AUGUST 2019

The latest news and updates

With school starting this month, we are dedicating this edition to issues involving education. We highlight the new parking program at UCF; the dates for tax free shopping; information about changes in Bright Future scholarship and news about other types of scholarships. We also introduce our new video to recruit college and law student volunteers to assist us. We wish all families and students a great new school year. We have also included the most updated administrative orders for Seminole County, along with all of our upcoming events held in August.

Table of Contents UCF Campus Initiates Car Plate Scanning Program Florida Sales Tax Holiday Changes in Scholarship Requirements for Bright Futures Family Empowerment Scholarship The Hope Scholarship Reading Scholarship Accounts New Administrative Orders Upcoming Events Legal Volunteer Video

UCF Campus Initiates Car Plate Scanning Program

In order to continue promoting the safety of its students, the University of Central Florida has instituted a new program for cars parking in their garages and surface lots. UCF Police Chief Carl Metzger cited a 2017 case that resulted in the burglarizing of almost three dozen cars. The burglars themselves had been driving a stolen vehicle. Therefore, as of July 1st, the University has installed plate reader cameras so that the UCFPD may check all cars parking on campus against the national database of suspicious vehicles. Eventually, they hope that this system will negate the need for the current parking pass system, as students will be able to have their plate scanned instead. Additionally, this system has resulted in the prohibition of "backing in" to parking spaces on campus. -Written by Erin Roche UCF's New Parking Policy

Florida Sales Tax Holiday Florida will be having its annual tax-free weekend this upcoming August 2-6, 2019. Examples of eligible items include school supplies and clothes to prepare for the upcoming school year. For the duration of the holiday qualifying items will not have a tax added to their price.

Changes in Bright Futures Scholarship Requirements

The Bright Futures Scholarship Program is funded by the Florida Lottery and offers full or partial tuition to high school students who have achieved academic success. There are four scholarships offered by Bright Futures – Florida Academic Scholars (FAS), Florida Medallion Scholars (FMS), Gold Seal Vocational Scholars, and Gold Seal Cape Scholars. Most scholarship recipients fall into the first two categories – Academic Scholars and Medallion Scholars. Beginning on July 1 st, 2019, the standards to qualify for these two scholarships changed due to the passing of Senate Bill 190 by members of the Florida legislature. Senate Bill 190 increased the SAT requirements for students hoping to receive a scholarship from Bright Futures.  To qualify for the full tuition scholarship to a Florida college or university under Florida Academic Scholars, high school students must now have a combined score of 1330 on the reading and math sections of the SAT. This is an increase from the previously accepted score of 1290. To receive a partial tuition scholarship under Florida Medallion Scholars, students must score at least a 1200 on the reading and math sections of the SAT. This is an increase from 1170.  The new SAT score requirements will affect students graduating from high school in 2021. -Written by Julianna Burchett

Family Empowerment Scholarship The state of Florida recently approved a new program called the Family Empowerment Scholarship, which allows for lower and middle-class Florida families to have greater options in choosing which school their children will attend. Specifically, the scholarship provides funding so that eligible families can send their children to participating private schools, rather than being limited locally to 1 or 2 public schools. The program currently provides for up to 18,000 students and will go into effect in the coming year. Family Empowerment Scholarship

The Hope Scholarship

The Hope Scholarship is for public school students (grades K5-12) who experience incidents of bullying, harassment, violence, etc. as described in Florida Statute 1002.40. The scholarship assists eligible students with either a transfer to another public school or to a participating eligible private school. This program is based on a first come, first serve basis. Upon receipt of a report of an incident, the school will conduct an investigation. When the investigation is concluded (or within 15 days of the reported incident) the parent will be notified if the student is eligible for the scholarship. The parent must then select an eligible private school and apply for the admission of his or her student. The scholarship awards are contingent on available funding. -Written by Daniel Woodruff  The Hope Scholarship

Reading Scholarship Accounts

The reading scholarship accounts are available for students in grades 3-5 that scored lower than a Level 3 on their standardized English Language Arts (ELA) assessment in the prior school year. By September 30, schools are required to notify parents of their student’s eligibility for the program and the process to apply for the scholarship. This program is also first come, first serve. Recipients receive $500 for the 2018-2019 school year. The money is contingent on available funds. Funds can be used for tutoring, instructional material, and after school or summer education programs provided by an eligible non-profit organization.  Priority is provided to English Learner Students. See Florida Statute 1002.411 for additional details and limitations. -Written by Daniel Woodruff  The Reading Account Scholarship

New Administrative Orders Administrative Order 19-28 Amended Jury - Jury Service Compensation Donation Program

Upcoming Events August 8, 2019: Free Legal Advice Clinic for Veterans 1 - 4 PM at the Seminole County Public Library, 215 N Oxford Rd. Casselberry, FL August 12, 2019: First Day of School in Seminole County August 20, 2019: First Day of School at Seminole State College August 21, 2019: Sealing and Expungement Workshop 10 AM - 12 PM at the Sanford Job Connection Center,4516 W State Rd. 46 Sanford, FL August 26, 2019: First Day of School at the University of Central Florida

August 8, 2019: Free Legal Advice Clinic for Veterans 1 - 4 PM at the Seminole County Public Library, 215 N Oxford Rd. Casselberry, FL

August 21, 2019: Sealing and Expungement Workshop 10 AM - 12 PM at the Sanford Job Connection Center, 4516 W State Rd. 46 Sanford, FL

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