The bill amends the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program by revising eligibility criteria and introducing new requirements for students. It specifically mandates that public high school students with a GPA of 3.5 or higher and a composite score of 1,000 or higher on the PSAT/NMSQT must be provided with SAT or ACT preparation resources and information about the scholarship program. These resources will be funded through lottery funds deposited into the Educational Enhancement Trust Fund and must be available until the students have the opportunity to take the SAT, ACT, or Classical Learning Test in 11th grade. To maintain eligibility for these resources, students must continue to uphold a GPA of 3.5 or higher.

Additionally, the bill updates the eligibility criteria for the Florida Academic Scholars and Florida Medallion Scholars awards. It includes new provisions that recognize students who have been acknowledged by the College Board National Hispanic Recognition Program and the College Board National African American Recognition Program as scholars. The bill also specifies that students must complete a program of volunteer service or paid work, with the required hours varying between the two scholarship categories. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
S 1368 Filed: 1007.27, 1009.534