Both houses of the Florida Legislature have approved proposals that would raise qualifying SAT scores and ban reinstatements for students who lose their scholarships due to low grades.
The bill passed by the Senate with a vote of 34-4 would raise the qualifying SAT scores from 1270 to 1290 for the Florida Academic Scholars Award, the highest Bright Futures Scholarship Program award, which gives students $126 per credit hour.
For the Florida Medallion Scholars Award, which pays students $95 per credit hour, the qualifying score would jump from 970 to 1050.
The House bill, approved by the Republican majority in a 74-44 vote down party lines, would cut the Florida Academic Scholars award to $110 per credit hour and the Florida Medallion Scholars Award to $83 per credit hour.
UF spokesman Steve Orlando said UF is glad to see the Legislature is trying to address a program that’s in need of serious changes.
“It’s a positive step,” he said.
