FLORIDA BRIGHT FUTURES SCHOLARSHIP INFORMATION
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FOR PINELLAS COUNTY SCHOOL STUDENTS
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- Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program -
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- Course List and Course Requirements -
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- Eligible Colleges and Universities -
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- The FL Bright Futures Awards Flyer (pdf) -
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- FMS Award Changes for Community Colleges -
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- The FL Bright Futures Programa De Becas Flyer, in Spanish (pdf) -
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THE FLORIDA BRIGHT FUTURES SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM is the umbrella program administered by the Florida Department of Education(DOE) which includes Florida Academic Scholars, the Florida Medallion Scholars, and the Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholars.
The links above will take you to the Florida Department of Education Bright Futures Scholarship Program. Here you will find the latest information about the FBF scholarships offered as their pages are updated regularly by the Florida Department of Education. One link leads to the FBF flyer handed out to students at their high school at the start of the school year and also available at the District Financial Aid seminars in the late fall.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT EARLY NOTIFICATION
The Florida Department of Education implemented an EARLY NOTIFICATION PROCEDURE for the Bright Futures Scholarship Program that began with the high school seniors who graduated in the year 2000. The purpose of the early notification is to provide students and their parents with more timely information on which to base their college decisions.
The early notification is based on an evaluation of the student's achievement at the end of the semester prior to the last semester (the seventh of eight high school semesters). To be declared eligible, students are required to have the following:
* met all general Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program Requirements
* earned the required SAT, ACT, or CPT test score (whichever is appropriate)
* earned the necessary grade point average in the required courses completed, and be enrolled in the balance of all courses required for the scholarship
All seniors who have completed the state application will receive a letter following the seventh semester evaluation indicating eligibility status at that time. Seniors who meet the eligibility requirements will retain eligibility to receive the scholarship unless they do not graduate from high school, don't complete the required courses, or are not admitted to an eligible postsecondary institution. Seniors who do not meet the eligibility requirements at the end of the seventh semester will automatically be re-evaluated and may receive the scholarship after high school graduation if all scholarship criteria is met. Likewise, students who qualify for an award at the seventh semester but meet additional requirements for a higher award by the end of their senior year, will be re-evaluated and awarded the higher award at that time.
The Florida Academic Scholars program requires a minimum of 75 hours of approved and documented community service.
TO PARTICIPATE IN COMMUNITY SERVICE
Students wanting to participate in community service MUST complete all district paperwork and meet high school staff-approved requirements BEFORE beginning their community service experience. Some high schools offer other programs that may require documented community service for various reasons, however these hours are sometimes not the same as Florida Bright Futures hours. Please contact your high school counselor or community service designee to learn how to begin community service for a Florida Bright Futures scholarship. Community service hours cannot begin until the student is an active ninth grade student and must be completed by graduation.
TO APPLY FOR FLORIDA BRIGHT FUTURES
Students must go to www.FloridaStudentFinancialAid.org after December 1st of their senior year in high school to apply for the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship. This is done by completing the state application and submitting it on-line after printing out a copy for their own records. The application process closes on the date of high school graduation.
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Quick Note:
It is strongly recommended that students and parents sign up for and consistantly use www.FACTS.org to check on the student's Florida Bright Futures status and progress.
HOW FBF CALCULATES AND WEIGHTS YOUR GPA
Please be advised that the grade point average as shown on the high school student's report card, graduation check list and transcript may be different than the student's Florida Bright Futures GPA. Florida Bright Futures software uses a different method for calculating the weighting of the courses required to meet each of the Bright Futures scholarship criteria.
For more information, please refer to the Florida Bright Futures flyer or go on-line to www.FloridaStudentFinancialAid.org or call the state help line toll free number 1-888-827-2004.
UPDATES!!!
Students entering high school as freshmen in 2007-2008 and after:
High School students on track for the Florida Academic or Medallian Scholars Award must complege four years of math at Algebra I and above to meet the math criteria for either of these awards.
High school students on track for the Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholars Award must earn a 3.0 weighted GPA using the new 16 core credits required for graduation. These core credits include: 4 English, 4 Math (including Algebra I), 3 Social Science (1 American History, 1 World History, .5 American Government, .5 Economics), 1 Fine Art and 1 Physical Education (to include integration of health) to qualify for the Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholars award.
Keep in close touch with your school guidance counselor and with this web site for further updates as they come about.
You can call Florida Bright Futures offices in Tallahassee for state info: 1-888-827-2004 (toll free).
MORE QUESTIONS?
If you have any further questions or concerns, please call Jane Howell at the Pinellas County Schools Financial Aid district office at (727) 588-6013 or call Florida Bright Futures office in Tallahassee at (888) 827-2004 (toll free).
Updated 2.6.2008 - s.o.
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