bright futures

WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU DO NOT PASS AN EXAM?

You MAY be able to retake the exam.  Please check with your school's AICE coordinator for eligibility.

• Fees for a re-take are $125 for AS level, $195 for A level, ADIP is $143 and Global is $210.

When can you retake a failed exam?

• You may register to retake a failed exam in the Fall (November) or the Spring (June) series.

• Benefits of the Fall retakes:

  1. Information is fairly fresh in your memory.

  2. Fall exam results come out the following January.

  3. Eliminates a test date from May/June, which is a very busy testing time for other courses. 

IB Curriculum

• Complete a minimum of 10 credits identified by the International Baccalaureate Organization: 

  • Two credits each in three of the following areas and one credit each in the remaining three areas: 

    • Language Arts

    • World Language

    • Social Studies

    • Science

    • Mathematics and Arts/Electives. 

      • Each of these credits must be an IB or AP course. Pre-IB courses do not meet IB curriculum requirements.

  • One credit in Theory of Knowledge 

• Complete the Creativity, Action, Service (CAS) requirement

• Complete an extended essay.

If a student earns their IB Diploma, they will be eligible for the Florida Academic Scholars (FAS) - Students will receive an award to cover 100% of tuition and applicable fees.

National Merit Finalists and Scholars

• In order to identify National Merit Scholarship Corporation students, the Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA) will need the official letter of recognition from National Merit Scholarship Corporation sent to High Schools.

National Hispanic Recognition

• In order to identify National Hispanic Recognition Program students, the Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA) will need the official letter (email) of recognition from College Board Recognition Program as well as the certification showing the student has been recognized by the National Hispanic Recognition Program as a scholar recipient. The documents should be uploaded to OSFA’s secure file by either the high school or the student.

If a student is identified as either of the above two recognitions, they will be eligible for the Florida Academic Scholars (FAS) - Students will receive an award to cover 100% of tuition and applicable fees provided they meet the community service requirements and required coursework requirements.

Earn either the Florida Academic Scholars, Florida Medallion Scholars, or the Gold Seal Vocational Scholars award based upon the following criteria:

• GPA

• SAT/ACT test scores

• Community Service

• Completing specific classwork (see image)

What each award covers:

• Florida Academic Scholars (FAS) - Students will receive an award to cover 100% of tuition and applicable fees.

• Florida Medallion Scholars (FMS) - Students will receive an award to cover 75% of tuition and applicable fees.  

TO APPLY:  

• Go to the website  

• Click on CREATE A STUDENT ACCOUNT under First-Time Applicants.  

• Under PROFILE complete all Demographic and Contact information.  

  • Including your SSN is strongly suggested or input your FLE ID (50+student number)  

  • High School Graduation Date - Enter "May 20" of your senior year (NOTE:  This date is not official, the actual date has not been released and will not until late December/early January)  

  • Provide the email address that is best for receiving official communication from Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA). You may provide an alternate email address as well.  DO NOT USE YOUR SCHOOL EMAIL ADDRESS! 

• Click SUBMIT to proceed.  

• Once submitted, you will receive a personal USER ID & PASSWORD (take a picture or write down information).  

• Click on Complete FFAA promptly or log-in using USER ID & PASSWORD.  

  • When initially logging-in you will be prompted to create a new PASSWORD. 

FFAA APPLICATION
Use the following information to help you complete the FFAA Application - which must be complete as part of the Bright Futures Application. 

• Demographic & Contact information (already populated from when you created your account - see above)

  • Florida Legal Residence: Click YES  

  • U.S. Citizenship: Choose YES or NO  

  • Convicted of a Crime: BE CAREFUL! Click NO, unless you have been convicted of a felony or 1st degree misdemeanor

  • Deceased or Disabled Veteran: Click NO, unless you have a parent who was a Military Veteran and is deceased or disabled

  • Rosewood is a scholarship for minority black students who are descendants of the Rosewood incident of January 1923. Only answer YES if you are sure this applies to you. 

  • If you or one of your natural parents is Hispanic-American answer YES.  

  • Florida Farmworker: Only answer YES if you have a parent who is a Florida Farmworker  

  • Click NEXT 

• Academic Background High School Enrollment  

  • Will Graduate from a Florida High School: Choose YES

  • FL High School Graduation Option:  Choose Public

  • Select District: From drop down menu choose Palm Beach - Florida School District  

  • Select High School: From drop down menu choose YOUR HIGH SCHOOL 

  • Are you an AICE or IB Student: Choose YES or NO

• Academic Background - PostSecondary Plans  

  • Have you earned a baccalaureate Degree:  Choose NO  

  • Classification: From drop down menu choose Freshman (1st time in College) if you have never taken any dual enrollment or Freshman (with previous college)

  • Indicate whether you plan on going to a college/university Out-of-State or In-State.  

  • Institute where you are planning to attend: Use the drop down menu to indicate In-State colleges/universities (this should be your top choice school)

    • Choose up to four other schools you would like to have the information shared with.  These choices may be changed at a later date.

  • Click NEXT 

• After completing all required sections, click the “Submit” button at the bottom to process your application.

Florida Financial Aid Application (FFAA) has created a step by step Reference Guide (PDF) to help you through the application process.

NOTE: After you have made a decision on the college you will attend after high school, and have committed, make sure to update the Institute where you are planning to attend to reflect that school! Not doing so may delay in receiving the funds.

Still have questions?  You may contact them directly at 888-827-2004.

• Students must APPLY for the Bright Futures Scholarship by submitting the Florida Financial Aid Application (FFAA) no later than August 31 after high school graduation.  The application opens October 1.

• Students must complete the FAFSA application regardless if you are applying for Financial Aid.  If you are eligible for the Bright Futures Scholarship, this application must be completed because you are receiving money from the State.

• Be a Florida resident and a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen, as determined by the student's postsecondary institution.

• Earn a standard Florida high school diploma or its equivalent from a Florida public high school or a registered Florida Department of Education (FDOE) private high school; or complete a home education program.

• Not have been found guilty of, or pled nolo contendere, to a felony charge, unless the student has been granted clemency by the Governor and Cabinet sitting as the Executive Office of Clemency.

• Be accepted by and enroll in a degree or certificate program at an eligible Florida public or independent postsecondary institution.

• Be enrolled for at least 6 non-remedial semester credit hours (or the equivalent in quarter or clock hours) per term.

• If not funded in the academic year immediately following high school graduation, apply within two years of high school graduation to have your award reinstated.

Please refer to the Bright Futures Handbook for more information.