Currently, the top end Bright Future awards pays out about $3K a year, while tuition at the state universities is about $6K+ a year. If the Florida economy stays stable we may be seeing an increase for the 2017-18 year.
Negron is set to take command of the Senate following the November election.
But he has already outlined plans for a $1 billion increase in higher education funding. He also vows to rebuild the Bright Futures scholarship fund so that its top award again covers 100 percent of tuition and fees, along with a $300 per semester stipend for books.
For many Florida parents, Negron’s push for boosting Bright Futures could have a profound effect.
Bright Futures has been around since 1997, and as recently as 2009 provided $429 million to 179,000 students at state universities, colleges and vocational centers. Legislators, however, reined in the costly program by tightening awards and increasing standards to where this fall, a $217 million Bright Futures program will finance 100,170 students, a 44 percent drop from its peak.
http://www.mypalmbeachpost.com/news/news/state-regional-govt-politics/what-to-do-with-1b-boost-negron-3-others-touring-u/nq7RP/
Here’s a report on Sen. Negron’s visit at UF:
The incoming Florida Senate president asked the University of Florida what the state could do for it. On Tuesday night, students, faculty, and UF President Kent Fuchs answered.
More stipends for graduate students, increasing need-based student aid and better compensation for faculty were some of the answers that Sen. Joe Negron received when he visited UF.
http://www.wuft.org/news/2016/04/20/uf-voices-requests-to-new-florida-senate-president-as-part-of-listening-tour/
I know President Fuchs told him $100 million a year would be what it takes…no need to low ball it I guess.
