fl-31409684: 6A-20.0281 — The Florida Department of Education will be implementing changes to the Benacquisto Scholarship Program associated with the approval of...

31409684, 6A-20.0281 - Florida Administrative Rules, Law, Code, Register - FAC, FAR, eRulemaking Home About Us Contact Us Help Florida Department of State and Division of Library and Information Services Home Advanced Search MyFLRules Rules Open for Comments Notice: 31409684 Notice of Rule Development Department: DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Division: State Board of Education Chapter: STUDENT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE Overview RULE: 6A-20.0281   Benacquisto Scholarship Program PURPOSE: The Florida Department of Education will be implementing changes to the Benacquisto Scholarship Program associated with the approval of Chapter 2026-59, Laws of Florida (House Bill 1279) during the 2026 Legislative Session. Effective July 1, 2026, qualified National Merit Scholars will have the option to enroll full time in a baccalaureate degree program in the fall term immediately following high school graduation or choose to defer the acceptance of their initial award until no later than the second fall term following high school graduation. The Benacquisto Scholarship Program procedures are modified to ensure that students and administrators understand the available one-year deferment period and increase access to scholarship funds for students in need of a deferment period. Per Rule 6A-20.0281(10)(b), Florida Administrative Code, eligible postsecondary institutions will continue to notify the department’s Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA) at the beginning of each term of enrollment and identify which students have accepted their initial Benacquisto Scholarship Program award. SUBJECT: Benacquisto Scholarship Program procedures will be modified to address the available one-year deferment period for eligible students. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY: 1001.02(1), (2)(n), 1009.893(14), F.S. LAW: 1009.893, F.S. PRINT PUBLISH DATE: 10/2/2026   Vol. 52/192 RELATED STATUTES AND LAWS: 1001.02(1), (2)(n), 1009.893(14), F.S., 1009.893, F.S. OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE: Joint Administrative Procedures Committee Florida Administrative Law Central Online Network (F.A.L.C.O.N.) RELATED COURT CASES: Division of Administrative Hearings FEDERAL eRULEMAKING WEB PORTAL: Regulations.gov HOW TO LINK TO THIS NOTICE: http://flrules.org/gateway/ruleno.asp?id=6A-20.0281&PDate=10/2/2026&Section=1 REFERENCE MATERIALS: No reference(s). Home Advanced Search MyFLRules Rules Open for Comments About Us Contact Us Help  Privacy Policies Accessibility Statement Copyright @ 2010 State of Florida Department of State Under Florida law, E-mail addresses are public records. If you do not want your E-mail address released in response to a public records request, do not send electronic mail to this entity. Instead, contact this office by phone or in writing.