Not sure if this is the correct place for my question. I have a high school junior kid who has been begging me to move to fl for senior year. We own a house in fl. Kid was born there. We live in another southern state due to my husband’s job but i’ve always planned on going back to fl.
My question is if we move to fl for senior year, will my kid be considered a fl resident or a current state resident. Does she apply as a florida high school student or what? I’m lost. She took act for the first time in feb. Got a 33. She took it again in april (waiting on those scores now). Doesn’t know where she would like to go for college. She recently lost a friend in an accident and has been feeling down and sad. She needs a change. Can anyone help me figure out how this move would work when applying to colleges.
Florida is previous 12 months prior to start of the school year.
Your kiddo, I believe, would be a FL resident for tuition purposes if you reside there for 12 months prior to enrolling.
BUT I don’t believe your kid would be eligible for things like Bright Futures if you only live there one year. Since I’m not sure about that, I’ll tag @twoinanddone because I think she knows the Bright Futures rules…as well as residency rules for tuition purposes.
Thank you. That’s one of the things i worried about. My kid already qualifies for the state’s scholarship based on act and grades. But would she not have that option in fl if she decides to go to an fl college. I hope your friend responds.
Actually in reading the eligibility guidelines…it seems that having a FL high school diploma is what she needs. But since I’m not sure…hoping @twoinanddone responds!
It is a one year residency requirement, so if you are going to move, I’d do it in/before June. Many students are accepted to UF, USF, UCF, etc to begin in the summer and it’s not like really good students all get fall (which is really Aug) admission, it’s sort of random.
My kids graduated in 2014 and there have been changes to Bright Futures, but it only required a Florida HS diploma and then the specifics for BF, like a foreign language, the test scores, etc. It sounds like this family should be fine.
They will have you fill out a one page form to prove residency. It will ask things like the date of car registration, date driver’s license was issued, date of mortgage/lease, etc (for parents). Make sure all of those are at least 1 year before she plans to start college. Really, if you move on Aug 15 and college starts Aug 10, I think most of the colleges will not consider you to have moved 12 months earlier. Keep all your documentation.
Most of the awards and scholarships given out will only be usable in Florida colleges (public or private). The only ones I can remember kids being able to be used out of state were for athletics or military (ROTC or because their parents were in the military).
It’s really very hard to move as a senior in high school. I did it and was miserable. She’ll be allowed to join clubs but won’t hold an office, probably won’t get to be section leader in the band, may not get the good parts in the school play. If the school has competitive teams for Robotics or debate, she may not get on a good team. There are a lot of military in Florida so there are kids moving in and out of high schools, but it isn’t easy.
@Lola1 whew!
I really appreciate your response.
I dread moving her cor her senior year but if her malaise continues, i may have to help her make a change. I do not want
To mess her up in the process. Thank you so much for your input.
I knew someone who owned a business in New England, had a condo in FL. He switched his “official” residence to FL while kid was a junior in HS (while spouse did not), and kid was graduated from high school in New England. He managed to get her in-state tuition, based upon his having declared their condo as his residence.
We would have considered that option if kid were interested in residency only. Losing a friend in an accident has made her feel down. We’re trying to pull her through jr year and i think the only thing helping her pull through is the possibility of going to fl, complete change of environment. She’s allowing me to deal with the logistics and other than asking on this forum, i didnt know where else to turn
Florida only requires one (custodial) parent to be a Florida resident. If the father was willing to become a Florida resident with DL, utilities, mortgage/lease all in his name, that’s good enough for Florida. There is no income tax in Florida, so he’d get no ‘credit’ for paying taxes and have to pay them as an OOS person in his other state.
The student wouldn’t get Bright Futures if she didn’t graduate from a Florida high school unless she fell within an exception (military, parents on church mission). I don’t think living with another parent counts.