Close to 300,000 people with student loan debt totaling $7.4 billion will have their debt forgiven, according to an announcement by the Biden Administration Friday morning.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday morning signed a bill that will allow students seeking a Bright Futures scholarship to use a paid job to meet service requirements.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – House and Senate budget leaders are eyeing cuts to higher education spending, but early recommendations would go about it in different ways. A Senate budget proposal released last week, for example, calls for a nearly $217 million reduction in spending on the state university system. AdThe House, meanwhile, is proposing $593 million in cuts to higher education during the upcoming 2021-2022 fiscal year, a 7% reduction from the current year. “Let me be clear, this higher education budget is not a slash-and-burn budget. But at the end of the day, the core capacity of Florida’s higher education system will not suffer,” House Higher Education Appropriations Chairman Rene Plasencia, R-Orlando, said.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – A Senate panel on Tuesday scaled back a bill that would have reduced Bright Futures scholarships for students pursuing certain degrees, but opponents are now focusing criticism on whether the measure will jeopardize future funding for the program. “I got well over 2,000 communications regarding this bill, so this is a very popular bill,” Baxley said of the controversial proposal, eliciting laughs from some lawmakers on the panel. AdAfter the outcry that included a student-led opposition campaign, most controversial parts of the bill have been eliminated. However, the lists would have no bearing on the awarding of Bright Futures scholarships and Benacquisto Scholarships for National Merit scholars. AdSeo is part of the student-led group Save Bright Futures, which was formed in response to the bill.

The measure is scheduled to be heard Tuesday by the Senate Education Appropriations Subcommittee. However, the lists would have no bearing on how Bright Futures scholarships and Benacquisto Scholarships for National Merit scholars are awarded. Ron DeSantis voiced his support for the Bright Futures program, telling reporters that he wants to fully fund the scholarships. “I’ve made very clear, I think Bright Futures is something that Florida families have relied upon. Even as he proposed changes to his bill, Baxley wrote Monday that he still wants to strengthen a connection between higher education and the workforce.

An amendment adopted by the committee changed the proposal from completely cutting Bright Futures aid for certain majors to reducing the scholarship amounts awarded to students. “We are still concerned about the repeal of the promise to pay either 100 or 75 percent of student and fees for Bright Futures students. Any cuts for Bright Futures will make it harder for students to reach their goals” said Alexandra Valdes, student-body president at Florida International University. “Bright Futures is not an entitlement program. AdThe proposal also would create the Florida Bright Opportunities Grant Program, aimed at helping pay tuition and fees for students eligible for need-based Pell grants.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – How much money a student receives from their Bright Futures scholarship may depend on what major they pick if a bill passed Tuesday by its first Senate committee becomes law. The bill sponsor argues the goal is to ensure students have the best chance of getting a job after graduation. Nearly 3 million Florida students have helped pay for college with a Bright Futures scholarship. It is dictating our choices when it comes to majors, parents’ choices, students’ choices,” said Polsky. Baxley said it’s his hope the state won’t identify any programs that wouldn’t be eligible for full Bright Futures funding.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Under pressure that has included a student-led opposition campaign, lawmakers are expected to overhaul a controversial Senate proposal that would tie Bright Futures scholarships to a list of job-creating degrees. The measure (SB 86) was tabled last week before it was set to be considered by the Senate Education Committee. AdBut the Senate Education Committee on Tuesday is expected to consider an amendment that would make significant changes to the bill. The change tying Bright Futures eligibility to the lists would go into effect during the 2023-2024 academic year, which is one year later than the original plan proposed. And so, we’re still going to be looking to scale back the Bright Futures portion of that opportunity if it does not lead to a job,” Simpson said.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran late Wednesday signed an emergency order that eases some eligibility requirements for awards under the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program. The order said Corcoran found it necessary to take steps such as partly suspending rules and laws that require students to complete volunteer service hours. Such documentation shall be considered as evidence that a student has completed the required number of volunteer service hours for scholarship eligibility, the order said. Depending on the level of the Bright Futures scholarship award, students are required to complete at least 30 hours or up to 100 hours of volunteer service to qualify. The College Board has no scheduled dates for SAT administrations until Aug. 29, according to its website.