SENATE BILL REPORT

3SHB 1512

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

As Reported by Senate Committee On:

Higher Education & Workforce Development, February 22, 2018

Title: An act relating to expanding college bound scholarship eligibility.

Brief Description: Expanding college bound scholarship eligibility.

Sponsors: House Committee on Appropriations (originally sponsored by Representatives Bergquist, Stambaugh, McBride, Gregerson, Slatter, Frame, Macri, Peterson, Hudgins, Pollet, Orwall, Doglio, Appleton, Fitzgibbon, Goodman, Farrell and Stanford).

Brief History: Passed House: 2/07/18, 54-44.

Committee Activity: Higher Education & Workforce Development: 2/20/18, 2/22/18 [DP-WM, DNP].

Brief Summary of Bill

Expands a student's initial eligibility for the College Bound Scholarship (CBS) to the seventh and eighth grade, rather than just the seventh grade.
Allows eligible students to sign a CBS pledge in the ninth or tenth grade, beginning in the 2018-19 academic year, if they were previously ineligible in the seventh or eighth grade as a Washington student.
Prioritizes eligible CBS students for the State Need Grant who have family incomes between 0 and 70 percent of medium family income.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION & WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

Majority Report: Do pass and be referred to Committee on Ways & Means.

Signed by Senators Ranker, Chair; Palumbo, Vice Chair; Carlyle, Liias, Miloscia and Nelson.

Minority Report: Do not pass.

Signed by Senators Hawkins, Ranking Member; Short.

Staff: Alicia Kinne-Clawson (786-7407)

Background: The CBS Program was established in 2007 to provide guaranteed four-year tuition to students from low-income families. The first CBS awards were granted to the graduating high school class of 2012. Eligible students for the CBS include those who:

qualify for free or reduced-price lunches in the seventh grade;
are in grades seven through twelve, and (1) are dependent from parents or guardians; or (2) are receiving extended foster care services; or
are between the ages of 18 and 21 years and have not graduated from high school.

Beginning in the seventh grade, eligible students are notified of their eligibility and the requirements for award of the scholarship. To be eligible to receive the CBS, a student must sign a pledge during the seventh or eighth grade that includes a commitment to graduate from high school with at least a C average and no felony convictions. The pledge must be witnessed by a parent or guardian and forwarded to the Office of Student Financial Assistance within the Washington Student Achievement Council. If the student is a dependent, the student is automatically enrolled without any necessary action by the student or the student's family.

To receive the CBS, the student must graduate with at least a C average from a public high school, approved private high school, or have received home-based instruction. The student cannot have a felony conviction and must be a resident student. Upon graduation, the student's family income will be assessed, and if it does not exceed 65 percent of the state median family income, the student will receive a scholarship.

CBS recipients that attend public two-year or four-year institutions of higher education receive an award to cover the cost of tuition and fees, minus any state-funded grant, scholarship, or waiver assistance, plus $500 for books and materials. The student must maintain satisfactory academic progress and may not receive the scholarship for more than four full-time years.

Summary of Bill: The definition of eligible students for the CBS is expanded to include eighth graders in addition to seventh graders. Beginning in the 2018-19 academic year, students that qualify for free or reduced lunches in the tenth grade and were previously ineligible during seventh or eighth grade are eligible for the CBS. Eligible students are to be notified of their eligibility for the CBS in their seventh, eighth, ninth, and tenth grade years.

The selection of State Need Grant recipients statute is updated to include that CBS eligible students whose family incomes are in the 0 to 70 percent median family income range shall be prioritized for the maximum State Need Grant for which they are eligible.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Creates Committee/Commission/Task Force that includes Legislative members: No.

Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed. Includes a null and void clause.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony: PRO: As a high school social studies teacher, I was in the classroom full time when the first class of college bound entered. The success has been evident. This bill provides a small fix to a larger problem; one in six students enroll in college bound and get to high school graduation and no longer qualify. The bill also expands the opportunity for students who are qualifying for the first time in ninth or tenth grade under circumstances such as their parents losing their job. The college bound scholarship is designed to encourage students to aspire to and enroll in college. Over 280,000 students have signed up. Students who were low-income in middle school and did not sign up for college bound graduated at a lower rate than college bound enrollees. Independent Colleges believe this bill is a needed extension of college bound eligibility. This bill gives students who missed the opportunity in middle school and additional chance.

Persons Testifying: PRO: Representative Steve Bergquist, Prime Sponsor; Danise Ackelson, Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction; Becky Thompson, Washington Student Achievement Council; Devon Crouch, Independent Colleges of Washington.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: No one.