student's high school graduation year. If the student completes the requirements by December 31, the student must receive the award for the full academic year, including the fall term.

(4) Academic Top Scholars awards.

(a) Eligibility for the Academic Top Scholars award, in accordance with Section 1009.534(4), F.S., will be determined during the first term of the academic year following the student's initial eligibility determination for a Florida Academic Scholars award.

(b) To be designated an Academic Top Scholar, a student must have:
1. Attended any public school or FDOE registered private high school, or be home-educated or a GED student who has completed the minimum required coursework as listed in subparagraph (3)(g)1. of this rule, and earned a standard high school diploma, or the equivalent, during the last year of high school;

2. Met eligibility requirements for an initial Florida Academic Scholars award;

3. Received funding for an initial Florida Academic Scholars award at an eligible Florida postsecondary institution during the first term of the academic year in which the student was initially eligible; and

4. Been the highest-ranked Florida Academic Scholars award recipient in the Florida school district where the student last attended and graduated from high school. For this determination, Florida Academic Scholars award recipients will be ranked by the FDOE on the basis of the product of their Florida Bright Futures cumulative GPA, calculated on the minimum college preparatory academic courses as listed in subparagraph (3)(g)1. of this rule and their best combined SAT, composite ACT, or combined CLT test score as reported for their Florida Academic Scholars eligibility.

(c) In the event of a tie, the FDOE shall apply the following criteria in the following order to students who are tied in the same school district, until the tie is broken:
1. The product of each student's weighted Bright Futures GPA and best combined SAT, equivalent ACT score, or equivalent CLT score at a single administration of the test.

2. The product of each student's weighted Bright Futures GPA and best combined SAT, equivalent ACT score, or equivalent CLT score at the earliest single administration of the test.

3. The higher of the total number of high school credits earned.

4. The earlier date and time stamp for filing the FFAA-1.

(5) Renewing Academic Criteria.

(a) After an initial year of eligibility, a student may become eligible for the award as a renewed student, a reinstated student, or a restored student, who are defined as:
1. A renewed student is a student who received the award in the previous academic year and met specific program eligibility requirements.

2. A reinstated student is a student who was eligible for the program and did not receive an award for the previous academic year and wishes to re-establish use of the scholarship.

3. A restored student is a student who lost eligibility for the program but earned the requirements in a subsequent academic year.

(b) Academic eligibility criteria for a renewed award, in accordance with Section 1009.532, F.S., shall be evaluated based on an institutional cumulative GPA and cumulative hours earned at the end of the academic year, which for this purpose shall be defined as the end of the second semester or third quarter of each academic year, which is the end of the spring term or end of the summer term for students in the Program for the spring and summer terms in accordance with Section 1009.215, F.S. Students in this cohort will hereafter be referred to as spring/summer students.
1. A Florida Academic Scholars renewal award requires a 3.0 unweighted and unrounded GPA on a 4.0 scale and a minimum of twelve (12) semester hours earned per term funded for a full-time student, a minimum of nine (9) for nine (9) to eleven (11) hours per term funded for a three-quarter time student, and a minimum of six (6) for six (6) to eight (8) hours per term funded for a half-time student, or the equivalent in quarter or clock hours. If a Florida Academic Scholar earns a GPA less than a 3.0 but equal to or greater than a 2.75, he/she renews as a Florida Medallion Scholar.

2. A Florida Medallion Scholars renewal award requires a 2.75 unweighted and unrounded GPA on a 4.0 scale and a minimum of twelve (12) semester hours earned per term funded for a full-time student, a minimum of nine (9) for nine (9) to eleven (11) hours per term funded for a three-quarter time student, and a minimum of six (6) for six (6) to eight (8) hours per term funded for a half-time student, or the equivalent in quarter or clock hours.

3. A Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholars renewal award requires a 2.75 unweighted and unrounded GPA on a 4.0 scale and a minimum of twelve (12) semester hours earned per term funded for a full-time student, a minimum of nine (9) for nine (9) to eleven (11) hours per term funded for a three-quarter time student, and a minimum of six (6) for six (6) to eight (8) hours per term funded for a half-time student, or the equivalent in quarter or clock hours.

4. A Florida Gold Seal CAPE Scholars renewal award requires a 2.75 unweighted and unrounded GPA on a 4.0 scale and a minimum of twelve (12) semester hours earned per term funded for a full-time student, a minimum of nine (9) for nine (9) to eleven (11) hours per term funded for a three-quarter time student, and a minimum of six (6) for six (6) to eight (8) hours per term funded for a half-time student, or the equivalent in quarter or clock hours.

5. The cumulative GPA required to renew any Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program award as referenced in Sections 1009.534, 1009.535 and 1009.536, F.S., shall be determined by the institution where the student is enrolled as degree- or certificate-seeking. The cumulative GPA shall be computed to two (2) decimals and shall not be rounded.

6. For the purposes of eligibility, in accordance with Section 1009.40(1)(b)4., F.S., a student who does not earn the required renewal GPA and/or hours for renewed status may still be renewed if granted an exception from the academic requirements. A student must submit an institutional appeal at the institution where the student did not meet the renewal requirements for renewed status and provide documentation as required by the institution within thirty (30) days of the ineligibility notice or institutional deadline, whichever is later.

(c) Eligibility criteria for a reinstated award shall be determined if the student did not receive scholarship funding for the last academic year during which the student was eligible. The student must submit Form FFAA-3, Florida Financial Aid Reinstatement/Restoration Application, incorporated by reference in Rule 6A-20.027, F.A.C., by May 30 of the academic year the student is seeking funding. A student who enlists in the United States Armed Forces as referenced in Section 1009.531(2), F.S., and submits Form FFAA-3, Florida Financial Aid Reinstatement/Restoration Application, by May 30 of the academic year the student is seeking funding, must also submit to the FDOE via U.S. mail proof of all active-duty assignments from high school graduation through the date of the requested reinstatement year. Acceptable proof of active-duty assignment(s) is the Department of Defense Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active-Duty, the DD Form 214.

(d) A student who engages in a full-time religious or federal government service obligation lasting at least eighteen (18) months that begins within 1 year after completion of high school, as referenced in Section 1009.531(2), F.S., and submits Form FFAA-3 by May 30 of the academic year the student is seeking funding must also provide documentation of the service obligation. The student must submit to the FDOE Form RSOR-01, Religious or Service Obligation Reporting Form, to document the service obligation. Form RSOR-01 is hereby incorporated by reference (http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-07542) and made a part of this rule to become effective November 2016. A copy of Form RSOR-01 and Form FFAA-3 may be obtained from the Office of Student Financial Assistance, Department of Education, 325 West Gaines Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0400 or online at https://www.floridastudentfinancialaidsg.org.

(e) Academic eligibility criteria for a restored award shall be evaluated at the end of the summer or second semester/third quarter each academic year thereafter.
1. For a student who graduated from high school in 2009-10 and thereafter, the award may be restored for the student who has earned an insufficient GPA at the end of the first year of funding only. The student must submit Form FFAA-3, Florida Financial Aid Reinstatement/Restoration Application by May 30 of the year the student is seeking funding, or by September 30 for a spring/summer student as outlined in paragraph (6)(c) of this rule. A student may earn and be funded in an eligible restored status one - time only. In addition to applying for restoration, the student is responsible for ensuring submission of verification from the last institution attended as a degree- or certificate-seeking student. The institutional cumulative GPA, as defined in paragraph (5)(b) of this rule, and as reported by the last institution attended, will determine the student's eligibility to be restored based on the minimum academic program renewal requirements.

2. A Florida Medallion Scholar who initially was awarded as a Florida Academic Scholar who earns a GPA of 3.0 or above may restore as a Florida Academic Scholar utilizing the one-time-only restoration.

(6) Awards. Awards are made under all programs in this section in accordance with Sections 1009.215, 1009.43, 1009.53, 1009.531, 1009.532, 1009.533, 1009.534, 1009.5341, 1009.535, 1009.536 and 1009.538, F.S.

(a) Awards under this program are based on the amount as specified in the General Appropriations Act. If funds appropriated are not adequate to provide the maximum allowable award to each eligible applicant, awards must be prorated with an equitable percentage reduction in all terms after term 1.

(b) Annual awards are defined as awards made in fall through spring terms unless the Legislature appropriates summer term funding.
1. If summer funds are made available in an annual General Appropriations Act, the funds will be distributed to the institution that enrolls the student during that current academic year summer term.

2. The funding institution must determine the student award amount and report summer disbursements and grade and hours to the FDOE.

(c) A spring/summer student, referenced in paragraph (5)(b) of this rule, is eligible to receive a maximum of three (3) semesters (or the equivalent) of funding during one (1) academic year. Students in the fall term may only receive funding for off-campus or online coursework.

(d) The student must be funded from his/her home institution. The home institution may also fund the student for courses enrolled at other eligible institutions in eligible credits applicable toward a student's degree or certificate program of study. The student is responsible for notifying the home institution at the beginning of the term of his/her enrollment of credit hours and payment due, and then at the end of the term of his/her cumulative GPA and hours earned at another institution. The award amount is calculated based on the total number of fundable hours per institution type where enrolled, multiplied by the award per credit hour, per the General Appropriation Act amounts.

(e) The student is required to refund to the postsecondary institution the cost of dropped or withdrawn Bright Futures-funded courses; non-payment of such courses will result in future year program ineligibility. Students may not repay unearned hours after the completion of the term in order to regain their scholarship.

(7) Program Length.

(a) A student who graduated from high school in 2009-10 and earlier may receive funding up to seven (7) years from high school graduation or a first baccalaureate degree, whichever comes first. A student who graduates from high school in 2010-11 and thereafter may receive funding up to five (5) years from high school graduation or a first baccalaureate degree, whichever comes first.

(b) In accordance with Section 1009.5341, F.S., a Florida Academic Scholar or Florida Medallion Scholar who graduated in the 2010-11 academic year and thereafter and has earned a first baccalaureate degree within seven (7) semesters or 105 credit hours of funding, may receive Bright Futures funding for one (1) semester up to fifteen (15) of the student's unused semester or equivalent hours, at the undergraduate rate, for up to seven (7) or five (5) years after high school graduation, dependent upon his or her high school graduation year, if the student enrolls in a graduate degree program at a Bright Futures-eligible institution.

(8) Institutional responsibilities.

(a) Participating postsecondary institutions shall comply with Rules 6A-20.002 and 6A-20.0021, F.A.C.; and,

(b) Verify, prior to disbursement each term, each recipient's graduation from a Florida high school, State of Florida high school equivalency diploma (FDOE-authorized GED), home education, or out-of-state high school; Florida residency, as defined in Section 1009.21, F.S., and Rule 6A-10.044, F.A.C., incorporated by reference herein; the number of non-remedial hours enrolled; degree- or certificate-seeking status; eligible maximum program hours; default status; and repayment status.

(c) Forgiveness hours, those credit hours that the institution allows a student to retake for forgiveness of quality points and that are part of the student's program of study, are to be funded. Once funded, course hours successfully completed in forgiveness courses must be reported as hours earned in the FDOE, OSFA Grade and Hours Report consistent with Rule 6A-20.002, F.A.C.

(d) Florida public school districts shall:
1. Submit transcripts for all students in ninth through twelfth grade to the FDOE High School transcript database three (3) times a year in order to annually provide complete and accurate Florida Bright Futures Scholarship evaluation information.

2. Submit transcripts, volunteer service hours or paid work hours, and eligibility criteria data by deadlines established by the FDOE.

(e) Florida eligible non-public secondary schools must, in order to annually maintain eligibility to participate in the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program:
1. Register as a non-public high school via the Private Annual School Survey (http://www.fldoe.org/schools/school-choice/private-schools/annual-survey.stml) with the FDOE.

2. Submit scholarship required courses, volunteer service hours or paid work hours, and other eligibility criteria data as requested for all students in ninth through twelfth grades to the FDOE, via the Online Transcript Entry and Evaluation System (https://www.floridastudentfinancialaidsg.org).

Rulemaking Authority 1001.02(1), (2)(n), 1009.53(3) FS. Law Implemented 1009.40, 1009.42, 1009.43, 1009.53, 1009.531, 1009.532, 1009.533, 1009.534, 1009.5341, 1009.535, 1009.536, 1009.538 FS.

New 5-10-12, Amended 1-1-14, 11-29-16, 3-15-22, 11-23-22, 8-22-23.

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Florida may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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