Florida education officials tout state’s prepaid college program

ORLANDO, Fla. (WFLA) — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis held a news conference in Orlando on Monday.

DeSantis spoke at an elementary school alongside Florida Department of Education Commissioner Manny Diaz Jr., State University System of Florida Chancellor Ray Rodrigues and Florida Prepaid College Board Chairman John Rood, according to a release from the governor’s office.

DeSantis touted the state’s nationally-ranked higher education institutions and efforts to keep tuition low. He highlighted a program meant to help parents afford the cost of a college education.

The governor highlighted the Florida Prepaid college program , which “locks in” the cost of a 4-year degree at a state college or university at the current tuition rate and allows parents to prepay the cost. If a student ends up attending a school outside of Florida, or has their tuition covered by another program like Bright Futures, parents can receive a refund or apply the prepaid funds to out-of-state tuition.

DeSantis announced the state provided prepaid scholarships for the Little League champions in Lake Mary, who recently visited the governor’s mansion.

Officials urged parents to look into Florida Prepaid, as well as programs like Bright Futures and high school dual enrollment that help curb the cost of college tuition. DeSantis claimed it is possible for a student to work a minimum wage job over the summer and pay for tuition at a Florida college or university.

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