The Florida Senate

240.40207  Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholars award.--The Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholars award is created within the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program to recognize and reward academic achievement and vocational preparation by high school students who wish to continue their education.

(1)  A student is eligible for a Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholars award if the student meets the general eligibility requirements for the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program and the student:

(a)  Completes the secondary school portion of a sequential program of studies that requires at least three secondary school vocational credits taken over at least 2 academic years, and is continued in a planned, related postsecondary education program. If the student's school does not offer such a two-plus-two or tech-prep program, the student must complete a job-preparatory career education program selected by the Occupational Forecasting Conference or the Workforce Development Board of Enterprise Florida for its ability to provide high-wage employment in an occupation with high potential for employment opportunities. On-the-job training may not be substituted for any of the three required vocational credits.

(b)  Demonstrates readiness for postsecondary education by earning a passing score on the Florida College Entry Level Placement Test or its equivalent as identified by the Department of Education.

(c)  Earns a minimum cumulative weighted grade point average of 3.0, as calculated pursuant to s. 240.40202, on all subjects required for a standard high school diploma, excluding elective courses.

(d)  Earns a minimum unweighted grade point average of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale for secondary vocational courses comprising the vocational program.

(e)  Completes the requirements of a vocational-ready diploma program, as defined by rules of the State Board of Education.

(2)  A Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholar is eligible for an award equal to the amount required to pay 75 percent of matriculation and fees, if the student is enrolled in a public postsecondary education institution. A student who is enrolled in a nonpublic postsecondary education institution is eligible for an award equal to the amount that would be required to pay 75 percent of the matriculation and mandatory fees of a public postsecondary education institution at the comparable level.

(3)  To be eligible for a renewal award as a Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholar, a student must maintain the equivalent of a grade point average of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale for all postsecondary education work attempted, with an opportunity for reinstatement one time as provided in this act.

(4)  A student may earn a Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholarship for 110 percent of the number of credit hours required to complete the program, up to 90 credit hours or the equivalent. A Florida Gold Seal Scholar who has a cumulative grade point average of 2.75 in all postsecondary education work attempted may apply for a Florida Merit Scholars award at any renewal period. All other provisions of that program apply, and the credit-hour limitation must be calculated by subtracting from the student's total eligibility the number of credit hours the student attempted while earning the Gold Seal Vocational Scholarship.

History.--s. 8, ch. 97-77; s. 4, ch. 97-379.