College Students

The Florida Board of Education approved the change amid public outcry and some lawmakers calling the move a violation of state law.

The policy change went through its first round of approvals on Thursday. This comes as the Department of Education will vote on banning undocumented students from public colleges and GED programs as well.

On "Florida Matters Live & Local," representatives from food assistance programs explain the depth of the problem in the Tampa Bay region and where help is available.

This outbreak joins ones already existing and growing in Texas and South Carolina with hundreds of cases. Those outbreaks are a threat to the United States keeping its measles-free status.

An item in the budget would cut Effective Access to Student Education or EASE grants for students to attend private colleges and universities.

Accidental deaths ranked No. 1 for people ages 18 to 25 in 2023, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Firearms were the "leading mechanism."

Private college and university leaders said Monday they are worried about potential cuts in the state Effective Access to Student Education or EASE program, which provides $3,500 annual grants to undergraduates at the private schools.

The scholarships are for students who attend private, non-profit colleges and universities in the state.

President Donald Trump's historic federal hiring freeze and firing spree has eliminated thousands of jobs and placed thousands more on indefinite hold. For students sitting on the cusp of internships or post-graduate jobs in the government, the freeze has been devastating.

Overall prices are fairly steady, as tuition for state universities has not gone up in over a decade. Florida Prepaid spokesperson Shannon Smith said paying for college in advance allows kids to start adulthood without debt.

Currently, Florida students who are without such permission can qualify for in-state tuition at public colleges and universities. Sen. Randy Fine has also filed a bill that would repeal that provision.

The U.S. State Department finds almost 45,000 international college students studied in Florida during the 2023-2024 school year.