National Merit Scholars and Florida Benacquisto

Paying for College National Merit Aid
41

BMC9670 It is in the State of Florida Education Bill. There are many different issues in this Bill. As the years go by they sometimes write new laws that amend the laws they already have. These appear to add the bill and not to reduce it. A politician would have to make his stand on “I would like to take away the incentive for National Merit scholars to study at our instate Universities and not honor the scholarships to those students we have already enticed here”. “Lets bring it to a vote!”
Yeah, I guess it could happen. Meanwhile, this is the law. The writing of the law currently says OOS NMF are entitled to the same Scholarship as Instate NMF, i.e. FCOA.

No State employee can guarantee the laws wont change. Nobody can. It started in 2014 and I am sure won’t last forever. I have a 13 year old with a 31 on the ACT and a super-score of 33 already. I hope it lasts several years.

You can see the law here! (SB4) This copy has redlined the changes:

https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2018/4/BillText/er/HTML

The copy I have posted here, starting with #1053 is before the changes are crossed out. (on line 1057 they cross out the word “Florida”)

1053 Section 22. Subsections (2), (4), and (5) of section
1054 1009.893, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
1055 1009.893 Benacquisto Scholarship Program.—
1056 (2) The Benacquisto Scholarship Program is created to
1057 reward a any Florida high school graduate who receives
1058 recognition as a National Merit Scholar or National Achievement
1059 Scholar and who initially enrolls in the 2014-2015 academic year
1060 or, later, in a baccalaureate degree program at an eligible
1061 Florida public or independent postsecondary educational
1062 institution.
1063 (4) In order to be eligible for an award under the
1064 scholarship program, a student must meet the requirements of
1065 paragraph (a) or paragraph (b).:
1066 (a) A student who is a resident of this state, Be a state
1067 resident as determined in s. 1009.40 and rules of the State
1068 Board of Education, must:;
1069 1.(b) Earn a standard Florida high school diploma or its
1070 equivalent pursuant to s. 1002.3105, s. 1003.4281, s. 1003.4282,
1071 or s. 1003.435 unless:
1072 a.1. The student completes a home education program
1073 according to s. 1002.41; or
1074 b.2. The student earns a high school diploma from a non
1075 Florida school while living with a parent who is on military or
1076 public service assignment out of this state;
1077 2.(c) Be accepted by and enroll in a Florida public or
1078 independent postsecondary educational institution that is
1079 regionally accredited; and
1080 3.(d) Be enrolled full-time in a baccalaureate degree
1081 program at an eligible regionally accredited Florida public or
1082 independent postsecondary educational institution during the
1083 fall academic term following high school graduation.
1084 (b) A student who initially enrolls in a baccalaureate
1085 degree program in the 2018-2019 academic year or later and who
1086 is not a resident of this state, as determined in s. 1009.40 and
1087 rules of the State Board of Education, must:
1088 1. Physically reside in this state on or near the campus of
1089 the postsecondary educational institution in which the student
1090 is enrolled;
1091 2. Earn a high school diploma from a school outside Florida
1092 which is comparable to a standard Florida high school diploma or
1093 its equivalent pursuant to s. 1002.3105, s. 1003.4281, s.
1094 1003.4282, or s. 1003.435 or must complete a home education
1095 program in another state; and
1096 3. Be accepted by and enrolled full-time in a baccalaureate
1097 degree program at an eligible regionally accredited Florida
1098 public or independent postsecondary educational institution
1099 during the fall academic term following high school graduation.
1100 (5)(a)1. An eligible student who meets the requirements of
1101 paragraph (4)(a), who is a National Merit Scholar or National
1102 Achievement Scholar, and who attends a Florida public
1103 postsecondary educational institution shall receive a
1104 scholarship award equal to the institutional cost of attendance
1105 minus the sum of the student’s Florida Bright Futures
1106 Scholarship and National Merit Scholarship or National
1107 Achievement Scholarship.
1108 2. An eligible student who meets the requirements of
1109 paragraph (4)(b), who is a National Merit Scholar, and who
1110 attends a Florida public postsecondary educational institution
1111 shall receive a scholarship award equal to the institutional
1112 cost of attendance for a resident of this state minus the
1113 student’s National Merit Scholarship. Such student is exempt
1114 from the payment of out-of-state fees.
1115 (b) An eligible student who is a National Merit Scholar or
1116 National Achievement Scholar and who attends a Florida
1117 independent postsecondary educational institution shall receive
1118 a scholarship award equal to the highest cost of attendance for
1119 a resident of this state enrolled at a Florida public
1120 university, as reported by the Board of Governors of the State
1121 University System, minus the sum of the student’s Florida Bright
1122 Futures Scholarship and National Merit Scholarship or National
1123 Achievement Scholarship.
1124 Section 23. Section 1009.894, Florida Statutes, is created
1125 to read:

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Continue to follow @FSUdad93 's postings closely. D taking PSAT/NMSQT in 4 weeks, 2 days. Texas girl would love to attend UF major in EE or CompE

43

The Law: (2019)

1009.893 Benacquisto Scholarship Program.—
(1) As used in this section, the term:
(a) “Department” means the Department of Education.

(b) “Scholarship program” means the Benacquisto Scholarship Program.

(2) The Benacquisto Scholarship Program is created to reward a high school graduate who receives recognition as a National Merit Scholar or National Achievement Scholar and who initially enrolls in the 2014-2015 academic year or, later, in a baccalaureate degree program at an eligible Florida public or independent postsecondary educational institution.

(3) The department shall administer the scholarship program according to rules and procedures established by the State Board of Education. The department shall advertise the availability of the scholarship program and notify students, teachers, parents, certified school counselors, and principals or other relevant school administrators of the criteria.

(4) In order to be eligible for an award under the scholarship program, a student must meet the requirements of paragraph (a) or paragraph (b).
(a) A student who is a resident of this state, as determined in s. 1009.40 and rules of the State Board of Education, must:
1. Earn a standard Florida high school diploma or its equivalent pursuant to s. 1002.3105, s. 1003.4281, s. 1003.4282, or s. 1003.435 unless:
a. The student completes a home education program according to s. 1002.41; or

b. The student earns a high school diploma from a non-Florida school while living with a parent who is on military or public service assignment out of this state;

2. Be accepted by and enroll in a Florida public or independent postsecondary educational institution that is regionally accredited; and

3. Be enrolled full-time in a baccalaureate degree program at an eligible regionally accredited Florida public or independent postsecondary educational institution during the fall academic term following high school graduation.

(b) A student who initially enrolls in a baccalaureate degree program in the 2018-2019 academic year or later and who is not a resident of this state, as determined in s. 1009.40 and rules of the State Board of Education, must:
1. Physically reside in this state on or near the campus of the postsecondary educational institution in which the student is enrolled;

2. Earn a high school diploma from a school outside Florida which is comparable to a standard Florida high school diploma or its equivalent pursuant to s. 1002.3105, s. 1003.4281, s. 1003.4282, or s. 1003.435 or must complete a home education program in another state; and

3. Be accepted by and enrolled full-time in a baccalaureate degree program at an eligible regionally accredited Florida public or independent postsecondary educational institution during the fall academic term following high school graduation.

(5)(a)1. An eligible student who meets the requirements of paragraph (4)(a), who is a National Merit Scholar or National Achievement Scholar, and who attends a Florida public postsecondary educational institution shall receive a scholarship award equal to the institutional cost of attendance minus the sum of the student’s Florida Bright Futures Scholarship and National Merit Scholarship or National Achievement Scholarship.

2. An eligible student who meets the requirements of paragraph (4)(b), who is a National Merit Scholar, and who attends a Florida public postsecondary educational institution shall receive a scholarship award equal to the institutional cost of attendance for a resident of this state minus the student’s National Merit Scholarship. Such student is exempt from the payment of out-of-state fees.

(b) An eligible student who is a National Merit Scholar or National Achievement Scholar and who attends a Florida independent postsecondary educational institution shall receive a scholarship award equal to the highest cost of attendance for a resident of this state enrolled at a Florida public university, as reported by the Board of Governors of the State University System, minus the sum of the student’s Florida Bright Futures Scholarship and National Merit Scholarship or National Achievement Scholarship.

(6)(a) To be eligible for a renewal award, a student must earn all credits for which he or she was enrolled and maintain a 3.0 or higher grade point average.

(b) A student may receive the scholarship award for a maximum of 100 percent of the number of credit hours required to complete a baccalaureate degree program, or until completion of a baccalaureate degree program, whichever comes first.

(7) The department shall annually issue awards from the scholarship program. Before the registration period each semester, the department shall transmit payment for each award to the president or director of the postsecondary educational 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.
(a) Each institution shall certify to the department the eligibility status of each student to receive a disbursement within 30 days before the end of its regular registration period, inclusive of a drop and add period. An institution is not required to reevaluate the student eligibility after the end of the drop and add period.

(b) An institution that receives funds from the scholarship program must certify to the department the amount of funds disbursed to each student and remit to the department any undisbursed advances within 60 days after the end of regular registration.

© If funds appropriated are not adequate to provide the maximum allowable award to each eligible student, awards must be prorated using the same percentage reduction.

(8) Funds from any award within the scholarship program may not be used to pay for remedial coursework or developmental education.

(9) A student may use an award for a summer term if funds are available and appropriated by the Legislature.

(10) The department shall allocate funds to the appropriate institutions and collect and maintain data regarding the scholarship program within the student financial assistance database as specified in s. 1009.94.

(11) Section 1009.40(4) does not apply to awards issued under this section.

(12) A student who receives an award under the scholarship program shall be known as a Benacquisto Scholar.

(13) All eligible Florida public or independent postsecondary educational institutions are encouraged to become, and all eligible state universities shall become, college sponsors of the National Merit Scholarship Program.

(14) The State Board of Education shall adopt rules necessary to administer this section.

History.—s. 26, ch. 2014-56; s. 26, ch. 2016-237; s. 22, ch. 2018-4.

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@FSUdad93 Did UF ever assess a late fee to your son last year, like if certain costs (Dining, Resident Fee, Tuition) come due before the funding from the state comes in?? The late fee is $100/ per category! For us the due dates are: 10/2 for Resident Hall/Dorm and 10/1 for Dining/Meals, and 10/11 for Tution. The Fin Aid ofc told my daughter if we are assessed/charged a late fee they would reimburse her the late fee, but I hope they don’t mean reimburse her from her own scholarship money. Why would they not just extend the due date if they don’t think the money from the state will come thru in time, and avoid all this extra work. Also they still have not adjusted her billing account to take away the out of state costs associated with tuition charges per credit. Just wondering did they do this for your son before the Benacquisto (state money) was allocated to him? If yes was it all done in one big swoop, like the day they apply the scholarship money they credited or waived the OOS tuition costs that are on the billing statement. OR did they have to reimburse you back those extra OOS charges after the scholarship money was awarded.

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If another school or another state has a guarantee for 4 years (or more), take it.

The Florida legislature has to fund the education bill every year. There is no guarantee that Benacquisto or Bright Futures will be funded. There is no guarantee that k-12 or Head Start or any other program will be funded. We all assume they will, but no guarantees.

46

FSUdad93 - Thanks for your insight. I feel the same way and have given similar rational to some very paranoid parents! A school changing its scholarship policy is one thing and happens all the time with enrollment figures and funding. A state, on the other hand, is an entirely different process.

47

@BMC9670 you raise excellent points… you’re right - the fear is most likely irrational. Nightmare scenario: year 1 is free, then the sky falls and you’re stuck for $50k plus/yr to finish the degree. I guess if that were to happen, a transfer would be in order :smile:

48

@GarpRules Thank you! I’ll give her a shout.

49

UCF has told us that if state funding falls through they will still do full COA.

50

UCF charged oos nms in state rates for summer courses.

51

There were no late fees assessed. He did however get waivers in time when needed. It was all okay in the end, just stressful the first year as it was all new. He had a UF sponsored scholarship that would come in first. They would use it to pay expenses. Then later the Benacquisto arrived. He was still charged out of state tuition which put him at a large deficit. Finally they waive OOS. Then the excess it forwarded to his bank account. These year while waiving his OOS tuition, they discovered his UF sponsored scholarship. Apparently, they decided he did not need this UF scholarship as he had the Benacquisto FCOA. So they took the funds back and he only has Benacquisto now. (bummer) Had this been a non UF and or non State of Florida scholarship it would have been stackable.

52

An eligible student who meets the requirements of paragraph (4)(b), who is a National Merit Scholar, and who attends a Florida public postsecondary educational institution shall receive a scholarship award equal to the institutional cost of attendance for a resident of this state minus the student’s National Merit Scholarship. Such student is exempt from the payment of out-of-state fees.
“Such student is exempt from the payment of out-of-state fees.”

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“shall receive a scholarship award equal to the institutional cost of attendance for a resident of this state”
If a resident is required to attend summer for 9 semester hours and they pay the cost of instate tuition, then an OOS Scholar has the right by law to the same cost. (equal to)
And furthermore “Such student is exempt from the payment of out-of-state fees.”
The Law addresses it twice.

54

Before Benaqusto, UCF had a FCOA for NMF Scholars. The Benacquisto, just changed at UCF who was paying for it. Should Florida state Law change reference NMF Scholars, there is no reason to believe that UCF wont go back to the FCOA offer which they are famous for. Luke at UCF can attest to this. For those NMF students and parents who desire certainty, UCF is the best choice.

55

That’s what Luke told us. #ChargeOn

56

If a NMF has UF as first choice how likely are they to be selected as NMS from UF? Do they have more NMF applications than scholarships?

57

@hopemom , if UF admits a NMF, UF will award them the $500 college sponsored scholarship if they list UF #1 with NMC, which will make them a NMS and eligible to receive the Benacquisto.

58

Okay…I have been reading posts for a little while now, and I need to ask a couple of really basic questions: 1)my daughter is a OOS NMSF, and we completed the UF application a few weeks after it opened up; is there a separate application at UF that we somehow missed to be eligible for Benacquisto? assuming she gets NMF? BTW…she already listed UF as her #1 choice, 2)assuming she is NMF, has anyone ever heard of someone NOT getting the Benacquisto if they meet all the requirements? Just making her and me nervous since we are OOS… Thanks in advance!

59

@20GatorGirl If your daughter gets in to UF, I can’t see why she wouldn’t get the Benaquisto.

60

UF funds their NM scholarship through the Benaquisto program.