Slightly Dimmer Futures

Tampa Tribune Staff file photo by MICHAEL SPOONEYBARGER (2007)



Tough times in Florida have left left legislators looking for ways to tighten up the budget. The popular Bright Futures Scholarship was once such area - and area that might be tighten a little too much, according to the Tampa Tribune:

Withdrawing from a class carries a hefty penalty this year for college students with Bright Futures scholarships, but the consequences for lower-income students could be more severe than state lawmakers intended.

Struggling students are faced with withdrawing from a difficult class and paying back the scholarship fund, or hanging tough and possibly doing damage to their grade point averages (and possibly losing the entire scholarship). Some choice!