Applying for FAFSA or a magnet school? Here are dates to watch

Seminole County schools parents, it’s time to sharpen your No. 2 pencils, or open your Google calendar, and mark some key dates. The deadlines are coming for your choice of magnet school, college aid, and more.

Magnet school application deadliness are drawing close 

The song of the summer of 2024 may not have been recorded yet, but magnet school applications for the fall are due by March 1, 2024. That’s a few weeks off, but the paperwork requirements can be stringent – especially if you need to get updated shot records or physical forms in time.

 Seminole County Public Schools offers six magnet programs: Goldsboro Elementary’s Math Science and Technology Magnet School, Midway Elementary’s School of the Arts, Hamilton Elementary’s School of Engineering and Technology, Pine Crest Elementary’s Magnet School of Innovation, Idyllwilde Elementary’s Future Ready Academy and Wicklow Elementary’s Magnet School for Global Pathways. 

Check here for the page with more information on Seminole County Public Schools’ magnet school application page. 

Get that free fed bread with the FAFSA 

If your kids are significantly past the point of enrolling in kindergarten, you might need to be thinking about the Free Application for Federal Student Aid – better known as the FAFSA.

The program determines eligibility for federal student aid, which is crucial for figuring out what college students can afford to attend. Technically, for the 2024-2025 school year, parents and students can apply all the way through June 30 of 2025. But the form is due by May 15 of 2024 in Florida to qualify for state aid. 

To make matters more complicated, the U.S. Department of Education rolled out a new, streamlined FAFSA. But there have been delays and glitches getting the new forms out, and now some schools are pushing back enrollment dates. 

“If you haven’t done your FAFSA form, I heard they’re doing an extension on it,” said Seminole County Public Schools Chair Abby Sanchez at Tuesday’s board meeting. “FAFSA is really good for the scholarships too, so they can keep track of all that. It’s not mandatory, but it’s really good.”

Tallahassee lawmakers have about one month left

The Florida Legislative Session is in full swing right now, and lawmakers face a March 8 deadline to finalize legislation. 

One open question is how much state funding for education will come down. One interesting bill that’s been filed, but not heard, is House Bill 13. It would raise the minimum wage for teachers statewide to $65,000. The bill, and its house version, has not yet been heard in committees. 

“Please watch what’s going on up there,” Sanchez said. “I will be heading to Tallahassee next week on my own, not through the school, doing my own run up there to see who I can meet with and go from there.” 

Seminole County spring break

Don’t forget, spring break, which in Seminole County runs from March 18-22, includes a bonus Friday off on March 15 this year.