PCHS Bulletin – Aliza Vitoritt
Published Date – Sept. 3, 2025
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis passed a bill on January 15, 2025, allowing students who have earned their AP Capstone Diploma to get the Florida’s Bright Future Scholarship without taking the SAT. This scholarship allows students to go to any public college in the state with a full ride of 4 years.
This bill goes into effect for students graduating during the 2025-2026 school year.
To acquire the Capstone Diploma, students must pass with a score of 3 or above on the AP Seminar and AP Research exams, in addition to four other AP courses of their choice. Students must also have 100 paid work hours or 100 volunteer hours and a weighted GPA of at least 3.5.
Students like Vimian Thatch, a senior at PCHS, are looking forward to this new bill.
“I'm very happy about the new law because I'm very bad at taking the SAT and really bad at test taking,” Thach said.
Now that she has this opportunity through the AP Capstone Diploma, she will have an easier time qualifying for Bright Futures.
“I have already passed 3 AP classes. I also passed the AP Seminar exam last year. If I finish the Diploma requirements this year and can get Florida Bright Futures, then I can pay for college so I'm pretty happy about that,” Thatch said.
Teachers in the AP programs were asked if this new bill benefited these students. Parrish Community’s AP Seminar teacher Brianna Lashway believes so.
“I think it's going to be a great opportunity not only to have the opportunity to a bright futures scholarship in the state of Florida, but also to get that experience with AP courses,” Lashway said.
The AP Capstone Diploma and Florida Bright Futures make it possible for students to go to the college they want in Florida without the financial stress. Students who have the opportunity to try for the AP Capstone Diploma are encouraged to try. It's worth it.
Students with questions about this opportunity should speak to their guidance counselor.