Florida did not violate anti-discrimination laws by using standardized test scores to award Bright Futures scholarships, the U.S. Department of Education has found.
The department's Office for Civil Rights had been investigating the Bright Futures program, which awards college scholarships based on grade point average and SAT or ACT scores, among other factors. The probe was based on allegations that the eligibility criteria had the effect of discriminating against Hispanic and African-American students.
But federal authorities found "insufficient evidence of a legal violation" and concluded the investigation Wednesday, according to a memo addressed to Florida Education Commissioner Pam Stewart and obtained by the Herald/Times.
U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, a Florida Republican who opposed the probe, said he was glad federal authorities had ended the "baseless investigation."
Read more at The Miami Herald: http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/education/article4430296.html