Understanding DCF Tuition Waivers in Florida: Requirements and Eligibility

For students in Florida who have been involved with the Department of Children and Families (DCF), tuition waivers can provide significant assistance in accessing higher education. These waivers, governed by Florida Statutes, can cover tuition and fees at state universities, colleges, and certain job training programs. This article will explain the requirements and eligibility criteria for DCF tuition waivers in Florida.

Who is Eligible for a DCF Tuition Waiver?

Several categories of students who have been involved with the Department of Children and Families (DCF) may be eligible for a tuition and fee exemption. A student is eligible for the fee exemption if the student was the subject of a shelter proceeding, a dependency proceeding, or a termination of parental rights proceeding, and meets one of the following conditions:

• Is, or was at the time he or she reached 18 years of age, in out-of-home care.
• Is, or was at the time he or she reached 18 years of age, in the custody of a relative or nonrelative pursuant to ss. 39.5085 or 39.6225, F.S.
• After spending at least six months in the custody of DCF after reaching 16 years of age, was placed in a guardianship by the court.
• After reaching 14 years of age and thereafter spending at least 18 months in out-of-home care, was reunited with his or her parent or parents who were the subject of the dependency proceeding before he or she reaches 18 years of age, including a student who is reunited under s. 39.8155, F.S. For a student to be eligible under this subparagraph, the student must be Pell Grant-eligible, and the entity imposing the tuition and fees must verify such eligibility.
• Was adopted from DCF after May 5, 1997.
• Was placed in a permanent guardianship, regardless of whether the caregiver participates or participated in the Relative Caregiver Program under s. 39.5085, F.S., and remains in such guardianship until the student either reaches 18 years of age or, if before reaching 18 years of age, he or she enrolls in an eligible institution.

In simpler terms, young adults (up to age 28) in Florida who meet certain criteria related to DCF involvement can have their tuition and fees waived for post-secondary education at public universities, colleges, or certain job training programs in Florida. The specific requirements are laid out in Florida law.

Key Requirements and Considerations

Age Limit

The exemption remains valid until the student reaches 28 years of age, as specified in s. 1009.25(1)(c), F.S.

How to Obtain a Signed Tuition and Fee Exemption Form

For questions regarding eligibility or how to obtain a signed Tuition and Fee Exemption form, CF-FSP 5220, individuals can contact their local Community-Based Care Lead Agency or the Office of Continuing Care at 1-850-300-HOPE (1-850-300-4673). If the local Community Based Care Agency is unknown, individuals can reach out to the Adoption Information Center for assistance, especially for adoption-specific benefits and post-adoption services.

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Application Process at Pasco-Hernando State College (PHSC)

At Pasco-Hernando State College (PHSC), a student submits their DCF Exemption documentation to Student Financial Services one time, upon being accepted to PHSC. Once the student account is registered as being on a DCF exemption, this eligibility will roll from term to term until the expiration date listed on the form has passed. The removal of the fees occur when the overnight process is ran in the Banner student system. Then select the "Pay Now" button, which will pass you through to the TouchNet payment provider site.

Limitations

A DCF exemption will not cover a third (3rd) attempt on a class.

Additional Tuition Waivers and Exemptions in Florida

Besides the DCF Tuition Waiver, Florida offers various other tuition waivers and exemptions to support different student populations. These include:

• Military Personnel and Veterans:
  • Florida resident military personnel who were awarded a Purple Heart or another combat decoration superior in precedence are eligible for a tuition waiver as defined in the FL Statutes, Title IXLVIII, K-20 Education Code, Chapter 1009 Educational Scholarships, Fees, and Financial Assistance, 1009.26(8) Fee Waivers. In order to receive this benefit, students must submit their DD-214 form issued at the time of separation from service as documentation that a Purple Heart or another combat decoration superior in precedence was received to the Office of Military and Veteran Student Success on or before the Tuition and Fees Payment Deadline(s) on their first term.
  • Students who are honorably discharged veterans and physically reside in the state while enrolled are eligible for an out-of-state fees tuition waiver as defined in the Florida Statutes, Title XLVIII Early Learning-20 Education Code, Chapter 1009 Educational Scholarships, Fees, and Financial Assistance, 1009.26(13) Fee Waivers. In order to use this benefit, students must submit their DD-214 form issued at the time of separation from service as documentation to the Office of Military and Veteran Student Success for review and approval.
  • To qualify for the tuition exemption benefit, the deceased military member must have been a resident of the state of Florida, or his or her duty post must have been within the state of Florida, at the time of death. A maximum of 120 credit hours in an authorized undergraduate or postgraduate education may be covered for spouses and dependent children (under 25). Spouses must request to use the benefit within 5 years after the death date of the officer and may continue to receive the benefit until the 10th anniversary. A maximum of 120 credit hours in an authorized undergraduate education or a postgraduate education may be waived for dependent children under 25.
• 100% Total and Permanent Disability Waiver:
  • To qualify for this waiver, the student must meet the following criteria:
    1. Be a resident of the state of Florida.
    2. Have a disability rating with the VA, or any branch of the US Armed Service, of 100% Total and Permanent.
    3. Examples which prove eligibility may be, but are not limited to:
    4. DD214
    5. VA Certificate of Eligibility
    6. Have you been approved for this waiver for a prior term and wish to request a continuation of this waiver?
• Child Protection and Child Welfare Personnel:
  • Students who are employed as child protection and child welfare personnel as defined in the Florida Statutes, Title XXIX, Public Health, Chapter 402 Health and Human Services: Miscellaneous Provisions, 402.403 Child Protection and Child Welfare Personnel Tuition Exemption Program, are eligible for a tuition and fees exemption for up to six (6) credit hours per term in a master’s degree in social work or certificate program. All child protection and child welfare personnel who participate in the tuition exemption program established under this section must remain employed by the department, a state agency, or a contracted provider for 5 years after completion of a graduate level social work program.
• Grandparent Waiver:
  • Beginning with the 2022-2023 academic year, the state university Grandparent Waiver was created by the Florida Legislature to allow a limited number of out-of-state students with a grandparent who is a legal Florida resident as defined in the Florida Statutes to attend a state university and have non-resident fees waived.
• International Linkage Institutes:
  • The Florida Legislature has established 11 International Linkage Institutes as defined in the Florida Statutes 288.8175. According to statue 1009.21, students who qualify will be eligible for non-resident tuition fee waivers. The Linkage Institutes notifies the students that they are certified to receive an out-of-state exemption/waiver. The student must submit the award letter to Student Account Services prior to the Fee Payment Deadline each term and pay any remaining fees by the Fee Payment Deadline. See the Academic Calendar for the Fee Payment Deadline. The letter is very specific and it will state the terms, program of study and the number of hours that the award covers.
• Out-of-State Tuition Waiver for Certain High School Graduates:
  • citizens or lawfully present in the United States and meet the following conditions, are eligible for a waiver of out-of-state tuition and fees as dictated by F.S. 1009.26(12)(a): Have attended a secondary school in Florida for three (3) consecutive years immediately before graduating from a high school in this state; have applied for enrollment in an institution of higher education within 24 months after high school graduation; and who submit an official Florida high school transcript as evidence of attendance and graduation.
• School Psychology Program Internship Waiver:
  • Graduate students in a state-approved school psychology program of study are entitled to a waiver of tuition and fees associated with internship credit hours, as defined in the FL Statutes, Title XLVIII, K-20 Education Code, Chapter 1009 Educational Scholarships, Fees, and Financial Assistance, 1009.26(5) Fee Waivers. The School Psychology Program Coordinator will inform Student Account Services of each term’s recipients. Recipients of this waiver will have all tuition and fees waived if the internship is the only course registered. Students must pay tuition and fees for all other registered courses by the Fee Payment Deadline.
• Programs of Strategic Emphasis Waiver Program:
  • The Programs of Strategic Emphasis Waiver Program was created by the Florida Legislature and took effect in the Fall 2021 semester. The tuition waiver is applicable for 110 percent of the required credits of the baccalaureate degree program for which the student is enrolled. Students are not required to apply or request this tuition waiver.
    • The waiver covers 50% of the tuition and fees for eligible upper-level undergraduate (3000/4000 level) courses required for your approved program of study.
    • The tuition waiver is applied after gift aid, and it will only cover any remaining eligible tuition charges at 50%.
    • The tuition waiver will not result in a refund if gift aid (such as scholarships, grants, third party payments, etc.) has already covered the full cost of tuition and fees. If gift aid does not cover the full cost of tuition, the waiver will only cover 50% of the remaining tuition balance after gift aid is applied.
• Senior Citizen Tuition Waiver:
  • Persons 60 years of age or older who meet Florida Residency requirements may register only to audit classes without payment of tuition and application fees as defined in the FL Statutes, Title XLVIII, K-20 Education Code, Chapter 1009 Educational Scholarships, Fees, and Financial Assistance, 1009.26(4) Fee Waivers. Registration is on a space-available basis and occurs on the last day of regular registration, at the time specified on the Academic Calendar for each term. The Registrar’s Office personnel are responsible for verifying senior citizen status, residency and eligibility for enrollment in the requested courses, as well as enrolling senior citizens in the classes. Then the Registrar’s Office staff delivers the Senior Citizen Audit Registration Forms to Student Account Services for waiver processing by the Fee Payment Deadline each term.
• Sponsored Programs:
  • Participants of sponsored credit institutes and programs are eligible for a waiver of tuition and fees of all courses of the designated program as authorized by the board of trustees of each university. The department offering a sponsored program will submit a list of all participants to Student Account Services for processing.
• State Employee Tuition Waiver:
  • Full-time state employees who meet academic requirements are entitled to a waiver of tuition and fees as defined in the FL Statutes, Title XLVIII, K-20 Education Code, Chapter 1009 Educational Scholarships, Fees, and Financial Assistance, 1009.265(1-5) Fee Waivers. State employees are any individuals who work in any of the State of Florida agencies (i.e. Department of Corrections, Department of Children and Families, Department of Transportation etc.). State University employees as well as educators of the different counties of the state are not state employees. The tuition waiver cannot be used for courses that have increased costs. Any state employee who uses an Employee Tuition Waiver for approved courses must submit a completed and signed tuition waiver form to Student Account Services by or prior to each term’s Fee Payment Deadline. See the Academic Calendar for each term’s Fee Payment Deadlines. To view a complete set of instructions, employees may obtain the “State Employee Tuition Waiver Form and Instructions” from the Registrar’s Office Web site. Students are encouraged to list alternate courses on the waiver form to substitute for preferred courses that are closed. Waived amounts above the I.R.S.
• UCF Employee Tuition Waiver:
  • UCF employees who are classified as Faculty, Administrative and Professional (A&P), University Personnel Systems (USPS), and Post Doctoral Scholars on Sabbatical, undergoing professional development, using grants-in-aid, or on medical and educational leave; who are employed in an established full-time position with a 1.0 FTE on the date fees are due; and who meet academic requirements to enroll, are eligible for a waiver of tuition and fees as defined in the FL Statutes, Title XLVIII, K-20 Education Code, Chapter 1009 Educational Scholarships, Fees, and Financial Assistance, Section 26 Fee waivers, (1009.26(3)). Eligible employees may enroll for up to six (6) credit hours of eligible instruction per Fall, Spring and/or Summer terms without payment of tuition and fees on a space-available basis per semester or session, beginning at the date and time specified in the Academic Calendar. Registration activities completed before the employee registration window may result in the waiver being deemed ineligible for use. The tuition waiver cannot be used for courses that have increased costs. Any UCF employee who uses an Employee Tuition Waiver for approved courses must submit a completed and signed tuition waiver form to Student Account Services by or prior to each term’s Fee Payment Deadline. See the Academic Calendar for each term’s Fee Payment Deadlines. Prior to enrolling into courses each term, refer to the Human Resources Web site for eligibility requirements, course restrictions, and the Employee Waiver Form. Students are encouraged to list alternate courses on the waiver form to substitute for preferred courses that are closed. Waived amounts above the I.R.S.
  • Full-time UCF employees who are classified as Faculty, Administrative and Professional (A&P), University Support Personnel System (USPS), and Post Doctoral Scholars on Sabbatical, undergoing professional development, using grants-in-aid, or on medical and educational leave; who are employed in an established full-time position with a 1.0 FTE on the date fees are due, are eligible for a dependent or spouse tuition waiver benefit. Registration activities completed before the employee registration window may result in the waiver being deemed ineligible for use. The tuition waiver cannot be used for courses that have increased costs. Spouses and dependents must submit a completed and signed Tuition Waiver Form to Student Account Services by each term’s Fee Payment Deadline. See the Academic Calendar for each term’s Fee Payment Deadlines. Prior to enrolling into courses each term, refer to the Human Resources Web site for eligibility requirements, course restrictions, and the UCF Tuition Waiver Benefit Program Contingent Tuition Waiver Transfer Form. Both the UCF employee and spouse/dependent must sign and date the form. Students are encouraged to list alternate courses on their waiver form to substitute for preferred courses that are full. The University Waiver Liaison is Philomene Dorlus.
• Dual Enrollment/Early Admissions Program:
  • Students eligible for this program are exempt from paying tuition and applicable fees.
• Reciprocal Student Exchange:
  • The “Reciprocal Student Exchange” is a program in which degree-seeking students from UCF attend a foreign partner university in exchange for students from the partner university attending UCF. Participants must stay registered at their university of origin (home institution).
• Certificate of Participation (COP):
  • A Certificate of Participation (COP) may be issued to persons who supervise student interns for a state university. The holder of a certificate is entitled to receive an exemption of the hourly rate for up to six (6) credit hours during one term of instruction at a state university for undergraduate and graduate level courses.

I.R.S. Regulations

Waived amounts above the I.R.S. may be taxable. If your employer pays more than $5,250 for educational benefits for you during the year, you must generally pay tax on the amount over $5,250. Your employer should include in your wages (Form W-2, box 1) the amount that you must include in income.

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