College tuitions up, Bright Futures scholarships dim

The Florida legislature went into overtime on Saturday in order to pass the $69.7 billion 2011 – 2012 budget. Cuts were made in many areas, including the state’s Bright Futures scholarship program.

The merit-based scholarship program rewards high-achieving students with financial assistance provided they attend one of Florida’s public colleges or universities. The program was designed to be funded by revenue generated by the state lottery program.

The 2011 – 2012 budgets cut the Bright Futures program by 20 percent, diminishing the amount of assistance available to individual students.

For more on this story, see the May 12 edition of the Navarre Press or subscribe online.