Declares that it is the intent of the legislature: (1) To promote and expand access to state financial aid programs by determining which programs provide the greatest value to the largest number of students, and by fully supporting those programs;

(2) To designate all existing financial aid an opportunity grant, with the effect of providing students with a clear understanding of available resources to pay for postsecondary education, thereby increasing access to postsecondary education and meeting the needs of local business and industry;

(3) That the higher education coordinating board and institutions of higher education coordinate the development of outreach tools, such as a web-based portal for information on all opportunity grant aid programs;

(4) For institutions of higher education to incorporate this information in promotional materials to prospective and current students and their families;

(5) To consolidate the educational opportunity grant program over a period of two years;

(6) To change eligibility requirements of the Washington scholars program;

(7) To redirect any cost savings gained through changes in eligibility criteria to the Washington scholars program to the state work-study program; and

(8) To phase out the Washington award for vocational excellence program over a period of two years from August 1, 2009.