Educational Scholarships, Fees, And Financial Assistance (2025)

Fla. Stat. ch. 1009 (2025)

Florida Statutes

PART I GENERAL PROVISIONS

PART II POSTSECONDARY STUDENT FEES

PART III FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

PART IV PREPAID COLLEGE BOARD PROGRAMS

CHAPTER 1009

1009.01

Definitions.

(1) “Tuition” means the basic fee charged to a student for instruction provided by a public postsecondary educational institution in this state. A charge for any other purpose shall not be included within this fee.

(2) “Out-of-state fee” means the additional fee for instruction provided by a public postsecondary educational institution in this state, which fee is charged to a student who does not qualify for the in-state tuition rate pursuant to s. 1009.21. A charge for any other purpose shall not be included within this fee.

(3) “Tuition differential” means the supplemental fee charged to a student by a public university in this state pursuant to s. 1009.24(16).

History. — s. 398, ch. 2002-387; s. 131, ch. 2007-217; s. 1, ch. 2007-225; s. 188, ch. 2008-4; s. 2, ch. 2009-98.

1009.02 Eligibility for educational scholarships upon completion of all terms of sentence.

History. — ss. 153, 154, ch. 2019-167.

1009.21 Determination of resident status for tuition purposes.

(1) As used in this section, the term:

(2)(

a) To qualify as a resident for tuition purposes:

(3)(

a) An individual shall not be classified as a resident for tuition purposes and, thus, shall not be eligible to receive the in-state tuition rate until he or she has provided such evidence related to legal residence and its duration or, if that individual is a dependent child, evidence of his or her parent’s legal residence and its duration, as may be required by law and by officials of the institution of higher education from which he or she seeks the in-state tuition rate.

(4) With respect to a dependent child, the legal residence of the dependent child’s parent or parents is prima facie evidence of the dependent child’s legal residence, which evidence may be reinforced or rebutted, relative to the age and general circumstances of the dependent child, by the other evidence of legal residence required of or presented by the dependent child.

However, the legal residence of a dependent child’s parent or parents who are domiciled outside this state is not prima facie evidence of the dependent child’s legal residence if that dependent child has lived in this state for 5 consecutive years prior to enrolling or reregistering at the institution of higher education at which resident status for tuition purposes is sought.

(5) A person who physically resides in this state may be classified as a resident for tuition purposes if he or she marries a person who meets the 12-month residency requirement under subsection (2) and who is a legal resident of this state.

(6)(

a) Except as otherwise provided in this section, a person who is classified as a nonresident for tuition purposes may become eligible for reclassification as a resident for tuition purposes if that person or, if that person is a dependent child, his or her parent presents clear and convincing documentation that supports permanent legal residency in this state for at least 12 consecutive months rather than temporary residency for the purpose of pursuing an education, such as documentation of full-time permanent employment for the prior 12 months or the purchase of a home in this state and residence therein for the prior 12 months while not enrolled in an institution of higher education.

(7) A person shall not lose his or her resident status for tuition purposes solely by reason of serving, or, if such person is a dependent child, by reason of his or her parent’s or parents’ serving, in the Armed Forces outside this state.

(8) A person who has been properly classified as a resident for tuition purposes but who, while enrolled in an institution of higher education in this state, loses his or her resident tuition status because the person or, if he or she is a dependent child, the person’s parent or parents establish domicile or legal residence elsewhere shall continue to enjoy the in-state tuition rate for a statutory grace period, which period shall be measured from the date on which the circumstances arose that culminated in the loss of resident tuition status and shall continue for 12 months.

However, if the 12-month grace period ends during a semester or academic term for which such former resident is enrolled, such grace period shall be extended to the end of that semester or academic term.

(9) Any person who ceases to be enrolled at or who graduates from an institution of higher education while classified as a resident for tuition purposes and who subsequently abandons his or her domicile in this state shall be permitted to reenroll at an institution of higher education in this state as a resident for tuition purposes without the necessity of meeting the 12-month durational requirement of this

section if that person has reestablished his or her domicile in this state within 12 months of such abandonment and continuously maintains the reestablished domicile during the period of enrollment. The benefit of this subsection shall not be accorded more than once to any one person.

(10) The following persons shall be classified as residents for tuition purposes:

(11) Once a student has been classified as a resident for tuition purposes, an institution of higher education to which the student transfers is not required to reevaluate the classification unless inconsistent information suggests that an erroneous classification was made or the student’s situation has changed. However, the student must have attended the institution making the initial classification within the prior 12 months, and the residency classification must be noted on the student’s transcript.

(12) Each institution of higher education shall establish a residency appeal committee comprised of at least three members to consider student appeals of residency determinations, in accordance with the institution’s official appeal process. The residency appeal committee must render to the student the final residency determination in writing. The institution must advise the student of the reasons for the determination.

(13) The State Board of Education and the Board of Governors shall adopt rules to implement this section.

History. — s. 2, ch. 2002-270; s. 400, ch. 2002-387; s. 14, ch. 2004-230; s. 132, ch. 2007-217; s. 7, ch. 2009-60; s. 2, ch. 2009-123; s. 10, ch. 2010-155; s. 116, ch. 2011-5; s. 23, ch. 2014-20; s. 6, ch. 2014-62; s. 30, ch. 2019-119; s. 5, ch. 2019-144; s. 172, ch. 2023-8; s. 86, ch. 2024-2; s. 21, ch. 2024-101.

1009.215 Student enrollment pilot program for the spring and summer terms.

(1) Subject to approval by the Board of Governors, the University of Florida may plan and implement a student enrollment pilot program for the spring and summer terms for the purpose of aligning on-campus student enrollment and the availability of instructional facilities.

(2) The pilot program shall provide for a student cohort that is limited to on-campus enrollment during the spring and summer terms. Students in this cohort are not eligible for on-campus enrollment during the fall term.

(3) Students who are enrolled in the pilot program and who are eligible to receive Bright Futures Scholarships under ss. 1009.53-1009.536 are eligible to receive the scholarship award for attendance during the spring and summer terms. This student cohort is also eligible to receive Bright Futures Scholarships during the fall term, which may be used for off-campus or online coursework, if Bright Futures Scholarship funding is provided by the Legislature for three terms for other eligible students during that academic year.

(4) By January 31, 2013, the University of Florida shall report to the Board of Governors, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives regarding the result of the pilot program.

History. — s. 10, ch. 2011-63; s. 20, ch. 2012-134; ss. 12, 13, ch. 2018-10; s. 9, ch. 2019-103; ss. 4, 5, 115, ch. 2019-116.

1009.22 Workforce education postsecondary student fees.

(1) This

section applies to students enrolled in workforce education programs who are reported for funding and fees charged for college credit instruction leading to an associate in applied science degree or an associate in science degree authorized pursuant to s. 1007.331, except that college credit fees for the Florida College System institutions are governed by s. 1009.23.

(2) All students shall be charged fees except students who are exempt from fees or students whose fees are waived.

(3)(

a) Except as otherwise provided by law, fees for students who are nonresidents for tuition purposes must offset the full cost of instruction. Residency of students shall be determined as required in s. 1009.21. Fee-nonexempt students enrolled in applied academics for adult education instruction shall be charged fees equal to the fees charged for adult general education programs. Each Florida College System institution that conducts developmental education and applied academics for adult education instruction in the same class

section may charge a single fee for both types of instruction.

(4) For postsecondary vocational programs offered by career centers, the standard tuition shall be $71.98 per credit hour for residents and nonresidents, and the out-of-state fee shall be $215.94 per credit hour.

(5) A district school board or Florida College System institution board that has a service area that borders another state may implement a plan for a differential out-of-state fee.

(6) Each district school board and Florida College System institution board of trustees may establish a separate fee for financial aid purposes in an additional amount of up to 10 percent of the student fees collected for workforce education programs. All fees collected shall be deposited into a separate workforce education student financial aid fee trust fund of the school district or Florida College System institution to support students enrolled in workforce education programs.

Any undisbursed balance remaining in the trust fund and interest income accruing to investments from the trust fund shall increase the total funds available for distribution to workforce education students. Awards shall be based on student financial need and distributed in accordance with a nationally recognized system of need analysis approved by the State Board of Education. Fees collected pursuant to this subsection shall be allocated in an expeditious manner.

(7)(

a) Each district school board and Florida College System institution board of trustees may establish a separate fee for capital improvements, technology enhancements, equipping buildings, or the acquisition of improved real property which may not exceed 5 percent of tuition for resident students or 5 percent of tuition and out-of-state fees for nonresident students.

Funds collected by Florida College System institutions through the fee may be bonded only for the purpose of financing or refinancing new construction and equipment, renovation, remodeling of educational facilities, or the acquisition of improved real property for use as educational facilities.

The fee shall be collected as a component part of the tuition and fees, paid into a separate account, and expended only to acquire improved real property or construct and equip, maintain, improve, or enhance the certificate career education or adult education facilities of the school district or the educational facilities of the Florida College System institution. Projects and acquisitions of improved real property funded through the use of the capital improvement fee must meet the survey and construction requirements of

chapter 1013. Pursuant to s. 216.0158, each district school board and Florida College System institution board of trustees shall identify each project, including maintenance projects, proposed to be funded in whole or in part by such fee.

Capital improvement fee revenues may be pledged by a board of trustees as a dedicated revenue source to the repayment of debt, including lease-purchase agreements, with an overall term of not more than 7 years, including renewals, extensions, and refundings, and revenue bonds with a term not exceeding 20 years and not exceeding the useful life of the asset being financed, only for the new construction and equipment, renovation, or remodeling of educational facilities.

Bonds authorized pursuant to this paragraph shall be requested by the Florida College System institution board of trustees and shall be issued by the Division of Bond Finance in compliance with s. 11(d), Art. VII of the State Constitution and the State Bond Act. The Division of Bond Finance may pledge fees collected by one or more Florida College System institutions to secure such bonds. Any project included in the approved educational plant survey pursuant to

chapter 1013 is approved pursuant to s. 11(f), Art. VII of the State Constitution. Bonds issued pursuant to the State Bond Act may be validated in the manner provided by

chapter 75. The complaint for such validation shall be filed in the circuit court of the county where the seat of state government is situated, the notice required to be published by s. 75.06 shall be published only in the county where the complaint is filed, and the complaint and order of the circuit court shall be served only on the state attorney of the circuit in which the action is pending. A maximum of 15 cents per credit hour may be allocated from the capital improvement fee for child care centers conducted by the district school board or Florida College System institution board of trustees.

The use of capital improvement fees for such purpose shall be subordinate to the payment of any bonds secured by the fees.

(8) Each district school board and Florida College System institution board of trustees is authorized to establish a separate fee for technology, not to exceed 5 percent of tuition per credit hour or credit-hour equivalent for resident students and not to exceed 5 percent of tuition and the out-of-state fee per credit hour or credit-hour equivalent for nonresident students. Revenues generated from the technology fee shall be used to enhance instructional technology resources for students and faculty.

Fifty percent of technology fee revenues may be pledged by a Florida College System institution board of trustees as a dedicated revenue source for the repayment of debt, including lease-purchase agreements, not to exceed the useful life of the asset being financed. Revenues generated from the technology fee may not be bonded.

(9) Each district school board and Florida College System institution board of trustees is authorized to establish specific fees for workforce development instruction not reported for state funding purposes or for workforce development instruction not reported as state funded full-time equivalent students. District school boards and Florida College System institution boards of trustees are not required to charge any other fee specified in this

section for this type of instruction.

(10) Florida College System institution boards of trustees and district school boards are not authorized to charge students enrolled in workforce development programs any fee that is not specifically authorized by statute.

In addition to tuition, out-of-state, financial aid, capital improvement, and technology fees, as authorized in this section, Florida College System institution boards of trustees and district school boards are authorized to establish fee schedules for the following user fees and fines: laboratory fees; parking fees and fines; library fees and fines; fees and fines relating to facilities and equipment use or damage; access or identification card fees; duplicating, photocopying, binding, or microfilming fees; standardized testing fees; diploma replacement fees; transcript fees; application fees; graduation fees; and late fees related to registration and payment.

Such user fees and fines shall not exceed the cost of the services provided and shall only be charged to persons receiving the service. Parking fee revenues may be pledged by a Florida College System institution board of trustees as a dedicated revenue source for the repayment of debt, including lease-purchase agreements, with an overall term of not more than 7 years, including renewals, extensions, and refundings, and revenue bonds with a term not exceeding 20 years and not exceeding the useful life of the asset being financed.

Florida College System institutions shall use the services of the Division of Bond Finance of the State Board of Administration to issue any revenue bonds authorized by this subsection. Any such bonds issued by the Division of Bond Finance shall be in compliance with the provisions of the State Bond Act. Bonds issued pursuant to the State Bond Act may be validated in the manner established in

(11) Each school district and Florida College System institution may assess a service charge for the payment of tuition and fees in installments and a convenience fee for the processing of automated or online credit card payments. However, the amount of the convenience fee for automated or online credit card payments may not exceed the total cost charged by the credit card company to the school district or Florida College System institution. Such service charge or convenience fee must be approved by the district school board or Florida College System institution board of trustees.

(12) Any school district or Florida College System institution that reports students who have not paid fees in an approved manner in calculations of full-time equivalent enrollments for state funding purposes shall be penalized at a rate equal to 2 times the value of such enrollments. Such penalty shall be charged against the following year’s allocation from workforce education funds or the Florida College System Program Fund and shall revert to the General Revenue Fund. The State Board of Education shall specify, as necessary in rule, approved methods of student fee payment.

Such methods must include, but need not be limited to, student fee payment; payment through federal, state, or institutional financial aid; and employer fee payments.

(13)(

a) The Board of Trustees of Santa Fe College may establish a transportation access fee. Revenue from the fee may be used only to provide or improve access to transportation services for students enrolled at Santa Fe College. The fee may not exceed $6 per credit hour. An increase in the transportation access fee may occur only once each fiscal year and must be implemented beginning with the fall term. A referendum must be held by the student government to approve the application of the fee.

(14) Each school district and Florida College System institution shall report only those students who have actually enrolled in instruction provided or supervised by instructional personnel under contract with the district or Florida College System institution in calculations of actual full-time enrollments for state funding purposes.

A student who has been exempted from taking a course or who has been granted academic or technical credit through means other than actual coursework completed at the granting institution may not be calculated for enrollment in the course from which the student has been exempted or for which the student has been granted credit. School districts and Florida College System institutions that report enrollments in violation of this subsection shall be penalized at a rate equal to 2 times the value of such enrollments.

Such penalty shall be charged against the following year’s allocation from workforce education funds and shall revert to the General Revenue Fund.

History. — s. 401, ch. 2002-387; s. 8, ch. 2004-357; s. 1, ch. 2007-329; ss. 1, 2, ch. 2008-109; s. 3, ch. 2008-163; s. 11, ch. 2010-155; s. 117, ch. 2011-5; s. 11, ch. 2011-63; s. 54, ch. 2013-27; s. 27, ch. 2013-51; s. 186, ch. 2014-17; s. 77, ch. 2014-39; s. 2, ch. 2014-62; s. 15, ch. 2018-4; s. 181, ch. 2020-2; s. 31, ch. 2023-81; s. 18, ch. 2025-109.

1009.23 Florida College System institution student fees.

(1) Unless otherwise provided, this

section applies only to fees charged for college credit instruction leading to an associate in arts degree, an associate in applied science degree, an associate in science degree, or a baccalaureate degree authorized pursuant to s. 1007.33, for noncollege credit developmental education defined in s. 1004.02, and for educator preparation institute programs defined in s. 1004.85.

(2)(

a) All students shall be charged fees except students who are exempt from fees or students whose fees are waived.

(3)(

a) For advanced and professional, postsecondary vocational, developmental education, and educator preparation institute programs, the standard tuition shall be $71.98 per credit hour for residents and nonresidents, and the out-of-state fee shall be $215.94 per credit hour.

(4) Each Florida College System institution board of trustees shall establish tuition and out-of-state fees, which may vary no more than 10 percent below and 15 percent above the combined total of the standard tuition and fees established in subsection (3).

(5) Except as otherwise provided in law, the sum of nonresident student tuition and out-of-state fees must be sufficient to defray the full cost of each program.

(6)(

a) A Florida College System institution board of trustees that has a service area that borders another state may implement a plan for a differential out-of-state fee.

(8)(

a) Each Florida College System institution board of trustees is authorized to establish a separate fee for financial aid purposes in an additional amount up to, but not to exceed, 5 percent of the total student tuition or out-of-state fees collected. Each Florida College System institution board of trustees may collect up to an additional 2 percent if the amount generated by the total financial aid fee is less than $500,000.

If the amount generated is less than $500,000, a Florida College System institution that charges tuition and out-of-state fees at least equal to the average fees established by rule may transfer from the general current fund to the scholarship fund an amount equal to the difference between $500,000 and the amount generated by the total financial aid fee assessment. No other transfer from the general current fund to the loan, endowment, or scholarship fund, by whatever name known, is authorized.

(9) Any Florida College System institution that reports students who have not paid fees in an approved manner in calculations of full-time equivalent enrollments for state funding purposes shall be penalized at a rate equal to two times the value of such enrollments. Such penalty shall be charged against the following year’s allocation from the Florida College System Program Fund and shall revert to the General Revenue Fund.

(10) Each Florida College System institution board of trustees is authorized to establish a separate fee for technology, which may not exceed 5 percent of tuition per credit hour or credit-hour equivalent for resident students and may not exceed 5 percent of tuition and the out-of-state fee per credit hour or credit-hour equivalent for nonresident students. Revenues generated from the technology fee shall be used to enhance instructional technology resources for students and faculty. The technology fee may apply to both college credit and developmental education.

(11)(

a) Each Florida College System institution board of trustees may establish a separate fee for capital improvements, technology enhancements, equipping student buildings, or the acquisition of improved real property which may not exceed 20 percent of tuition for resident students or 20 percent of the sum of tuition and out-of-state fees for nonresident students. The fee for resident students shall be limited to an increase of $2 per credit hour over the prior year.

Funds collected by Florida College System institutions through the fee may be bonded only as provided in this subsection for the purpose of financing or refinancing new construction and equipment, renovation, remodeling of educational facilities, or the acquisition and renovation or remodeling of improved real property for use as educational facilities.

The fee shall be collected as a component part of the tuition and fees, paid into a separate account, and expended only to acquire improved real property or construct and equip, maintain, improve, or enhance the educational facilities of the Florida College System institution. Projects and acquisitions of improved real property funded through the use of the capital improvement fee shall meet the survey and construction requirements of

chapter 1013. Pursuant to s. 216.0158, each Florida College System institution shall identify each project, including maintenance projects, proposed to be funded in whole or in part by such fee.

(12)(

a) In addition to tuition, out-of-state, financial aid, capital improvement, student activity and service, and technology fees authorized in this section, each Florida College System institution board of trustees is authorized to establish fee schedules for the following user fees and fines: laboratory fees, which do not apply to a distance learning course; parking fees and fines; library fees and fines; fees and fines relating to facilities and equipment use or damage; access or identification card fees; duplicating, photocopying, binding, or microfilming fees; standardized testing fees; diploma replacement fees; transcript fees; application fees; graduation fees; and late fees related to registration and payment.

Such user fees and fines shall not exceed the cost of the services provided and shall only be charged to persons receiving the service. A Florida College System institution may not charge any fee except as authorized by law.

Parking fee revenues may be pledged by a Florida College System institution board of trustees as a dedicated revenue source for the repayment of debt, including lease-purchase agreements, with an overall term of not more than 7 years, including renewals, extensions, and refundings, and revenue bonds with a term not exceeding 20 years and not exceeding the useful life of the asset being financed. Florida College System institutions shall use the services of the Division of Bond Finance of the State Board of Administration to issue any revenue bonds authorized by this subsection.

Any such bonds issued by the Division of Bond Finance shall be in compliance with the provisions of the State Bond Act. Bonds issued pursuant to the State Bond Act may be validated in the manner established in

(13) The State Board of Education shall specify, as necessary, by rule, approved methods of student fee payment. Such methods shall include, but not be limited to, student fee payment; payment through federal, state, or institutional financial aid; and employer fee payments.

(14) Each Florida College System institution board of trustees shall report only those students who have actually enrolled in instruction provided or supervised by instructional personnel under contract with the Florida College System institution in calculations of actual full-time equivalent enrollments for state funding purposes.

No student who has been exempted from taking a course or who has been granted academic or career credit through means other than actual coursework completed at the granting institution shall be calculated for enrollment in the course from which he or she has been exempted or granted credit. Florida College System institutions that report enrollments in violation of this subsection shall be penalized at a rate equal to two times the value of such enrollments.

Such penalty shall be charged against the following year’s allocation from the Florida College System Program Fund and shall revert to the General Revenue Fund.

(15) Each Florida College System institution may assess a service charge for the payment of tuition and fees in installments and a convenience fee for the processing of automated or online credit card payments. However, the amount of the convenience fee may not exceed the total cost charged by the credit card company to the Florida College System institution. Such service charge or convenience fee must be approved by the Florida College System institution board of trustees.

(16)(

a) Each Florida College System institution may assess a student who enrolls in a course listed in the distance learning catalog, established pursuant to s. 1006.73, a per-credit-hour distance learning course user fee. For purposes of assessing this fee, a distance learning course is a course in which at least 80 percent of the direct instruction of the course is delivered using some form of technology when the student and instructor are separated by time or space, or both.

(17) Each Florida College System institution that accepts transient students, pursuant to s. 1006.73, may establish a transient student fee not to exceed $5 per course for processing the transient student admissions application.

(18)(

(19) The State Board of Education shall adopt a rule specifying the

definitions and procedures to be used in the calculation of the percentage of cost paid by students. The rule must provide for the calculation of the full cost of educational programs based on the allocation of all funds provided through the general current fund to programs of instruction, and other activities as provided in the annual expenditure analysis. The rule shall be developed in consultation with the Legislature.

(20) All tuition and fees described in this section, and any proposed changes to such tuition and fees, must be prominently posted on the institution’s website in an area that is transparent and easily accessible. Each Florida College System institution shall publicly notice and notify all enrolled students of any proposal to increase tuition or fees at least 28 days before its consideration for a vote taken at a board of trustees meeting. The notice must:

(21) Any proposal or action of a Florida College System institution to raise, impose, or authorize any fee, as authorized by law, except for tuition, must be approved by a supermajority vote of the members of the board of trustees of the institution, if approval by the board of trustees is required by general law, and at least a supermajority vote of the members of the State Board of Education, if approval by the State Board of Education is required by general law, in order to take effect.

(22) Beginning with the 2024-2025 academic year, Miami Dade College, Polk State College, and Tallahassee State College are authorized to charge an amount not to exceed $290 per credit hour for nonresident tuition and fees for distance learning. Such institutions may phase in this nonresident tuition rate by degree program.

History. — s. 402, ch. 2002-387; s. 6, ch. 2004-271; s. 117, ch. 2004-357; s. 1, ch. 2005-247; s. 8, ch. 2007-246; s. 3, ch. 2007-329; ss. 3, 4, ch. 2008-109; s. 3, ch. 2008-148; s. 4, ch. 2008-163; s. 8, ch. 2009-60; s. 2, ch. 2009-92; s. 13, ch. 2009-228; s. 4, ch. 2010-219; s. 118, ch. 2011-5; s. 12, ch. 2011-63; s. 21, ch. 2012-134; s. 28, ch. 2013-51; s. 23, ch. 2014-56; s. 3, ch. 2014-62; ss. 12, 36, ch. 2016-62; s. 4, ch. 2016-236; s. 16, ch. 2018-4; s. 8, ch. 2021-85; s. 5, ch. 2022-70; s. 7, ch. 2023-105; s. 1, ch. 2024-50; s. 22, ch. 2024-101; s. 109, ch. 2025-6; s. 19, ch. 2025-109.

1009.24 State university student fees.

(1) This

section applies to students enrolled in college credit programs at state universities.

(2) All students shall be charged fees except students who are exempt from fees or students whose fees are waived.

(3) All moneys from tuition and fees shall be deposited pursuant to s. 1011.42.

(4)(

a) Effective July 1, 2014, the resident undergraduate tuition for lower-level and upper-level coursework shall be $105.07 per credit hour.

(5) A university may implement a differential out-of-state fee in accordance with regulations developed by the Board of Governors for the following:

(6) Students who are enrolled in Programs in Medical Sciences are considered graduate students for the purpose of enrollment and student fees.

(7) A university board of trustees is authorized to collect for financial aid purposes an amount not to exceed 5 percent of the tuition and out-of-state fee. The revenues from fees are to remain at each campus and replace existing financial aid fees. Such funds shall be disbursed to students as quickly as possible. A minimum of 75 percent of funds from the student financial aid fee shall be used to provide financial aid based on absolute need. The Board of Governors shall develop criteria for making financial aid awards.

Each university shall report annually to the Board of Governors and the Department of Education on the revenue collected pursuant to this subsection, the amount carried forward, the criteria used to make awards, the amount and number of awards for each criterion, and a delineation of the distribution of such awards. The report shall include an assessment by category of the financial need of every student who receives an award, regardless of the purpose for which the award is received.

Awards which are based on financial need shall be distributed in accordance with a nationally recognized system of need analysis approved by the Board of Governors. An award for academic merit shall require a minimum overall grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale or the equivalent for both initial receipt of the award and renewal of the award.

(8)(

a) The Capital Improvement Trust Fund fee is established as $4.76 per credit hour per semester.

(9) Each university board of trustees is authorized to establish separate activity and service, health, and athletic fees. When duly established, the fees shall be collected as component parts of tuition and fees and shall be retained by the university and paid into the separate activity and service, health, and athletic funds.

Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, a university may transfer revenues derived from the fees authorized pursuant to this subsection to a university direct-support organization of the university to be used only for the purpose of paying and securing debt on projects approved pursuant to s. 1010.62 and pursuant to a written agreement approved by the Board of Governors. The amount transferred may not exceed the amount authorized for annual debt service pursuant to s. 1010.62.

(10)(

a) Each university board of trustees shall establish a student activity and service fee on the main campus of the university. The university board may also establish a student activity and service fee on any branch campus or center. Any subsequent increase in the activity and service fee must be recommended by an activity and service fee committee, at least one-half of whom are students appointed by the student body president. The remainder of the committee shall be appointed by the university president.

A chairperson, appointed jointly by the university president and the student body president, shall vote only in the case of a tie. The recommendations of the committee shall take effect only after approval by the university president, after consultation with the student body president, with final approval by the university board of trustees. An increase in the activity and service fee may occur only once each fiscal year and must be implemented beginning with the fall term. The Board of Governors is responsible for adopting the regulations and timetables necessary to implement this fee.

(11) Each university board of trustees shall establish a student health fee on the main campus of the university. The university board of trustees may also establish a student health fee on any branch campus or center. Any subsequent increase in the health fee must be recommended by a health committee, at least one-half of whom are students appointed by the student body president. The remainder of the committee shall be appointed by the university president. A chairperson, appointed jointly by the university president and the student body president, shall vote only in the case of a tie.

The recommendations of the committee shall take effect only after approval by the university president, after consultation with the student body president, with final approval by the university board of trustees. An increase in the health fee may occur only once each fiscal year and must be implemented beginning with the fall term. The Board of Governors is responsible for adopting the regulations and timetables necessary to implement this fee.

(12) Each university board of trustees shall establish a separate athletic fee on the main campus of the university. The university board may also establish a separate athletic fee on any branch campus or center. Any subsequent increase in the athletic fee must be recommended by an athletic fee committee, at least one-half of whom are students appointed by the student body president. The remainder of the committee shall be appointed by the university president. A chairperson, appointed jointly by the university president and the student body president, shall vote only in the case of a tie.

The recommendations of the committee shall take effect only after approval by the university president, after consultation with the student body president, with final approval by the university board of trustees. An increase in the athletic fee may occur only once each fiscal year and must be implemented beginning with the fall term. The Board of Governors is responsible for adopting the regulations and timetables necessary to implement this fee.

(13) Each university board of trustees may establish a technology fee of up to 5 percent of the tuition per credit hour. The revenue from this fee shall be used to enhance instructional technology resources for students and faculty.

(14) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (15), each university board of trustees is authorized to establish the following fees:

(15)(

a) The Board of Governors may approve:

(16) Each university board of trustees may establish a tuition differential for undergraduate courses upon receipt of approval from the Board of Governors. However, beginning July 1, 2014, the Board of Governors may only approve the establishment of or an increase in tuition differential for a state research university designated as a preeminent state research university pursuant to s. 1001.7065(3). The tuition differential shall promote improvements in the quality of undergraduate education and shall provide financial aid to undergraduate students who exhibit financial need.

(17)(

a) A state university may assess a student who enrolls in a course listed in the distance learning catalog, established pursuant to s. 1006.73, a per-credit-hour distance learning course fee. For purposes of assessing this fee, a distance learning course is a course in which at least 80 percent of the direct instruction of the course is delivered using some form of technology when the student and instructor are separated by time or space, or both.

(18) A state university may not charge any fee except as specifically authorized by law.

(19) The Board of Governors shall adopt regulations to implement the provisions of this section.

(20) All tuition and fees described in this section, and any proposed changes to such tuition and fees, must be prominently posted on the state university’s website in an area that is transparent and easily accessible. Each state university shall publicly notice and notify all enrolled students of any proposal to change tuition or fees at least 28 days before its consideration for a vote taken at a board of trustees meeting. The notice must:

(21) Pursuant to s. 7(e), Art. IX of the State Constitution, any proposal or action of a constituent university to raise, impose, or authorize any fee, as authorized by law, except for tuition, must be approved by at least 9 affirmative votes of the members of the board of trustees of the constituent university, if approval by the board of trustees is required by general law, and at least 12 affirmative votes of the members of the Board of Governors, if approval by the Board of Governors is required by general law, in order to take effect.

History. — s. 403, ch. 2002-387; s. 3, ch. 2003-392; s. 1, ch. 2004-352; s. 49, ch. 2006-74; s. 133, ch. 2007-217; s. 2, ch. 2007-225; s. 5, ch. 2007-329; s. 189, ch. 2008-4; s. 4, ch. 2008-148; s. 1, ch. 2008-193; s. 9, ch. 2009-60; s. 3, ch. 2009-92; s. 3, ch. 2009-98; s. 21, ch. 2010-78; s. 12, ch. 2010-155; s. 13, ch. 2011-63; s. 22, ch. 2012-134; s. 14, ch. 2013-45; s. 24, ch. 2014-56; s. 4, ch. 2014-62; ss. 13, 36, ch. 2016-62; s. 5, ch. 2016-236; s. 17, ch. 2018-4; s. 58, ch. 2021-51; s. 9, ch. 2021-85; s. 6, ch. 2022-70; s. 7, ch. 2023-105.

1009.25 Fee exemptions.

(1) The following students are exempt from the payment of tuition and fees, including lab fees, at a school district that provides workforce education programs, Florida College System institution, or state university:

(2) Each Florida College System institution is authorized to grant student fee exemptions from all fees adopted by the State Board of Education and the Florida College System institution board of trustees for up to 54 full-time equivalent students or 1 percent of the institution’s total full-time equivalent enrollment, whichever is greater, at each institution.

History. — ss. 5, 6, 7, ch. 2002-19; ss. 2, 3, ch. 2002-38; s. 404, ch. 2002-387; s. 118, ch. 2004-357; s. 3, ch. 2004-362; s. 15, ch. 2006-194; s. 1, ch. 2010-68; s. 119, ch. 2011-5; s. 14, ch. 2011-63; s. 23, ch. 2012-134; s. 24, ch. 2012-191; s. 55, ch. 2013-27; s. 29, ch. 2013-51; s. 377, ch. 2014-19; s. 44, ch. 2014-224; s. 54, ch. 2016-216; s. 37, ch. 2017-151; s. 18, ch. 2019-142; s. 3, ch. 2021-160; s. 7, ch. 2021-162; s. 3, ch. 2021-232; s. 7, ch. 2022-65; s. 3, ch. 2022-68.

1009.26 Fee waivers.

(1) School districts and Florida College System institutions may waive fees for any fee-nonexempt student. The total value of fee waivers granted by the school district or Florida College System institution may not exceed the amount established annually in the General Appropriations Act. Any student whose fees are waived in excess of the authorized amount may not be reported for state funding purposes. Any school district or Florida College System institution that waives fees and requests state funding for a student in violation of the provisions of this

section shall be penalized at a rate equal to 2 times the value of the full-time student enrollment reported.

(2) A state university or Florida College System institution may waive any application, tuition, or related fees for persons who supervise student interns for a state university.

(3) A university board of trustees is authorized to permit full-time university employees who meet academic requirements to enroll for up to 6 credit hours of tuition-free courses per term on a space-available basis.

(4) A state university or Florida College System institution may waive any application, tuition, or related fees for persons 60 years of age or older who are residents of this state and who attend classes for credit. Academic credit may not be awarded for attendance in classes for which fees are waived under this subsection. This privilege may be granted only on a space-available basis if such classes are not filled as of the close of registration. A university may limit or deny the privilege for courses that are in programs for which the Board of Governors has established selective admissions criteria.

Persons paying full fees and state employees taking courses on a space-available basis shall have priority over those persons whose fees are waived in all cases where classroom spaces are limited.

(5) Any graduate student enrolled in a state-approved school psychology training program shall be entitled to a waiver of registration fees for internship credit hours applicable to an internship in the public school system under the supervision of a Department of Education certified school psychologist employed by the school system.

(6) A university board of trustees may waive the out-of-state fees for nondegree-seeking students enrolled at a state university if the earned student credit hours generated by such students are nonfundable and the direct cost for the program of study is recovered from the fees charged to all students.

(7) The spouse of a deceased state employee is entitled, when eligible for the payment of student fees by the state as employer pursuant to s. 440.16, in lieu of such payment, to a full waiver of student fees for up to 80 semester hours in any Florida College System institution.

(8) A state university, a Florida College System institution, a career center operated by a school district under s. 1001.44, or a charter technical career center shall waive tuition for undergraduate college credit programs and career certificate programs for each recipient of a Purple Heart or another combat decoration superior in precedence who:

(9) Each university board of trustees is authorized to waive tuition and out-of-state fees for purposes that support and enhance the mission of the university. All fees waived must be based on policies that are adopted by university boards of trustees pursuant to regulations adopted by the Board of Governors. Each university shall report the purpose, number, and value of all fee waivers granted annually in a format prescribed by the Board of Governors.

(10) A state university or Florida College System institution may waive tuition and fees for a classroom teacher, as defined in s. 1012.01(2)(a), who is employed full-time by a school district and who meets the academic requirements established by the Florida College System institution or state university for up to 6 credit hours per term on a space-available basis in undergraduate courses approved by the Department of Education. Such courses shall be limited to undergraduate courses related to special education, mathematics, or science.

The waiver may not be used for courses scheduled during the school district’s regular school day. The State Board of Education shall adopt a rule that prescribes the process for the approval of courses by the department.

(11) A Florida College System institution may waive any portion of the tuition, the activity and service fee, the financial aid fee, the technology fee, the capital improvement fee, and distance learning fee for the purpose of offering a baccalaureate degree for state residents for which the cost of tuition and the fees specified in this subsection does not exceed $10,000 for the entire degree program. Waivers provided pursuant to this subsection shall be applicable for upper-level courses not to exceed 100 percent of the number of required credit hours of the baccalaureate degree program for which the student is determined eligible.

1 (12)(

a) A state university, a Florida College System institution, a career center operated by a school district under s. 1001.44, or a charter technical career center shall waive out-of-state fees for students who are citizens of the United States or lawfully present in the United States who meet the following conditions:

(13)(

a) There is established the Congressman C.W. “Bill” Young Veteran Tuition Waiver Program. A state university, Florida College System institution, career center operated by a school district under s. 1001.44, or charter technical career center shall waive out-of-state fees for a person who is:

(14)(

a) A state university, Florida College System institution, career center operated by a school district under s. 1001.44, or charter technical career center shall waive out-of-state fees for a person who is an active duty member of the Armed Forces of the United States residing or stationed outside of this state.

(15) A Florida College System institution may waive any portion of the student activity and service fee, the financial aid fee, the technology fee, the capital improvement fee, and any other fees authorized in s. 1009.23 for a person who is an active duty member of the Armed Forces of the United States using military tuition assistance provided by the United States Department of Defense. Each Florida College System institution shall report to the State Board of Education the number and value of all fee waivers granted annually under this subsection.

(16) A Florida College System institution that serves counties directly impacted by a hurricane, and whose enrollment decreases by more than 10 percent as a result of such impacts, is authorized to waive out-of-state fees for the purpose of recruiting students for a period of 3 years, beginning 180 days after the date on which the hurricane directly impacted the counties served by the Florida College System institution.

(17)(

a) Each state university, Florida College System institution, career center operated by a school district under s. 1001.44, and charter technical career center under s. 1002.34 shall waive the transcript fee for a person who is an active duty member or an honorably discharged veteran of the United States Armed Forces and his or her spouse and dependents.

2 (18)(

a) For every course in a Program of Strategic Emphasis, or in a state-approved teacher preparation program identified by the Board of Governors, as identified in subparagraph 3., in which a student is enrolled and has out-of-pocket expenses for tuition and fees after all other federal, state, and institutional gift aid is applied, a state university shall waive 100 percent of the tuition and fees of the student’s out-of-pocket expenses for an equivalent course in such program for a student who:

(19) The State University Free Seat Program is created to encourage veterans, active duty members of the United States Armed Forces, active drilling members of the Florida National Guard, and nontraditional students to enroll in an online baccalaureate degree program at a state university. Fee waivers granted pursuant to this subsection may not exceed 1,000 students systemwide each academic year.

(20)(

a) Beginning with the 2022-2023 academic year, a state university shall waive the out-of-state fee for a student who:

(21) A state university or Florida College System institution may waive the out-of-state fee for a student who is an intercollegiate athlete receiving an athletic scholarship.

History. — s. 405, ch. 2002-387; s. 1, ch. 2006-233; s. 134, ch. 2007-217; s. 3, ch. 2009-123; s. 22, ch. 2010-78; s. 1, ch. 2010-219; s. 120, ch. 2011-5; s. 15, ch. 2011-63; s. 56, ch. 2013-27; s. 36, ch. 2014-1; s. 5, ch. 2014-62; s. 1, ch. 2015-76; s. 1, ch. 2016-136; s. 3, ch. 2016-142; s. 1, ch. 2018-8; s. 1, ch. 2019-124; s. 2, ch. 2020-80; s. 4, ch. 2021-232; s. 46, ch. 2022-154; s. 4, ch. 2023-38; s. 12, ch. 2023-82; s. 2, ch. 2023-95; s. 25, ch. 2025-1; s. 20, ch. 2025-109; ss. 6, 7, ch. 2025-199.

1009.265 State employee fee waivers.

(1) As a benefit to the employer and employees of the state, subject to approval by an employee’s agency head or the equivalent, each state university and Florida College System institution shall waive tuition and fees for state employees to enroll for up to 6 credit hours of courses per term on a space-available basis.

(2) The Chief Financial Officer, in cooperation with the Florida College System institutions and state universities, shall identify and implement ways to ease the administrative burden to Florida College System institutions and state universities, including, but not limited to, providing easier access to verify state employment.

(3) From funds appropriated by the Legislature for administrative costs to implement this section, Florida College System institutions and state universities shall be reimbursed on a pro rata basis according to the cost assessment data developed by the Department of Education.

(4) The Auditor General shall include a review of the cost assessment data in conjunction with his or her audit responsibilities for Florida College System institutions, state universities, and the Department of Education.

(5) For purposes of this section, employees of the state include employees of the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of state government, except for persons employed by a state university.

History. — s. 406, ch. 2002-387; s. 1955, ch. 2003-261; s. 121, ch. 2011-5.

1009.27 Deferral of fees.

(1) School districts, Florida College System institutions, and state universities may defer tuition and fees for students receiving financial aid from a federal or state assistance program when the aid is delayed in being transmitted to the student through circumstances beyond the control of the student. The failure to make timely application for the aid is an insufficient reason to receive a deferral of fees.

(2) Any veteran or other eligible student who receives benefits under

chapter 30,

chapter 31,

chapter 32,

chapter 33,

chapter 34, or

chapter 35 of Title 38, U.S.C., or

chapter 106 of Title 10, U.S.C., is entitled to one deferment each academic year and an additional deferment each time there is a delay in the receipt of benefits.

(3) Each school district, Florida College System institution, and state university is responsible for collecting all deferred fees. If a school district, Florida College System institution, or state university has not collected a deferred fee, the student may not earn state funding for any course for which the student subsequently registers until the fee has been paid.

History. — s. 407, ch. 2002-387; s. 135, ch. 2007-217; s. 10, ch. 2009-60; s. 3, ch. 2009-109; s. 122, ch. 2011-5.

1009.28 Fees for repeated enrollment in developmental education classes.

History. — s. 408, ch. 2002-387; s. 123, ch. 2011-5; s. 30, ch. 2013-51.

1009.285 Fees for repeated enrollment in college-credit courses.

History. — s. 409, ch. 2002-387; s. 136, ch. 2007-217; s. 124, ch. 2011-5.

1009.286 Additional student payment for hours exceeding baccalaureate degree program completion requirements at state universities.

(1) It is the intent of the Legislature to encourage each undergraduate student who enrolls in a state university to complete the student’s respective baccalaureate degree program in the most efficient way possible while providing for access to additional college coursework. Therefore, the Legislature intends to enact a policy that provides incentives for efficient baccalaureate degree completion.

(2) State universities shall require a student to pay an excess hour surcharge for each credit hour in excess of the number of credit hours required to complete the baccalaureate degree program in which the student is enrolled. Each university must calculate an excess hour threshold for each student based on the number of credit hours required for the degree. For any student who changes degree programs, the excess hour threshold must be adjusted only if the number of credit hours required to complete the new degree program exceeds that of the original degree program.

The excess hour surcharge for students who enter a state university for the first time and maintain continuous enrollment is as follows:

(3) Except as otherwise provided by law and for purposes of this section, the following credit hours shall be included when calculating the number of hours taken by a student:

(4) For purposes of this section, credit hours earned under the following circumstances are not calculated as hours required to earn a baccalaureate degree:

(5) Each state university and Florida College System institution shall implement a process for notifying students regarding the provisions of this section. Notice must be provided by a state university or a Florida College System institution upon a student’s initial enrollment in the institution. Such notice must be provided a second time by a state university when a student has earned the credit hours required to complete the baccalaureate degree program in which the student is enrolled.

The notice must include a recommendation that each student who intends to earn credit hours at the institution in excess of the credit hours required for the baccalaureate degree program in which the student is enrolled meet with his or her academic advisor.

(6) For purposes of this section, the term “state university” includes the institutions identified in s. 1000.21(9) and the term “Florida College System institution” includes the institutions identified in s. 1000.21(5).

History. — s. 11, ch. 2009-60; s. 125, ch. 2011-5; s. 16, ch. 2011-63; s. 24, ch. 2012-134; s. 1, ch. 2018-132; s. 10, ch. 2019-103; s. 13, ch. 2021-157; s. 173, ch. 2023-8; s. 87, ch. 2024-2.

1009.29 Increased fees for funding financial aid program.

(1) Student tuition and registration fees at each state university and Florida College System institution shall include up to $4.68 per quarter, or $7.02 per semester, per full-time student, or the per-student credit hour equivalents of such amounts. The fees provided for by this

section shall be adjusted from time to time, as necessary, to comply with the debt service coverage requirements of the student loan revenue bonds issued pursuant to s. 1009.79. If the Division of Bond Finance of the State Board of Administration and the Commissioner of Education determine that such fees are no longer required as security for revenue bonds issued pursuant to ss. 1009.78-1009.88, moneys previously collected pursuant to this

section which are held in escrow, after administrative expenses have been met and up to $150,000 has been used to establish a financial aid data processing system for the state universities incorporating the necessary features to meet the needs of all 11 universities for application through disbursement processing, shall be reallocated to the generating institutions to be used for student financial aid programs, including, but not limited to, scholarships and grants for educational purposes. Upon such determination, such fees shall no longer be assessed and collected.

(2) The Department of Education may, in accordance with rules established by the State Board of Administration, receive and administer grants and donations from any source and, in its discretion, establish criteria, select recipients, and award scholarships and loans from the fees provided for by this section, and fix the interest rates and terms of repayment.

History. — s. 410, ch. 2002-387; s. 168, ch. 2004-5; s. 53, ch. 2004-41; s. 137, ch. 2007-217; s. 126, ch. 2011-5.

1009.30 Dual Enrollment Scholarship Program.

(1) The Legislature finds and declares that dual enrollment is an integral part of the education system in this state and should be available for all eligible secondary students without cost to the student. There is established the Dual Enrollment Scholarship Program to support postsecondary institutions in providing dual enrollment.

(2) The Department of Education shall administer the Dual Enrollment Scholarship Program in accordance with rules adopted by the State Board of Education pursuant to subsection (8).

(3)(

a) The program shall reimburse eligible postsecondary institutions for tuition and related instructional materials costs for dual enrollment courses taken during the fall or spring terms by eligible students, consisting of:

(4) A student participating in a dual enrollment program must meet the minimum eligibility requirements specified in s. 1007.271 in order for the institution to receive a reimbursement.

(5) Each participating institution must report to the department any secondary students eligible pursuant to subsection (3) who were enrolled during the fall or spring terms within 30 days after the end of regular registration. Each participating institution must report to the department any secondary students eligible pursuant to subsection (3) who were enrolled during the summer term within 30 days after the end of regular registration.

For each dual enrollment course in which the student is enrolled, the report must include a unique student identifier, the postsecondary institution name, the postsecondary course number, and the postsecondary course name. The department shall reimburse each participating institution no later than 30 days after the institution has reported enrollment for that term.

(6)(

a) School district career centers shall be reimbursed at the in-state resident tuition rate established in s. 1009.22(3)(c).

(7) Reimbursement for dual enrollment courses is contingent upon an appropriation in the General Appropriations Act each year. If the statewide reimbursement amount is greater than the appropriation, the institutional reimbursement amounts specified in subsection (6) shall be prorated among the institutions that have reported eligible students to the department by the deadlines specified in subsection (5).

(8) The State Board of Education shall adopt rules to implement this section.

History. — ss. 14, 21, ch. 2021-35; s. 4, ch. 2021-160; s. 47, ch. 2022-154; s. 28, ch. 2023-16; s. 88, ch. 2024-2.

1009.31 Dual Enrollment Educator Scholarship Program.

(1) The Dual Enrollment Educator Scholarship Program is established to assist teachers of grades 9-12 in public schools in this state in obtaining the graduate degree and credentials necessary to provide dual enrollment coursework directly to students on the campuses of such schools.

(2) The Department of Education shall:

(3) A scholarship applicant must satisfy the following eligibility criteria:

(4)(

a) As a condition of receiving a scholarship, the recipient must agree to do all of the following:

(5) The scholarship must cover the full cost of tuition and fees, including a book stipend each semester, required to complete the teacher’s program.

(6) Funding for the Dual Enrollment Educator Scholarship Program is contingent upon the appropriation of funds in the General Appropriations Act.

(7) The State Board of Education shall adopt rules to implement this section.

History. — s. 5, ch. 2023-38.

1009.40 General requirements for student eligibility for state financial aid awards and tuition assistance grants.

(1)(

a) The general requirements for eligibility of students for state financial aid awards and tuition assistance grants consist of the following:

(2) These requirements do not preclude higher standards specified in other sections of this part, in rules of the state board, or in rules of a participating institution.

(3) Undergraduate students are eligible to receive financial aid for a maximum of 8 semesters or 12 quarters. However, undergraduate students participating in developmental education and students enrolled in a 5-year undergraduate degree program are eligible to receive financial aid for a maximum of 10 semesters or 15 quarters.

(4) No student is eligible to receive more than one state scholarship that is based on academic merit. Students who qualify for more than one such scholarship shall be notified of all awards for which they qualify and shall be provided the opportunity to accept one of their choosing.

History. — s. 413, ch. 2002-387; s. 120, ch. 2003-1; s. 119, ch. 2004-357; s. 1, ch. 2007-113; s. 138, ch. 2007-217; s. 12, ch. 2009-60; s. 34, ch. 2010-70; s. 127, ch. 2011-5; s. 15, ch. 2011-37; s. 57, ch. 2013-35; s. 31, ch. 2013-51; s. 78, ch. 2014-39; s. 3, ch. 2021-46; s. 5, ch. 2021-232; s. 2, ch. 2023-93.

1009.41 State financial aid; students with a disability.

History. — s. 414, ch. 2002-387.

1009.42 Financial aid appeal process.

(1) The State Board of Education shall adopt, by rule, a procedure for the appeal of errors in eligibility determinations, or failure to transfer awards between eligible institutions, made by the Office of Student Financial Assistance of the Department of Education, regarding applicants’ eligibility for receiving state student financial aid awards. The procedure must provide for establishment of a committee to consider appeals that are not resolved by other administrative action.

Each committee must be comprised of four members appointed by the Commissioner of Education, including one representative of the Office of Student Financial Assistance; two practicing financial aid administrators from public or private postsecondary institutions in this state, one of whom must be from an institution other than one to which the applicant is seeking admission; and one student enrolled in a public postsecondary institution in this state, nominated by the Florida Student Association.

An applicant for state student financial aid who believes an error has been made in determining eligibility for student financial assistance or who believes the department has failed to transfer an award between eligible institutions may appeal the decision in writing to the Office of Student Financial Assistance. The Office of Student Financial Assistance shall investigate the complaint and take appropriate action within 30 days after its receipt of the appeal. If the student wishes further review of the appeal, the Office of Student Financial Assistance shall forward the appeal to the committee.

Within 30 days after the receipt of a request for a hearing, a final decision shall be rendered by the committee established under this section, and a copy of the decision shall be provided to the applicant. The decision rendered by the committee constitutes final agency action. A description of the financial aid appeals process shall be included in the application form for each state student financial aid program.

(2) The president of each state university and each Florida College System institution shall establish a procedure for appeal, by students, of grievances related to the award or administration of financial aid at the institution.

(3) A student involved in a financial aid appeal proceeding is eligible for a deferral of registration and fee payments pursuant to s. 1009.27.

History. — s. 415, ch. 2002-387; s. 128, ch. 2011-5.

1009.43 State student financial assistance; authorization for use in program of study in another state or foreign country.

History. — s. 416, ch. 2002-387.

1009.44 Need-based financial aid; no preference to students receiving other aid.

History. — s. 417, ch. 2002-387; s. 129, ch. 2011-5.

1009.45 Student loan information.

(1) As used in this section, the term “student loans” means federal loans disbursed to a student to pay for education-related expenses.

(2) Beginning with the 2017-2018 academic year, a postsecondary institution that disburses state financial aid shall annually, or once during each academic year, provide each student receiving student loans with the following up-to-date information in print or electronic format:

(3) An institution does not incur liability for providing information to a student under this section.

History. — s. 1, ch. 2017-92.

1009.46 Duties relating to state financial aid and tuition assistance programs.

(1) Each postsecondary educational institution that receives state funds for state financial aid and tuition assistance programs shall:

(2) The requirements in subsection (1) do not preclude higher standards specified in other sections of this part or the rules of the State Board of Education.

(3) An institution that fails to perform its duties in administering state financial aid or tuition assistance programs must be placed on probation by the department.

History. — s. 6, ch. 2021-232.

1009.50 Florida Public Student Assistance Grant Program; eligibility for grants.

(1) There is hereby created a Florida Public Student Assistance Grant Program. The program shall be administered by the participating institutions in accordance with rules of the state board.

(2)(

a) State student assistance grants through the program may be made only to degree-seeking students who enroll in at least 6 semester hours, or the equivalent per term, and who meet the general requirements for student eligibility as provided in s. 1009.40, except as otherwise provided in this section. The grants shall be awarded annually for the amount of demonstrated unmet need for the cost of education and may not exceed the maximum annual award amount specified in the General Appropriations Act.

A demonstrated unmet need of less than $200 shall render the applicant ineligible for a state student assistance grant. Recipients of the grants must have been accepted at a state university or Florida College System institution authorized by Florida law. If funds are available, a student who received an award in the fall or spring term may receive an award in the summer term. Priority in the distribution of summer awards shall be given to students who are within one semester of completing a degree program and students who have not yet earned at least 9 semester hours by attendance at one or more summer sessions.

A student is eligible for the award for 110 percent of the number of credit hours required to complete the program in which enrolled, except as otherwise provided in s. 1009.40(3).

(3) Based on the unmet financial need of an eligible applicant, the amount of a Florida public student assistance grant must be between $200 and the amount specified in the General Appropriations Act.

(4)(

a) The funds appropriated for the Florida Public Student Assistance Grant Program shall be distributed to eligible institutions in accordance with a formula approved by the State Board of Education. The formula must consider at least the prior year’s distribution of funds and the number of eligible applicants who did not receive awards. The formula must account for changes in the number of eligible students across all student assistance grant programs established pursuant to this

section and ss. 1009.505, 1009.51, and 1009.52.

(5) The State Board of Education shall establish rules necessary to implement this section.

History. — s. 1, ch. 2002-34; s. 419, ch. 2002-387; s. 5, ch. 2005-56; s. 130, ch. 2011-5; ss. 14, 36, ch. 2016-62; s. 9, ch. 2020-117; s. 59, ch. 2021-51; s. 7, ch. 2021-232.

1009.505 Florida Public Postsecondary Career Education Student Assistance Grant Program.

(1) There is created a Florida Public Postsecondary Career Education Student Assistance Grant Program. The program shall be administered by the participating institutions in accordance with rules of the State Board of Education.

(2) For purposes of this section, the term:

(3)(

a) Student assistance grants through the program may be made only to certificate-seeking students enrolled at least half-time in a public postsecondary career certificate program who meet the general requirements for student eligibility as provided in s. 1009.40, except as otherwise provided in this section. The grants shall be awarded annually to any recipient for the amount of demonstrated unmet need for the cost of education and may not exceed the amount as specified in the General Appropriations Act.

Priority in the distribution of grant moneys may be given to students who are within one semester of completing a certificate program. A demonstrated unmet need of less than $200 shall render the applicant ineligible for a grant under this section. Recipients of the grants must have been accepted at a Florida College System institution authorized by Florida law or a career center operated by a district school board under s. 1001.44. If funds are available, a student who received an award in the fall or spring term may receive an award in the summer term.

Priority in the distribution of summer awards shall be given to students who are within one term of completing a certificate program. A student is eligible for the award for 110 percent of the number of clock hours required to complete the program in which enrolled.

(4)(

a) The funds appropriated for the Florida Public Postsecondary Career Education Student Assistance Grant Program shall be distributed to eligible Florida College System institutions and district school boards in accordance with a formula approved by the department. The formula must account for changes in the number of eligible students across all student assistance grant programs established pursuant to this

section and ss. 1009.50, 1009.51, and 1009.52.

(5) The State Board of Education shall establish rules necessary to implement this section.

(6) This

section shall be implemented only to the extent specifically funded and authorized by law.

History. — s. 2, ch. 2007-113; s. 131, ch. 2011-5; ss. 15, 36, ch. 2016-62; s. 10, ch. 2020-117; s. 8, ch. 2021-232.

1009.51 Florida Private Student Assistance Grant Program; eligibility for grants.

(1) There is created a Florida Private Student Assistance Grant Program. The program shall be administered by the participating institutions in accordance with rules of the State Board of Education.

(2)(

a) Florida private student assistance grants may be made only to full-time degree-seeking students who meet the general requirements for student eligibility as provided in s. 1009.40, except as otherwise provided in this section. Such grants shall be awarded for the amount of demonstrated unmet need for tuition and fees and may not exceed the maximum annual award amount specified in the General Appropriations Act. A demonstrated unmet need of less than $200 shall render the applicant ineligible for a Florida private student assistance grant.

Recipients of such grants must have been accepted at a baccalaureate-degree-granting independent nonprofit college or university, which is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and which is located in and chartered as a domestic corporation by the state. If funds are available, a student who received an award in the fall or spring term may receive an award in the summer term. Priority in the distribution of summer awards shall be given to students who are within one semester of completing a degree or certificate program.

No student may receive an award for more than the equivalent of 9 semesters or 14 quarters of full-time enrollment, except as otherwise provided in s. 1009.40(3).

(3) Based on the unmet financial need of an eligible applicant, the amount of a Florida private student assistance grant must be between $200 and the amount specified in the General Appropriations Act.

(4)(

a) The funds appropriated for the Florida Private Student Assistance Grant Program shall be distributed to eligible institutions in accordance with a formula approved by the State Board of Education. The formula must consider at least the prior year’s distribution of funds and the number of eligible applicants who did not receive awards. The formula must account for changes in the number of eligible students across all student assistance grant programs established pursuant to this

section and ss. 1009.50, 1009.505, and 1009.52.

(5) The State Board of Education shall adopt rules necessary to implement this section.

History. — s. 420, ch. 2002-387; s. 6, ch. 2005-56; ss. 16, 36, ch. 2016-62; s. 11, ch. 2020-117; s. 60, ch. 2021-51; s. 9, ch. 2021-232.

1009.52 Florida Postsecondary Student Assistance Grant Program; eligibility for grants.

(1) There is created a Florida Postsecondary Student Assistance Grant Program. The program shall be administered by the participating institutions in accordance with rules of the State Board of Education.

(2) Florida postsecondary student assistance grants may be made to students who meet the general requirements for student eligibility as provided in s. 1009.40, except as otherwise provided in this section. Such grants shall be awarded for the amount of demonstrated unmet need for tuition and fees and may not exceed the maximum annual award amount specified in the General Appropriations Act. A demonstrated unmet need of less than $200 shall render the applicant ineligible for a Florida postsecondary student assistance grant.

(3) Based on the unmet financial need of an eligible applicant, the amount of a Florida postsecondary student assistance grant must be between $200 and the amount specified in the General Appropriations Act.

(4)(

a) The funds appropriated for the Florida Postsecondary Student Assistance Grant Program shall be distributed to eligible institutions in accordance with a formula approved by the State Board of Education. The formula must consider at least the prior year’s distribution of funds and the number of eligible applicants who did not receive awards. The formula must account for changes in the number of eligible students across all student assistance grant programs established pursuant to this

section and ss. 1009.50, 1009.505, and 1009.51.

(5) Any institution that was eligible to receive state student assistance grants on January 1, 1989, and that is not eligible to receive grants pursuant to s. 1009.51 is eligible to receive grants pursuant to this section.

(6) The State Board of Education shall adopt rules necessary to implement this section.

History. — s. 421, ch. 2002-387; s. 7, ch. 2005-56; ss. 17, 36, ch. 2016-62; s. 12, ch. 2020-117; s. 15, ch. 2021-35; s. 61, ch. 2021-51; s. 8, ch. 2021-162; s. 10, ch. 2021-232.

1009.521 Educational grants to former eligible tuition assistance grant students.

(1)(

a) The department shall issue a grant pursuant to s. 1009.89 to any full-time degree-seeking undergraduate student who meets the requirements of s. 1009.89(4)(

a) and (b)1. and is registered at an independent nonprofit university that, as of January 1, 2021, was eligible for the Access to Better Learning and Education Grant Program, as created by former s. 1009.891, if such university has been located in this state for more than 20 years; offers nursing programs at its Florida campus which include licensed practical nurse (LPN), registered nurse (RN), including associate of science in nursing (ASN) and bachelor of science in nursing (BSN), accelerated BSN, practical nurse bridge to ASN, and practical nurse bridge to BSN; and is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

(2) An institution that meets the criteria specified in paragraph (1)(

a) or paragraph (1)(

b) may not be a state university or Florida College System institution. In addition, the institution must have a secular purpose, and the receipt of state aid by students at the institution may not have the primary effect of advancing or impeding religion or result in an excessive entanglement between the state and any religious sect.

(3) To qualify for funding under this section, an institution must exercise a one-time option to participate by notifying the department, in writing, of its decision to participate on or before September 1, 2023, and must comply with s. 1009.89(5)(a)-(c).

History. — s. 1, ch. 2023-93.

1009.53 Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program.

(1) The Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program is created to establish a lottery-funded scholarship program to reward any Florida high school graduate who merits recognition of high academic achievement and who enrolls in a degree program, certificate program, or applied technology program at an eligible Florida public or private postsecondary education institution.

(2) The Bright Futures Scholarship Program consists of four awards: the Florida Academic Scholarship, the Florida Medallion Scholarship, the Florida Gold Seal CAPE Scholarship, and the Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholarship.

(3) The Department of Education shall administer the Bright Futures Scholarship Program according to rules and procedures established by the State Board of Education. A single application must be sufficient for a student to apply for any of the awards. The department shall advertise the availability of the scholarship program and shall notify students, teachers, parents, certified school counselors, and principals or other relevant school administrators of the criteria and application procedures. The department must begin this process of notification no later than January 1 of each year.

(4) Funding for the Bright Futures Scholarship Program must be allocated from the Education Enhancement Trust Fund and must be provided before allocations from that fund are calculated for disbursement to other educational entities.

(5) The department shall issue awards from the scholarship program annually. Before the registration period each semester, the department shall transmit payment for each award to the president or director of the postsecondary education institution, or his or her representative, except that the department may withhold payment if the receiving institution fails to report or to make refunds to the department as required in this section.

(6) A student enrolled in 6 to 8 semester credit hours may receive up to one-half of the maximum award; a student enrolled in 9 to 11 credit hours may receive up to three-fourths of the maximum award; and a student enrolled in 12 or more credit hours may receive up to the full award.

(7) A student may receive only one type of award from the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program at any given time, but may transfer from one type of award to another through the renewal application process, if the student’s eligibility status changes. However, a student is not eligible to transfer from a Florida Medallion Scholarship, a Florida Gold Seal CAPE Scholarship, or a Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholarship to a Florida Academic Scholarship.

A student who receives an award from the program may also receive a federal family education loan or a federal direct loan, and the value of the award must be considered in the certification or calculation of the student’s loan eligibility.

(8) If a recipient transfers from one eligible institution to another and continues to meet eligibility requirements, the award must be transferred with the student.

(9) A student may use a Florida Academic Scholars award for summer term enrollment beginning in the 2018 summer term, as funded by the Legislature. A student may use a Florida Medallion Scholars award for summer term enrollment beginning in the 2019 summer term, as funded by the Legislature. A student may use other Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program awards for summer term enrollment, if funded by the Legislature.

(10) Funds from any scholarship within the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program may not be used to pay for remedial coursework or developmental education.

(11) Funds for any scholarship within the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program may not be used to pay for courses dropped by a student or courses from which a student has withdrawn after the end of the drop and add period. However, a student who receives an award under this program and subsequently drops one or more courses or withdraws from all courses after the end of the drop and add period due to a verifiable illness or other documented emergency may be granted an exception pursuant to s. 1009.40(1)(b)4., unless the institution’s policy is to refund the cost of the courses.

The department shall notify eligible recipients of the provisions of this subsection. Each institution shall notify award recipients of the provisions of this subsection during the registration process.

History. — s. 422, ch. 2002-387; s. 13, ch. 2009-60; s. 10, ch. 2011-52; s. 32, ch. 2013-51; s. 11, ch. 2013-89; s. 18, ch. 2018-4; s. 11, ch. 2019-103.

1009.531 Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program; student eligibility requirements for initial awards.

(1) In order to be eligible for an initial award from any of the scholarships under the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program, a student must:

(2) A student graduating from high school in the 2012-2013 academic year and thereafter is eligible to receive an award for 5 years following high school graduation. A student who applies for an award by high school graduation and who meets all other eligibility requirements, but who does not accept his or her award, may reapply during subsequent application periods up to 5 years after high school graduation. For a student who enlists in the United States Armed Forces immediately after completion of high school, the 5-year period shall begin upon the date of separation from active duty.

For a student who is receiving a Florida Bright Futures Scholarship award and discontinues his or her education to enlist in the United States Armed Forces, the remainder of his or her 5-year renewal period shall commence upon the date of separation from active duty. For a student who is unable to accept an initial award due to a full-time religious or service obligation lasting at least 18 months which begins within 1 year after completion of high school, the 5-year period begins upon the completion of his or her religious or service obligation.

The organization sponsoring the full-time religious or service obligation must meet the requirements for nonprofit status under s. 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code or be a federal government service organization, including, but not limited to, the Peace Corps and AmeriCorps programs. The obligation must be documented in writing and verified by the entity for which the student completed the obligation on a standardized form prescribed by the department.

If a course of study is not completed after 5 academic years, an exception of 1 year to the renewal timeframe may be granted due to a verifiable illness or other documented emergency pursuant to s. 1009.40(1)(b)4.

(3) For purposes of calculating the grade point average to be used in determining initial eligibility for a Florida Bright Futures Scholarship, the department shall assign additional weights to grades earned in the following courses:

(4) Each school district shall annually provide to each high school student in grade 11 or 12 a complete and accurate Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Evaluation Report and Key. The report shall be disseminated at the beginning of each school year. The report must include all high school coursework attempted, the number of credits earned toward each type of award, and the calculation of the grade point average for each award.

The report must also identify all requirements not met per award, including the grade point average requirement, as well as identify the awards for which the student has met the academic requirements. The student report cards must contain a disclosure that the grade point average calculated for purposes of the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program may differ from the grade point average on the report card.

(5) A student who wishes to qualify for a particular award within the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program, but who does not meet all of the requirements for that award by the applicable deadlines, may be allowed additional time to complete the requirements, if the principal of the student’s school or the district superintendent verifies that the deficiency is caused by the fact that school district personnel provided inaccurate or incomplete information to the student.

The school district must provide a means for the student to correct the deficiencies and the student must correct them, either by completing comparable work at the postsecondary institution or by completing a directed individualized study program developed and administered by the school district. If the student does not complete the requirements by December 31 immediately following high school graduation, the student is ineligible to participate in the program. If the student completes the requirements by December 31, the student must receive the award for the full academic year, including the fall term.

(6)(

a) The State Board of Education shall publicize the examination score required for a student to be eligible for a Florida Academic Scholars award, pursuant to s. 1009.534(1)(

a) or (b), as follows:

History. — s. 423, ch. 2002-387; s. 20, ch. 2003-72; s. 48, ch. 2003-391; s. 54, ch. 2004-41; s. 7, ch. 2005-196; s. 1, ch. 2007-330; s. 13, ch. 2010-155; s. 17, ch. 2011-63; s. 25, ch. 2012-134; s. 25, ch. 2012-191; s. 57, ch. 2013-27; s. 58, ch. 2013-35; s. 33, ch. 2013-51; s. 79, ch. 2014-39; s. 1, ch. 2016-91; s. 12, ch. 2019-103; s. 182, ch. 2020-2; s. 23, ch. 2023-39; s. 21, ch. 2025-109; s. 50, ch. 2025-110.

1009.532 Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program; student eligibility requirements for renewal awards.

(1) To be eligible to renew a scholarship from any of the scholarships under the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program, a student must:

(2) For students initially eligible in the 2010-2011 academic term and thereafter, and unless otherwise provided in this section, if a student does not meet the requirements for renewal of a scholarship because of lack of completion of sufficient credit hours or insufficient grades, the scholarship shall be renewed only if the student failed to complete sufficient credit hours or to meet sufficient grade requirements due to verifiable illness or other documented emergency, in which case the student may be granted an exception from academic requirements pursuant to s. 1009.40(1)(b)4.

(3)(

a) A student who is initially eligible in the 2012-2013 academic year and thereafter may receive an award for a maximum of 100 percent of the number of credit hours required to complete an associate degree program, a baccalaureate degree program, or a postsecondary career certificate program or, for a Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholars award, may receive an award for a maximum of 100 percent of the number of credit hours or equivalent clock hours required to complete one of the following at a Florida public or nonpublic education institution that offers these specific programs: for an applied technology diploma program as defined in s. 1004.02(7), up to 60 credit hours or equivalent clock hours; for a technical degree education program as defined in s. 1004.02(13), up to the number of hours required for a specific degree not to exceed 72 credit hours or equivalent clock hours; or for a career certificate program as defined in s. 1004.02(20), up to the number of hours required for a specific certificate not to exceed 72 credit hours or equivalent clock hours.

A student who transfers from one of these program levels to another program level becomes eligible for the higher of the two credit hour limits.

(4) A student who receives an initial award during the spring term shall be evaluated for scholarship renewal after the completion of a full academic year.

(5) A student who receives an award and is subsequently determined ineligible due to updated grade or hour information may not receive a disbursement for a subsequent term, unless the student successfully restores the award.

History. — s. 424, ch. 2002-387; s. 21, ch. 2003-72; s. 55, ch. 2004-41; s. 120, ch. 2004-357; s. 14, ch. 2009-60; s. 14, ch. 2010-155; s. 26, ch. 2012-134; s. 26, ch. 2012-191; s. 80, ch. 2014-39; s. 2, ch. 2016-91; s. 13, ch. 2019-103.

1009.533 Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program; eligible postsecondary education institutions.

(1) A Florida public university, Florida College System institution, or career center.

(2) An independent Florida college or university that is accredited by an accrediting association whose standards are comparable to the minimum standards required to operate an institution at that level in Florida, as determined by rules of the Commission for Independent Education, and which has operated in the state for at least 3 years.

(3) An independent Florida postsecondary education institution that is licensed by the Commission for Independent Education and that:

(4) A Florida independent postsecondary education institution that offers a nursing diploma approved by the Board of Nursing.

(5) A Florida independent postsecondary education institution that is licensed by the Commission for Independent Education and which:

History. — s. 425, ch. 2002-387; s. 121, ch. 2004-357; s. 132, ch. 2011-5.

1009.534 Florida Academic Scholars award.

(1) A student is eligible for a Florida Academic Scholars award if he or she meets the general eligibility requirements for the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program and:

(2) For purposes of this section, the Advanced Placement Capstone designation shall consist of earning a score of three or higher on six Advanced Placement Examinations, including Advanced Placement Seminar; Advanced Placement Research; and for students who:

(3) A Florida Academic Scholar who is enrolled in a certificate, diploma, associate, or baccalaureate degree program at a public or nonpublic postsecondary education institution is eligible for an award equal to the amount necessary to pay 100 percent of tuition and fees established under ss. 1009.22(3), (6), (7), and (8); 1009.23(3), (4), (7), (8), (10), and (11); and 1009.24(4), (7)-(13), (14)(r), and (16), as applicable, and is eligible for an additional stipend for textbooks, to assist with the payment of educational expenses as funds are specifically appropriated in the General Appropriations Act.

(4) To be eligible for a renewal award as a Florida Academic Scholar, a student must maintain the equivalent of a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale with an opportunity for restoration one time as provided in this chapter.

(5) In each school district, the Florida Academic Scholar with the highest academic ranking shall receive an additional award equal to the amount specified in the General Appropriations Act for college-related expenses. This award must be funded from the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program.

History. — s. 426, ch. 2002-387; s. 56, ch. 2004-41; s. 8, ch. 2005-196; s. 3, ch. 2007-330; s. 15, ch. 2009-60; s. 15, ch. 2010-155; s. 18, ch. 2011-63; s. 17, ch. 2011-177; s. 27, ch. 2012-134; s. 3, ch. 2016-91; s. 19, ch. 2018-4; s. 13, ch. 2020-117; s. 1, ch. 2022-223; s. 24, ch. 2023-39; s. 45, ch. 2023-81; s. 22, ch. 2025-109.

1009.5341 Florida Bright Futures Scholarship awards for graduate study.

History. — s. 16, ch. 2010-155.

1009.535 Florida Medallion Scholars award.

(1) A student is eligible for a Florida Medallion Scholars award if he or she meets the general eligibility requirements for the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program and:

(2) A Florida Medallion Scholar who is enrolled in a certificate, diploma, associate, or baccalaureate degree program at a public or nonpublic postsecondary education institution is eligible, beginning in the fall 2018 semester, for an award equal to the amount necessary to pay 75 percent of tuition and fees established under ss. 1009.22(3), (6), (7), and (8); 1009.23(3), (4), (7), (8), (10), and (11); and 1009.24(4), (7)-(13), (14)(r), and (16), as applicable, to assist with the payment of educational expenses.

Beginning in the fall 2021 semester, a Florida Medallion Scholar who is enrolled in an associate degree program at a Florida College System institution is eligible for an award equal to the amount necessary to pay 100 percent of tuition and fees established under s. 1009.23(3), (4), (7), (8), (10), and (11) to assist with the payment of educational expenses.

(3) To be eligible for a renewal award as a Florida Medallion Scholar, a student must maintain the equivalent of a cumulative grade point average of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale with an opportunity for restoration one time as provided in this chapter.

History. — s. 427, ch. 2002-387; s. 57, ch. 2004-41; s. 9, ch. 2005-196; s. 4, ch. 2006-27; s. 16, ch. 2009-60; s. 17, ch. 2010-155; s. 133, ch. 2011-5; s. 19, ch. 2011-63; s. 28, ch. 2012-134; s. 4, ch. 2016-91; s. 20, ch. 2018-4; s. 14, ch. 2020-117; s. 2, ch. 2022-223; s. 25, ch. 2023-39; s. 46, ch. 2023-81; s. 23, ch. 2025-109.

1009.536 Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholars and Florida Gold Seal CAPE Scholars awards.

(1) A student is eligible for a Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholars award if he or she meets the general eligibility requirements for the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program and:

(2) A student is eligible for a Florida Gold Seal CAPE Scholars award if he or she meets the general eligibility requirements for the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program, and the student:

(3) A Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholar or a Florida Gold Seal CAPE Scholar who is enrolled in a public or nonpublic postsecondary education institution is eligible for an award equal to the amount specified in the General Appropriations Act to assist with the payment of educational expenses.

(4) To be eligible for a renewal award as a Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholar or a Florida Gold Seal CAPE Scholar, a student must maintain the equivalent of a cumulative grade point average of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale with an opportunity for restoration one time as provided in this chapter.

(5)(

a) A student who is eligible may earn a Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholarship for a maximum of 100 percent of the number of credit hours or equivalent clock hours required to complete one of the following at a Florida public or nonpublic education institution that offers these specific programs: for an applied technology diploma program as defined in s. 1004.02(7), up to 60 credit hours or equivalent clock hours; for a technical degree education program as defined in s. 1004.02(13), up to the number of hours required for a specific degree not to exceed 72 credit hours or equivalent clock hours; or for a career certificate program as defined in s. 1004.02(20), up to the number of hours required for a specific certificate not to exceed 72 credit hours or equivalent clock hours.

History. — s. 428, ch. 2002-387; s. 58, ch. 2004-41; s. 122, ch. 2004-357; s. 60, ch. 2005-152; s. 17, ch. 2009-60; s. 18, ch. 2010-155; s. 20, ch. 2011-63; s. 29, ch. 2012-134; s. 81, ch. 2014-39; s. 5, ch. 2016-91; s. 14, ch. 2019-103; s. 3, ch. 2022-223; s. 26, ch. 2023-39; s. 24, ch. 2025-109.

1009.538 Bright Futures Scholarship recipients attending nonpublic institutions; calculation of awards.

History. — s. 430, ch. 2002-387.

1009.55 Rosewood Family Scholarship Program.

(1) There is created a Rosewood Family Scholarship Program for the direct descendants of the Rosewood families, not to exceed 50 scholarships per year.

(2) The Rosewood Family Scholarship Program shall be administered by the Department of Education. The State Board of Education shall adopt rules for administering this program which shall at a minimum provide for the following:

(3) Beginning with the 1994-1995 academic year, the department is authorized to make awards for undergraduate study to students who:

(4) Funding for the program shall be as provided in the General Appropriations Act.

History. — s. 433, ch. 2002-387; s. 123, ch. 2004-357; s. 19, ch. 2009-60; s. 134, ch. 2011-5; s. 21, ch. 2011-63; s. 25, ch. 2014-56.

1009.60 Minority teacher education scholars program.

(1) The minority teacher education scholars program shall provide an annual scholarship in an amount that shall be prorated based on available appropriations and may not exceed $4,000 for each approved minority teacher education scholar who is enrolled in one of Florida’s public or private colleges or universities, is admitted into a teacher education program, and has not earned more than 18 credit hours of upper-division-level courses in education.

(2) To assist each participating education institution in the recruitment and retention of minority teacher scholars, the administrators of the Florida Fund for Minority Teachers, Inc., shall implement a systemwide training program. The training program must include an annual conference or series of conferences for students who are in the program or who are identified by a high school or a Florida College System institution as likely candidates for the program.

The training program must also include research about and dissemination concerning successful activities or programs that recruit minority students for teacher education and retain them through graduation, certification, and employment. Staff employed by the corporation may work with each participating education institution to assure that local faculty and administrators receive the benefit of all available research and resources to increase retention of their minority teacher education scholars.

(3) The total amount appropriated annually for new scholarships in the program must be divided by $4,000 and by the number of participating colleges and universities. Each participating institution has access to the same number of scholarships and may award all of them to eligible minority students. If a college or university does not award all of its scholarships by the date set by the program administration at the Florida Fund for Minority Teachers, Inc., the remaining scholarships must be transferred to another institution that has eligible students.

If the total amount appropriated for new scholarships is insufficient to award $4,000 to each eligible student, the amount of the scholarship shall be prorated based on available appropriations.

(4) A student may receive a scholarship from the program for 3 consecutive years if the student remains enrolled full-time in the program and makes satisfactory progress toward a baccalaureate degree with a major in education or a graduate degree with a major in education, leading to initial certification.

(5) If a minority teacher education scholar graduates and is employed as a teacher by a Florida district school board, the scholar is not required to repay the scholarship amount so long as the scholar teaches in a Florida public school. A scholar may repay the entire scholarship amount by remaining employed as a Florida public school teacher for 1 year for each year he or she received the scholarship.

(6) If a minority teacher education scholar does not graduate within 3 years, or if the scholar graduates but does not teach in a Florida public school, the scholar must repay the total amount awarded, plus annual interest of 8 percent.

(7) The Florida Fund for Minority Teachers, Inc., shall use a contingency collections agency to collect repayments of defaulted scholarships.

(8) Funding for the program shall be as provided in the General Appropriations Act.

History. — s. 438, ch. 2002-387; s. 23, ch. 2009-60; s. 136, ch. 2011-5; s. 24, ch. 2011-63; s. 30, ch. 2012-134; s. 63, ch. 2017-116.

1009.605 Florida Fund for Minority Teachers, Inc.

(1) There is created the Florida Fund for Minority Teachers, Inc., which is a not-for-profit statutory corporation housed in the College of Education at the University of Florida. The corporation shall administer and manage the minority teacher education scholars program.

(2)(

a) The corporation shall submit an annual budget projection to the Department of Education to be included in the annual legislative budget request. The projection must be based on the cost to award up to 350 scholarships to new scholars and up to 350 renewal scholarships.

(3) A board of directors shall administer the corporation. The Governor shall appoint to the board at least 15 but not more than 25 members, who shall serve terms of 3 years, except that 4 of the initial members shall serve 1-year terms and 4 shall serve 2-year terms. At least 4 members must be employed by Florida College System institutions and at least 11 members must be employed by public or private postsecondary institutions that operate colleges of education. At least one member must be a financial aid officer employed by a postsecondary education institution operating in Florida.

Administrative costs for support of the Board of Directors and the Florida Fund for Minority Teachers may not exceed 5 percent of funds allocated for the program. The board shall:

History. — s. 439, ch. 2002-387; s. 24, ch. 2009-60; s. 137, ch. 2011-5; s. 9, ch. 2011-63; s. 31, ch. 2012-134; s. 64, ch. 2017-116.

1009.61 Teacher/Quest Scholarship Program.

(1) A project proposal specifying activities a teacher will carry out to improve his or her:

(2) A contractual agreement with a private corporation or governmental agency that implements the project proposal and guarantees employment to the teacher during a summer or other period when schools are out of session. The agreement must stipulate a salary rate that does not exceed regular rates of pay and a gross salary amount consistent with applicable statutory and contractual provisions for the teacher’s employment. The teacher’s compensation shall be provided for on an equally matched basis by funds from the employing corporation or agency.

History. — s. 440, ch. 2002-387; s. 60, ch. 2004-41; s. 124, ch. 2004-357.

1009.62 Grants for teachers for special training in exceptional student education.

(1) The Department of Education may make grants to teachers for special training in exceptional student education to meet professional requirements with respect thereto, and the department is responsible for the administration of such program.

(2) These grants are limited to teachers who:

(3) Grant amounts are to be determined on the basis of rates established by the Department of Education.

(4) The Department of Education shall administer this program under rules established by the State Board of Education.

History. — s. 441, ch. 2002-387.

1009.66 Nursing Student Loan Forgiveness Program.

(1) To encourage qualified personnel to seek employment in areas of this state in which critical nursing shortages exist, there is established the Nursing Student Loan Forgiveness Program.

The primary function of the program is to increase employment and retention of registered nurses and licensed practical nurses in nursing homes and hospitals in the state and in state-operated medical and health care facilities, public schools, birth centers, federally sponsored community health centers, family practice teaching hospitals, and specialty children’s hospitals by making repayments toward loans received by students from federal or state programs or commercial lending institutions for the support of postsecondary study in accredited or approved nursing programs.

(2) To be eligible, a candidate must have graduated from an accredited or approved nursing program and have received a Florida license as a licensed practical nurse or a registered nurse or a Florida license as an advanced practice registered nurse.

(3) Only loans to pay the costs of tuition, books, and living expenses shall be covered, at an amount not to exceed $4,000 for each year of education toward the degree obtained.

(4) From the funds available, the Department of Education may make loan principal repayments of up to $4,000 a year for up to 4 years on behalf of selected graduates of an accredited or approved nursing program. All repayments shall be contingent upon continued proof of employment in the designated facilities in this state and shall be made directly to the holder of the loan. The state shall bear no responsibility for the collection of any interest charges or other remaining balance.

In the event that the designated facilities are changed, a nurse shall continue to be eligible for loan forgiveness as long as he or she continues to work in the facility for which the original loan repayment was made and otherwise meets all conditions of eligibility.

(5) There is created the Nursing Student Loan Forgiveness Trust Fund to be administered by the Department of Education pursuant to this

section and s. 1009.67 and department rules. The Chief Financial Officer shall authorize expenditures from the trust fund upon receipt of vouchers approved by the Department of Education. All moneys collected from the private health care industry and other private sources for the purposes of this

section shall be deposited into the Nursing Student Loan Forgiveness Trust Fund. Any balance in the trust fund at the end of any fiscal year shall remain therein and shall be available for carrying out the purposes of this

section and s. 1009.67.

(6) In addition to licensing fees imposed under

part I of

chapter 464, there is hereby levied and imposed an additional fee of $5, which fee shall be paid upon licensure or renewal of nursing licensure. Revenues collected from the fee imposed in this subsection shall be deposited in the Nursing Student Loan Forgiveness Trust Fund of the Department of Education and will be used solely for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this

section and s. 1009.67. Up to 50 percent of the revenues appropriated to implement this subsection may be used for the nursing scholarship program established pursuant to s. 1009.67.

(7) Funds contained in the Nursing Student Loan Forgiveness Trust Fund which are to be used for loan forgiveness for those nurses employed by hospitals, birth centers, and nursing homes must be matched on a dollar-for-dollar basis by contributions from the employing institutions, except that this provision shall not apply to state-operated medical and health care facilities, public schools, county health departments, federally sponsored community health centers, teaching hospitals as defined in s. 408.07, family practice teaching hospitals as defined in s. 395.805, or specialty hospitals for children as used in s. 409.9119.

An estimate of the annual trust fund dollars shall be made at the beginning of the fiscal year based on historic expenditures from the trust fund.

Applicant requests shall be reviewed on a quarterly basis, and applicant awards shall be based on the following priority of employer until all such estimated trust funds are awarded: state-operated medical and health care facilities; public schools; county health departments; federally sponsored community health centers; teaching hospitals as defined in s. 408.07; family practice teaching hospitals as defined in s. 395.805; specialty hospitals for children as used in s. 409.9119; and other hospitals, birth centers, and nursing homes.

(8) The Department of Education is authorized to recover from the Nursing Student Loan Forgiveness Trust Fund its costs for administering the Nursing Student Loan Forgiveness Program.

(9) The Department of Education may adopt rules necessary to administer this program.

(10) This

section shall be implemented only as specifically funded.

(11) Students receiving a nursing scholarship pursuant to s. 1009.67 are not eligible to participate in the Nursing Student Loan Forgiveness Program.

History. — s. 2, ch. 2002-230; s. 449, ch. 2002-387; s. 3, ch. 2002-400; ss. 70, 71, ch. 2002-402; s. 121, ch. 2003-1; ss. 1958, 1959, ch. 2003-261; s. 6, ch. 2003-400; s. 113, ch. 2012-184; s. 91, ch. 2018-106.

1009.67 Nursing scholarship program.

(1) There is established within the Department of Education a scholarship program for the purpose of attracting capable and promising students to the nursing profession.

(2) A scholarship applicant shall be enrolled in an approved nursing program leading to the award of an associate degree, a baccalaureate degree, or a graduate degree in nursing.

(3) A scholarship may be awarded for no more than 2 years, in an amount not to exceed $8,000 per year. However, registered nurses pursuing a graduate degree for a faculty position or to practice as an advanced practice registered nurse may receive up to $12,000 per year. These amounts shall be adjusted by the amount of increase or decrease in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers published by the United States Department of Commerce.

(4) Credit for repayment of a scholarship shall be as follows:

(5) Scholarship payments shall be transmitted to the recipient upon receipt of documentation that the recipient is enrolled in an approved nursing program. The Department of Education shall develop a formula to prorate payments to scholarship recipients so as not to exceed the maximum amount per academic year.

(6) The Department of Education shall adopt rules, including rules to address extraordinary circumstances that may cause a recipient to default on either the school enrollment or employment contractual agreement, to implement this section.

(7) The Department of Education may recover from the Nursing Student Loan Forgiveness Trust Fund its costs for administering the nursing scholarship program.

History. — s. 3, ch. 2002-230; s. 450, ch. 2002-387; s. 139, ch. 2011-5; s. 114, ch. 2012-184; s. 123, ch. 2013-15; s. 92, ch. 2018-106.

1009.70 Florida Education Fund.

(1) This

section shall be known and may be cited as the “Florida Education Fund Act.”

(2)(

a) The Florida Education Fund, a not-for-profit statutory corporation, is created from a challenge endowment grant from the McKnight Foundation and operates on income derived from the investment of endowment gifts and other gifts as provided by state statute and appropriate matching funds as provided by the state.

(3) The Florida Education Fund shall use the income of the fund to provide for programs which seek to:

(4) The Florida Education Fund shall be administered by a board of directors, which is hereby established.

(5) The Board of Directors of the Florida Education Fund shall review and evaluate initial programs created by the McKnight Foundation and continue funding the McKnight Doctoral Fellowship Program and the McKnight Junior Faculty Fellowship Program if the evaluations are positive, and the board shall identify, initiate, and fund new and creative programs and monitor, review, and evaluate those programs. The purpose of this commitment is to broaden the participation and funding potential for further significant support of higher education in this state. In addition, the board shall:

(6) The board of directors is authorized to establish a trust fund from the proceeds of the Florida Education Fund. All funds deposited into the trust fund shall be invested pursuant to the provisions of s. 215.47. Interest income accruing to the unused portion of the trust fund shall increase the total funds available for endowments. The Department of Education may, at the request of the board of directors, administer the fund for investment purposes.

(7) It is the intent of the Legislature that the Board of Directors of the Florida Education Fund recruit eligible residents of the state before it extends its search to eligible nonresidents. It is further the intent of the Legislature that the board of directors establish service terms, if any, that accompany the award of moneys from the fund.

History. — s. 453, ch. 2002-387; s. 178, ch. 2010-102; s. 140, ch. 2011-5; s. 32, ch. 2012-134.

1009.701 First Generation Matching Grant Program.

(1) The First Generation Matching Grant Program is created to enable each state university and Florida College System institution to provide donors with a matching grant incentive for contributions that will create grant-based student financial aid for undergraduate students who demonstrate financial need and whose parents, as defined in s. 1009.21(1), have not earned a baccalaureate degree. In the case of any individual who regularly resided with and received support from only one parent, an individual whose only such parent did not complete a baccalaureate degree would also be eligible.

(2) Funds appropriated by the Legislature for the program shall be allocated by the Office of Student Financial Assistance to match private contributions on a dollar-for-dollar basis; however, beginning in the 2018-2019 fiscal year, such funds shall be allocated at a ratio of $2 of state funds to $1 of private contributions. Contributions made to a state university or a Florida College System institution and pledged for the purposes of this

section are eligible for state matching funds appropriated for this program and are not eligible for any other state matching grant program. Pledged contributions are not eligible for matching prior to the actual collection of the total funds. The Office of Student Financial Assistance shall reserve a proportionate allocation of the total appropriated funds for each state university and Florida College System institution on the basis of full-time equivalent enrollment. Funds that remain unmatched as of December 1 shall be reallocated to state universities and colleges that have remaining unmatched private contributions for the program on the basis of full-time equivalent enrollment.

(3) Payment of the state matching grant shall be transmitted to the president of each participating institution or his or her representative in advance of the official drop-add deadline as defined by the institution.

(4) Each participating state university and Florida College System institution shall establish an application process, determine student eligibility for initial and renewal awards in conformance with subsection (5), identify the amount awarded to each recipient, and notify recipients of the amount of their awards.

(5) In order to be eligible to receive a grant pursuant to this section, an applicant must:

(6) The award amount shall be based on the student’s need assessment after any scholarship or grant aid, including, but not limited to, a Pell Grant or a Bright Futures Scholarship, has been applied. The first priority of funding shall be given to students who demonstrate need by qualifying and receiving federal Pell Grant funds up to the full cost of tuition and fees per term. An award may not exceed the institution’s estimated annual cost of attendance for the student to attend the institution.

(7) Each participating institution shall report to the Office of Student Financial Assistance by the date established by the office the eligible students to whom grant moneys are disbursed each academic term. Each institution shall certify to the Office of Student Financial Assistance the amount of funds disbursed to each student and shall remit to the office any undisbursed advances by June 1 of each year.

(8) No later than July 1, each participating institution shall annually report to the Executive Office of the Governor, the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the Board of Governors the eligibility requirements fo

Document details

Collection	Florida Statutes
Citation	Fla. Stat. ch. 1009 (2025)
Type	statute
Language	en
Format	html
Source	FL_STATUTES
Identifier	1f380ec791eefeb362befc4ce901155a418494ff

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