Comments on: Big Changes For Florida’s Bright Futures Scholarship Fund

By: Waterlady501

Waterlady501 — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 13:53:58 +0000

“Extra” can certainly be used as a relative term, but in this case, it’s not. Each honors level course awards the student a set amount of honors points for successful completion. If I remember correctly, it was 0.025 per course, but I could be mistaken. All one needs to do is compare the course requirements for English I with the requirements for English I Honors to see the honors level class requires a much larger volume of work at a higher level of difficulty. That is just one example and that’s not my opinion, that information is verifiable as fact. Honors courses are not for every student and many “average” high school students go on to be a great success in their chosen career, whatever that may be. On the other hand, please don’t try to belittle the hard work and accomplishments of those students who choose to take the challenge of tougher academic standards and by doing so earn a few extra points toward qualifying for a much-deserved scholarship.

By: motherofone

motherofone — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 01:28:48 +0000

…..They are not “given” anything extra–they earn extra points for extra work…….

“extra” is a relative term … in my opinion

By: twizzbeatz

twizzbeatz — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 17:23:21 +0000

Acquiring a Bright Futures Scholarship isn’t as easy as it is made out to be. In order to receive an Academic Scholars award (what used to be a “full” or 100% Scholarship) a student must score in the 87th percentile on the ACT or SAT test. The student must also complete 75 hours of community service, so it’s not like the state is throwing a scholarship to every student who wants one. Effort actually has to be put forth in order to meet the requirements. This award doesn’t even cover the full price of tuition anymore with the flat rate of $126 per credit hour that is now in place. Sure, some students enroll in easy classes in high school and may have a decent GPA because of this, but unless they buckle down in college, they will end up losing the scholarship anyway because a 3.0 GPA is required and is not always easy to achieve when taking college level courses. The more students who are in college creates more potential of an intelligent workforce in the future and also keeps more professors and other staff at universities employed, which is also beneficial to the state’s economy.

By: Waterlady501

Waterlady501 — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 14:42:13 +0000

Speaking as a parent of 3 students who all qualified for and benefited from Bright Futures and 1 who was in the gifted program, I’d like to clear up a few misconceptions. 1) Students who are in the gifted program in Escambia County, FL, do not get extra points. They attend enrichment programs where they are challenged in ways they can’t be challenged in a mainstream classroom. 2) Students who enroll in Honors classes at the high school level are awarded extra points for taking a higher level course with more difficult requirements than the average class for that subject. They are not “given” anything extra–they earn extra points for extra work. A student does not have to be in the gifted program to enroll in Honors courses. 3) At the time my students qualified, Bright Futures required a score of 26 on the ACT to earn a 100% scholarship. That score is by no means easy to achieve. 4) This scholarship is not available to everyone, only the students who work hard enough to earn it, regardless of their economic background. Whether or not a student’s parents can afford to fund his college education is beside the point when a scholarship is MERIT based–that’s what makes it a merit scholarship–the student EARNED it.

By: ES

ES — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 12:59:55 +0000

Everyone seems to be forgetting one of the main reasons this program was implemented. Many of the high-achieving students who had the financial means to do so were leaving the state of Florida to get their college educations in other states. This was dubbed the “brain drain” because, upon graduation, these students would choose to remain to live and work in the states where they attended college. Florida’s colleges were not considered competitive or challenging enough so many of our brightest students left the state. This program has reinvigorated the state’s college system. It is most definitely challenging to be awarded the Bright Futures Scholarship and competition for admission at some schools such as Univ. of Florida is getting fierce. This program is 1) making our schools competitive and 2) allowing industries who need highly educated employees to view Florida as a viable location since our schools are producing well-qualified, high achievers who wish to live and work here.

By: bill, big b little ill

bill, big b little ill — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 04:38:12 +0000

It’s amazing how many of those high IQ people have to call or hire someone to do work for them. Or just don’t have common sense, I think your placing way to much on IQ. not the person.

By: rollingwiththetide

rollingwiththetide — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 02:04:24 +0000

I’m certainly glad you cleared that up!

By: motherofone

motherofone — Sun, 04 Apr 2010 23:22:13 +0000

p.s. in case you are wondering, my son’s IQ qualifiied him for the “gifted” program as well .. it is correct, having a high IQ did set him apart and made him more difficult to raise but I never approved of telling these kids, including mine, they are “gifted”

By: motherofone

motherofone — Sun, 04 Apr 2010 23:18:59 +0000

geez ..lol .. ok .. of course there are a few “gifted” children whose IQ’s are high like your 166 example … and of course all children are “gifts” … I am referring to the masses of children who are segregated into “gifted” programs who are not gifted at all. They may be bright, motivated ( either “self” or parent motivated) but they are told they are gifted, get extra points so they graduate with over 4.0 GPA – how do you make better than a 4.0? Ridiculous

By: rollingwiththetide

rollingwiththetide — Sun, 04 Apr 2010 22:19:30 +0000

bill, big b little ill

Thanks! I AGREE!