Minimum qualifications to apply
Be a Polk County public or charter high school senior
Be on track to graduate and have passed FSA Reading, AND, the Algebra I EOC, or, the Geometry EOC.
The concordant scores below are accepted.
For the Algebra 1 EOC or Geometry EOC, seniors could earn a concordant score of:
PERT Math 97 (only available for students that entered grade nine after the 2018-19 school year)
ACT Math 16
SAT Math 420
PSAT/NMSQT Math 430
For the FSA Reading, seniors could earn a concordant score of:
For students who entered grade 9 in 2010-11 and beyond:
ACT English and Reading subtests 18
SAT Evidence-Based Reading & Writing 480
For students who entered grade 9 prior to 2018-19:
ACT Reading 19
SAT Evidence-Based Reading & Writing 430 (not PERT)
SAT Reading subtest 24Have completed the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) and have received your finalized SAR (Student Aid Report). You will need to attach a printed copy of your finalized SAR. FAFSA application copies, FAFSA record of receipts etc. will not be accepted, only finalized Student Aid Reports. Must say SAR and have the EFC (Estimated Family Contribution) noted.
Minimum qualifications for East and West Area Adult Students to apply
Any student who has a CASAs Math 5+ and Reading 4+, or, Math 4+ and Reading 5+ score, can apply.
Minimum qualifications for Ridge and Travis Vocational Students to apply
Any student who has missed less than 20 hours of their program can apply.
If you meet the criteria above, please proceed using the following directions.
Gather all required information before you start. You'll need to have:
Your finalized SAR (Student Aid Report – high school seniors only)
dates of work history (if applicable) and types of community service (if applicable)
list of scholarships, grants or financial aid you have already been awarded and
a prepared essay that has been spellchecked.
To BEGIN a NEW application, after you've checked all four checkboxes, click on the "WORK ON APPLICATION NOW" button at the bottom of the instruction page. Then, use the "Start New Application" section , to enter your student ID and date of birth then click the "Start New Application" button. If your information is good, you'll be on your way and can follow the instructions from that point on.
After you have successfully completed the previous "BEGIN New Application" step applicable information will be pulled from your permanent record and displayed on the initial application page and cannot be changed.
Name
School
Weighted GPA
Passage of Alg 1 EOC or Geometry EOC and FSA Reading
SAT and or ACT scores
Volunteer hours
The following two items will also be pulled from your permanent records, but you can make changes to update these fields:
mailing address
phone number
If any of the "non-changeable" information is incorrect, please contact your counselor and ensure that the information is updated BEFORE you SUBMIT your application on the final page. The application will pull your records each time you login to it, but after you have submitted it, it will no longer check for updates.
(It is very important your contact information is correct, if you are a scholarship recipient, it is used to communicate with you. Email addresses may be used to communicate with you on questions during the application process, or to set an interview.)
You will be able to set a password to login at a later time to access your saved application. An email address is required for the password recovery feature. The PEF may also use this email address to contact you with questions or interview requests.To RETURN to an application at a later time, after you've checked all four checkboxes, click on the "WORK ON APPLICATION NOW" button at the bottom of the instruction page. Then, use the "Login to Saved Application" section , to enter your student ID and password, then click the "Login to Saved Application" button.
If you forget your password can be emailed to the address you provided when you started your application using the 'forgotten your password' link at the bottom of the Login page.
HINT: The website will not allow you to start a second application once a student ID is in use, you must go back and make changes to the first saved application. If you get the message "student ID already in use", you must enter as a returning applicant.Complete Your Application.
You should have already reviewed the scholarship list posted on the PEF website to know what you qualify to apply for.As you finish each page hit the "save application" button at the bottom of the page to ensure you do not lose data, then hit "continue" to move forward to a new page. (The page will not save unless all on that page is complete.)
Run out of time to complete it all? Click "save application" then "quit & close session" and you can return at a later time using the directions above.
Read the criteria for each award carefully. If you do not meet ALL the requirements, do not apply for that award. DO NOT check every award without first seeing if you qualify!
Once you have completed all sections of the application, then and only then should you hit the "submit" button on the final screen of the application. Once you hit "submit" you cannot go back and make any changes to your application. You should print your application at time of submission. You however may return to a submitted application to print or view it, but changes cannot be made. .
Even though the application is submitted electronically, YOU MUST additionally print out your completed application, have it signed by student (and parent / guardian if the student is not 18), attach your SAR (Student Aid Report, if applicable) and submit the pack to your school's scholarship contact by a date they set. Applications without the proper signatures cannot be accepted!
A listing of all classes taken in high school will automatically print as part of your application.