Do I need to meet the Florida Scholar Designation Requirements in order to get Bright Futures?

As a junior, I am almost completely done with all my high school requirements. I was talking to my guidance counselor about how I was wondering if I was eligible for the Bright Futures Scholarship. She told me that I won’t be eligible for the FMS or FAS if I do not fulfill the Scholar Designation Requirements. Is this true? I checked my Florida Shines and it said the only requirement I was missing was an SAT/ACT score. Past that, it seems I’m good. Can I just ignore her statement or are the Florida Scholar Designation Requirements a prerequisite for getting the Bright Futures Scholarship.

No. You need a standard diploma.

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