Senator nixes proposal’s portions
Aid limits in Bright Futures bill tied to majors removed
After a backlash from students and families against legislation to limit Bright Futures scholarships and other financial aid for college students enrolled in majors the state thinks would “not lead directly to employment,” the bill’s sponsor has struck the most controversial parts from his proposal.
Sen. Dennis Baxley, R-Ocala, filed an amendment Monday that, unlike earlier versions of his proposal, would not reduce aid for students in fields the state deems less desirable, though it would still require the state to develop a list of such programs, based on data such as graduates’ median salaries.
The new proposal also would not reduce Bright Futures aid for students who earned college credit in high school through programs such as Advanced Placement classes or dual enrollment, a departure from earlier versions of the bill.
Dozens of high school and college students spoke at a Senate Education Committee meeting last week where the lawmakers approved an earlier version of Baxley’s proposal. The students urged the senators to reject the bill, saying many college graduates pursue careers that don’t align perfectly with their majors and the proposal would cut off many young adults, partic
ularly those from low-income families, from some courses of study.
An online petition against the proposal received more than 120,000 signatures. Democrats characterized Baxley’s original proposal as a restriction on students’ freedom to pursue degrees and programs that interest them.
“We have awakened a giant,” Baxley wrote in a letter to his Senate colleagues. “We have to reconnect the education and economic model, and we have begun that process.”
The most recent version of Baxley’s proposal still calls for the Board of Governors, which oversees the state university system, the Board of Education and the Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida to approve a list of programs that “do not directly lead to employment,” but students who are eligible for Bright Futures scholarships or other state aid will not be penalized if they pursue one of these certificates or degrees.
The bill also calls for the state to develop a dashboard with information about different programs, including graduates’ median salary and loan debt.
The Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Education is slated to discuss the revised version of the bill on Wednesday afternoon.
Baxley couldn’t be reached for comment on Monday, but said in his letter that by putting forth the original proposal, he sought “to begin the discussion about both the cost and the value of the degrees and programs within our higher education system.”
“I believe we should encourage all students to pursue their passions, but the fact remains that higher education comes at a significant cost to both students and taxpayers, and there needs to be at least some element of career planning involved,” Baxley wrote.
Senate leaders supported Baxley’s bill, but Gov. Ron DeSantis apparently did not, saying during a recent press conference that Bright Futures is “something that I support.”
“I fully funded it into my budget, and we hope that the Legislature follows suit with that as well,” he said.
Eligibility for Bright Futures is based on students’ grades, college entrance exam scores and the completion of community service hours.
The scholarships pay up to 100% of tuition and fees at state universities.
Baxley’s bill also opens additional pathways for students to qualify for the scholarship if they receive associate’s degrees at state colleges through the dual enrollment program or earn the AP Capstone diploma.
More than 111,000 students received Bright Futures scholarships during the 2019-2020 school year at a cost of $618 million to the state.
The awards are funded by the Florida Lottery, and Baxley said his proposal was not intended as a cost-savings measure.
However, an analysis of an earlier version of the bill said that it was expected to result in savings to the state because students would lose funding after enrolling in degree programs the state decided would not lead directly to employment.