1009.535  Florida Medallion Scholars award.--

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

(a)  Has achieved a weighted grade point average of 3.0 as calculated pursuant to s. 1009.531, or the equivalent, in high school courses that are designated by the State Board of Education as college-preparatory academic courses; and has attained at least the score identified by rules of the State Board 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 ACT Assessment Program; or

(b)  Has attended a home education program according to s. 1002.41 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 ACT Assessment Program; or

(c)  Has been recognized by the merit or achievement program of the National Merit Scholarship Corporation as a scholar or finalist but has not completed a program of community service as provided in s. 1009.534; or

(d)  Has been recognized by the National Hispanic Recognition Program as a scholar, but has not completed a program of community service as provided in s. 1009.534.

(2)  A Florida Medallion Scholar is eligible for an award equal to the amount required to pay 75 percent of tuition 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 tuition and fees of a public postsecondary education institution at the comparable level.

(3)  To be eligible for a renewal award as a Florida Medallion Scholar, a student must maintain the equivalent of a cumulative grade point average of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale with an opportunity for reinstatement one time as provided in this chapter.