240.40205  Florida Academic Scholars award.--

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

(a)  Has achieved a 3.5 weighted grade point average as calculated pursuant to s. 240.40202, or its equivalent, in high school courses that are adopted by the Board of Regents and recommended by the State Board of Community Colleges as college-preparatory academic courses; and

(b)  Has attained at least the score identified by rules of the Department of Education on the combined verbal and quantitative parts of the Scholastic Aptitude Test, the Scholastic Assessment Test, or the recentered Scholastic Assessment Test of the College Entrance Examination, or an equivalent score on the American College Testing Program; or

(c)  Has attended a home education program according to s. 232.0201 during grades 11 and 12 or has completed the International Baccalaureate curriculum but failed to earn the International Baccalaureate Diploma, and has attained at least the score identified by rules of the Department of Education on the combined verbal and quantitative parts of the Scholastic Aptitude Test, the Scholastic Assessment Test, or the recentered Scholastic Assessment Test of the College Entrance Examination, or an equivalent score on the American College Testing Program; or

(d)  Has been awarded an International Baccalaureate Diploma from the International Baccalaureate Office; or

(e)  Has been recognized by the merit or achievement programs of the National Merit Scholarship Corporation as a scholar or finalist.

Effective with the 1998-1999 school year, a student must complete a program of community service work, as approved by the district school board or the administrators of a nonpublic school, which shall include a minimum of 75 hours of service work and require the student to identify a social problem that interests him or her, develop a plan for his or her personal involvement in addressing the problem, and, through papers or other presentations, evaluate and reflect upon his or her experience.

(2)  A Florida Academic Scholar who is enrolled in a public postsecondary education institution is eligible for an award equal to the amount required to pay matriculation, fees, and $600 for college-related expenses annually. 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 for the average matriculation and fees of a public postsecondary education institution at the comparable level, plus the annual $600.

(3)  To be eligible for a renewal award as a Florida Academic Scholar, a student must maintain the equivalent of a grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale for all postsecondary education work attempted, with an opportunity for one reinstatement as provided in this act.

(4)  In each school district, the Florida Academic Scholar with the highest academic ranking shall receive an additional award of $1,500 for college-related expenses. This award must be funded from the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program.