Students who graduated between 2019-2020 now have until Dec. 1 to be eligible for the Florida Bright Futures scholarship. Gov. Ron DeSantis issued Order 20-212 on Sept. 1. This order extends the deadline for recent high school seniors to meet the award’s SAT or ACT score requirement.
Prior to the Dec. 1 deadline, the Florida Department of Education first extended the completed requirements deadline to July 31.
In March, the College Board postponed the March 25 SAT testing date with no replacement date. The May 2 testing date, which included international test-takers, was canceled and refunds were available.
The ACT announced that same month that the April 4 national test date was rescheduled to June 13, and students would receive an email on rescheduling instructions.
The Florida Department of Education states this order will positively impact thousands of students statewide who either need to earn a qualifying score or want to take either the SAT or ACT again to earn a higher score.
Jordan Price, a freshman at FAMU, was excited to hear about the extended deadline. Although Price has already applied to the scholarship, she believes this is good for recent seniors who still need to meet those deadlines.
“I did like this idea,” Price said. “I was excited they were able to get the opportunity to (still) apply.”
Price believes receiving an award like the Florida Bright Futures scholarship can significantly impact her education.
FAMU University Scholarship Program Office Director, Dedra O’Neal, commented that FAMU freshmen who become eligible for the Florida Bright Futures scholarships will have the opportunity to decrease the financial burden of college expenses and the scholarship can help cover in-state tuition.
Tia Wynn, current Bright Futures Scholar and FAMU student, believes Bright Futures is an excellent opportunity and recent seniors should take advantage.
“It’s a major help and it’s a way for students to come out of school with less debt.”
The SAT and ACT have released fall 2020 test dates and have instituted ways they’ll continue making health and safety their top priority.
Florida Bright Futures scholarship information and updates can be found at https://www.floridastudentfinancialaidsg.org/SAPBFMAIN/SAPBFMAIN.