New law offers incentive for out-of-state teens to be nice to Florida grandparents | Frank Cerabino - Palm Beach Post
A new Florida law creates a 'grandparent waiver' that gives in-state university tuition to 300 students who have Florida grandparents.
Attention, all you ungrateful teenagers with grandparents living in Florida.
Be nice to Nana and Pop-pop. The state of Florida has figured out a way to make out-of-state teenagers more appreciative of their Florida grandparents.
For the first time, Florida in-state university tuition is being granted to some high performing, out-of-state teenagers under a “grandparent tuition waiver” program.
Tanning what? Tucker Carlson's 'testicle tanning' a nutty idea and a Florida summer tourism pitch | Frank Cerabino
Try another getaway:Throwing some cold water on Florida as a hot destination for anti-vax tourists | Frank Cerabino
A tale of two Palm Beaches:Making cents of panorama of human experience playing out on two Palm Beach weekends | Frank Cerabino
It's a great, mutually beneficial arrangement. They are going to be so proud of you. And you are going to owe them in ways they are not likely soon to forget.
Your grandparents can save you money
It turns out your ancient relatives who got shipped off to Florida years ago can now help save you and your parents a lot of money and earn your appreciation in a whole new way.
Would it kill you to pick up a phone and call them once in a while?
I mean, c’mon. What’s the worst that can happen? You’ll be forced to learn to play pickleball, maybe.
You can handle that. It will be more than worth it.
Out-of-state students attending one of Florida’s public universities spend an average tuition and fees of about $20,719 per 30 credit hours, while in-state students pay $5,991 for the same number of hours.
Under the new waiver program, the 12 Florida universities are given a total of 300 grandparent waivers. Each school starts with 10 waivers and then the rest allotted based on the population of the school.
So while a large university such as the University of Florida would get the most grandparent spots, it’s the small universities that would receive a higher ratio of Bubbe-and-Zayde benefits.
The program was approved this year by being slipped into a larger education bill that dealt with liability protections during the COVID-19 epidemic and other issues.
Florida grandparents opening doors
When grandparent tuition waivers were presented as a stand-alone bill last year, the legislation failed, due in part to lawmakers saying that it was giving out-of-state teens slots to public universities that were designed to serve Florida teens.
To be eligible for the grandparent waiver, the student has to get in the 89th percentile or higher in the SAT or ACT standardized tests. High-performing out-of-state high schoolers already had a way to get a discounted Florida university education through something called a Benacquisto Scholarship Program.
This grandparent path would be in addition to that.
Some lawmakers wondered if the word “grandparent” would be abused by some to get the discount.
“In these crazy times we live in, what is the definition of a grandparent, and how far do we expand that?” Rep. Mike Caruso, R-Delray Beach, had asked.
I had no idea this could be so complicated.
Florida ended up defining a grandparent as “a person who has a legal relationship to a student’s parent as the natural or adoptive parent or legal guardian of the student’s parent.”
And to be considered, it was stipulated that applicants would have to supply “corroborating documentation” about the grandparent.
You might want to start keeping a birthday-present log.
“While the bill does not require a state university to independently verify the statements contained in each declaration, the bill authorizes a state university to refer any signed declaration suspected of containing fraudulent representations to law enforcement,” the bill’s analysis said.
Yes, fake grandparents could be prosecuted.
This could spawn a whole new genre of TV detective dramas, which I would consider watching if they include chase scenes involving mobility scooters.
There was also a question about the residential requirements of Florida grandparents, and whether being a snowbird counts.
Under the law that was passed this year, the Florida Board of Governors was left with the job of adopting the regulations for granting the grandparent waiver.
I think I can help. First, we’ll need a simple screening test that can be administered right from the start as a way to weed out the imposters from the true Florida grandparent.
Separating the real Florida grandparents from imposters
I’ve come up with the following multiple-choice test, which can be taken, scored, and used by applicants to either proceed or give up.
***
1. Which statement best describes my lunches out?
(a) Dining al fresco.
(b) On an expense account.
(c) Whatever they’re sampling at Costco.
***
2. What best describes the time I spend online?
(a) TikTok.
(b) Instagram.
(c) Walgreens.
***
3. If my grandkid attends a Florida university, I will make sure that he or she learns to …
(a) Drive aggressively.
(b) Shoot a gun.
(c) Play canasta.
***
4. If my grandkid comes to Florida, I will be most likely to share with him or her …
(a) My ATM personal identification number.
(b) My clubhouse pool code.
(c) The other half of my sandwich.
***
5. I will help my grandkids find themselves in the world, and they will help me find my …
(a) Keys.
(b) Keys and wallet.
(c) Keys, wallet and cellphone.
***
6. Above all else, I will make sure my grandkids come to appreciate Florida’s …
(a) Weather.
(b) Beaches.
(c) All-you-can-eat buffets.
***
7. If my grandchild asks me if he or she can have a spring break party at my place, I will …
(a) Take a cruise during that week.
(b) Put the dog in the kennel.
(c) Buy a new bathing suit.
***
8. If my grandkid asks to borrow my car, I will say, "yes," as long as he or she …
(a) Promises not to drink and drive.
(b) Fills the car with gas.
(c) Teaches me how the Roku works.
***
Answer key: The answer (c) is correct for all questions.
Your score:
7-8 correct: Congratulations. Your grandchild may be eligible. Now go out and buy some hard candies for the jar in the living room.
3-6 correct: Not sure what went wrong. Maybe you were having a senior moment. Ask to take the quiz again.
0-2 correct: We’re coming to take away your voting card.
@FranklyFlorida
source: https://www.palmbeachpost.com/story/news/columns/2022/04/22/florida-grandparents-can-save-students-college-money-under-new-state-law/7394185001/
Your content is great. However, if any of the content contained herein violates any rights of yours, including those of copyright, please contact us immediately by e-mail at media[@]kissrpr.com.