[geekstreat]

I know all schools are different, but are there any programs as Georgia has, where if you are a resident for a year, tuition is free or something to that effect? Im sure everyone down there knows of it. I like that idea, but not the living in Georgia part. Does Florida have anything similar or something?

[fauve]

I would definitely post this in Colleges and Universities as well. What Florida has is a prepaid college program, where you contribute so much per month depending on the age of your child and whether you are looking for only tuition or tuition plus room & board. There is also the Bright Futures program where if your child is a B student and scores a minimum amount on the SAT, his/her tuition will be covered. I'm sure the residency requirements are pretty strict, but I dont know the particulars.

Florida Prepaid | Prepaid College | Florida 529 Plans

[Jonotastic]

If you live in Florida for a year and get a Florida license right when you move here, you can get in-state tuition. It won't be free, but heavily discounted. If you graduated from a Florida high school you can apply for Bright Futures, but obviously you wouldn't be able to.

[beachmouse]

For a long time now, state funding of Florida higher ed hasn't kept up with the massive increases in enrollment the system has seen, and the Board of Regents/Governors strictly limited tuition increases so that the state wasn't stuck with a huge bill for Bright Futures.

That's changed now. Tuition at most schools is going to go up significantly, as are fees which are not covered under Bright Futures or Florida prepaid. It's not great for students who are in the system now, but the schools have been underfunded for a long time and it's a correction that has to happen. On the bright side, in a year or two the flagships like U of F that had been starting to reduce freshman enrollment because of the budget crunch might be able to expand it back to where it was five years ago.

[ssg II]

The Georgia program you're referring to is this:
GAcollege411 - Georgia's HOPE Program

It's funded by the Georgia Lottery, based on academic achievement and there are residency requirements.

Florida has no such program, our lottery system's money went elsewhere. Imagine that.

[Jonotastic]

Originally Posted by beachmouse

For a long time now, state funding of Florida higher ed hasn't kept up with the massive increases in enrollment the system has seen, and the Board of Regents/Governors strictly limited tuition increases so that the state wasn't stuck with a huge bill for Bright Futures.

That's changed now. Tuition at most schools is going to go up significantly, as are fees which are not covered under Bright Futures or Florida prepaid. It's not great for students who are in the system now, but the schools have been underfunded for a long time and it's a correction that has to happen. On the bright side, in a year or two the flagships like U of F that had been starting to reduce freshman enrollment because of the budget crunch might be able to expand it back to where it was five years ago.

I'm a student...your post is a bit of an exaggeration

Yes there are budget cuts, but they aren't very noticeable and yes there are tuition increases, but they aren't significant.

[annerk]

Frankly the concept of tax dollars funding higher education (which is NOT available to everyone) is just beyond me. K-12, absolutely I believe that we need to fund that. But it's also mandated that all children be educated K-12 regardless of their ability to get good grades.

Florida basically sold the farm to give select students a free ride on tax dollars. That's just flat out wrong. If it's not available to ALL it shouldn't be available to any when it comes to education.

And for the record I'd rather see my tax dollars spent on music programs which are proven to make kids better students than athletic programs that are only open to the select few. Any kid can join band, even if they can barely make a noise come out of the trumpet. In order to be on the football team you need to be chosen. If districts want sports (outside of basic PE) they need to figure out how to fund them without using tax dollars. All we are doing is using our money to help a kid eventually go on to make millioins in pro sports, and the local community who invests their money in that player almost never sees a dime of that reinvested in the community.

[Gatornation]

Originally Posted by Jonotastic

I'm a student...your post is a bit of an exaggeration

Yes there are budget cuts, but they aren't very noticeable and yes there are tuition increases, but they aren't significant.

Well if you are a freshman at UF you will see your tuition go up 15% each year now.

[Gatornation]

Originally Posted by annerk

Frankly the concept of tax dollars funding higher education (which is NOT available to everyone) is just beyond me. K-12, absolutely I believe that we need to fund that. But it's also mandated that all children be educated K-12 regardless of their ability to get good grades.

Florida basically sold the farm to give select students a free ride on tax dollars. That's just flat out wrong. If it's not available to ALL it shouldn't be available to any when it comes to education.

And for the record I'd rather see my tax dollars spent on music programs which are proven to make kids better students than athletic programs that are only open to the select few. Any kid can join band, even if they can barely make a noise come out of the trumpet. In order to be on the football team you need to be chosen. If districts want sports (outside of basic PE) they need to figure out how to fund them without using tax dollars. All we are doing is using our money to help a kid eventually go on to make millioins in pro sports, and the local community who invests their money in that player almost never sees a dime of that reinvested in the community.

A good k-12 public education isn't available to all. You have to be able to afford a house in a very good district.

Clearly you don't like sports as there are many things a kid can learn through being on a team. Most high schools never even have a kid make it to any professional league so I'm not sure how that claim makes much sense. Most college athletes never make it to the pros.

[annerk]

Originally Posted by Gatornation

A good k-12 public education isn't available to all. You have to be able to afford a house in a very good district.

I never said "good." The schools in Florida suck Moderator cut: rude but are getting better overall.

Clearly you don't like sports as there are many things a kid can learn through being on a team. Most high schools never even have a kid make it to any professional league so I'm not sure how that claim makes much sense. Most college athletes never make it to the pros.

I would have no problem with sports as long as they don't exclude anyone, but that's not the way it works. I also have a problem with spending huge amounts of tax dollars on sports programs when art and music programs, library services, etc. are being cut out of school budgets.