Standard Enrollment (K-12)Documenting Community Service for a Bright Futures Scholarship
Students enrolled in our High School Diploma Program who are seeking a Bright Futures Scholarship are responsible for maintaining an accurate account of the community service hours completed during high school. Please note that community service is volunteer work. A student cannot receive compensation for community service. Community service must be for someone other than family and cannot be provided as a result of court action.
Community Service Requirements
All initial Bright Futures Scholarship applicants must have a specified number of documented community service hours. The service hours are completed during high school only and are documented in writing. The required number of completed hours depends on the award. No waivers of this requirement can be granted. The current number of hours needed to meet the initial eligibility requirements is as follows:
| Award | Requirement* |
|---|---|
| Florida Academic Scholars Award (FAS) | Completion of 100 hours of community service |
| Florida Medallion Scholars Award (FMS) | Completion of 75 hours of community service |
| Gold Seal Vocational Scholars Award (GSV) | Completion of 30 hours of community service |
| *These requirements are subject to change. Visit http://www.floridastudentfinancialaid.org/SSFAD/bf/ for more information. | |
Documenting Community Service Hours
Community Service hours must be documented in writing, and the document must be signed by the student, the student's parent or guardian, and a representative of the organization for which the student performed the service. This may be done in one of two ways:
- The organization where the community service hours were earned may provide documentation on the organization's letterhead to include the number of hours and dates of service completed; or
- An adult supervisor for the organization may sign a community service record that includes the name and phone number of the organization, the date of service, a description of the service provided, and the number of hours completed. Community service may be documented on the following forms:
- Community Service Record (for a single organization)
- Community Service Verification Record (for multiple organizations)
Places to Volunteer
Here are just a few of many organizations needing volunteers. If you need help finding something in your area, just let us know.
| American Red Cross | Libraries |
| Animal Shelters/Humane Societies | Make-A-Wish Foundation of America |
| Aquariums | Nursing Homes / Assisted Living Facilities |
| Boys & Girls Clubs of America | Ronald McDonald House |
| Florida State Parks | Special Olympics Florida |
| Food Banks | Teen Court |
| Habitat for Humanity | YMCA |
| Hospitals | Zoos |
Rules to Remember
- Community service hours must be completed during high school and by high school graduation.
- Community service hours may not benefit the student financially or materially, or be service to family members, defined as: parents, grandparents, siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, and spouses, including all step relations.
- Community service hours may not be earned for service provided as a result of court action.
If your child is enrolled in our High School Diploma Program, your child's completed hours will be recorded on his or her official transcript. You will need to send us your child's community service records for verification. (Be sure to keep a copy for your records!)
These requirements are subject to change with each legislative session. It is your responsibility to be aware of the Bright Futures Scholarship program requirements. For more information and to find out what rules apply to a specific graduation year, please visit http://www.floridastudentfinancialaid.org/SSFAD/bf/.