SENATE BILL REPORT
SB 6254
As of January 22, 2024
Title: An act relating to student navigational supports to increase postsecondary enrollment.
Brief Description: Providing student navigational supports to increase postsecondary enrollment.
Sponsors: Senators Nobles, Hansen, Conway, Frame, Hasegawa, Kuderer, Lovick, Salda?a, Valdez and Wilson, C..
Brief History:
Committee Activity: Higher Education & Workforce Development: 1/24/24.
Brief Summary of Bill
  • Expands the financial aid completion program at the community and technical colleges to every educational service district and allows the college board to contract with outside entities including community-based organizations or tribal organizations depending on the needs of the district.
  • Modifies the role of the financial aid outreach specialists to include student persistence.
  • Creates a new financial aid certification program for secondary school teachers and counselors, higher education staff, and community partners and requires that the certification program be offered at no cost.
  • Directs the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, the Washington Student Achievement Council, and the Professional Educator Standards Board to explore whether completion of a financial aid certification program could be recognized as continuing education credits and what additional incentives should be provided to meet certificated professional goals.
SENATE COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION & WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
Staff: Alicia Kinne-Clawson (786-7407)
Background:

Financial Aid Applications. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the federal form that current and prospective students fill out to determine their eligibility for federal and state financial aid for attending postsecondary education institutions. The FAFSA asks a variety of questions based on federal income tax returns to determine a student's financial need, taking into account the student's dependency status, income, assets, family size, and other factors. Students without legal immigrant status are ineligible for federal financial aid. The Washington Application for State Financial Aid (WASFA) is an alternative form for students who cannot file a FAFSA, but may still be eligible for state financial aid. The WASFA is administered by the Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC).

 

Free Application for Federal Student Aid and Washington Application For State Financial Aid Outreach and Completion Initiative. In 2022 the Legislature passed 2SHB 1835 which established the FAFSA and WASFA outreach and completion pilot program. Under this program the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges (SBCTC) has administered a FAFSA and WASFA outreach and completion initiative pilot program in the two educational service districts with the lowest FAFSA completion rates over the prior three years. The colleges that participate in the pilot employ outreach specialists to work with high schools in the educational service district with the purpose of increasing FAFSA and WASFA filing rates.

Summary of Bill:

The bill as referred to committee not considered.

Summary of Bill (Proposed Substitute):

Financial Aid Outreach and Completion Initiative. The FAFSA and WASFA Outreach and Completion Initiative is modified to be the financial aid completion and community and technical college retention pilot program. The program is expanded from serving two educational service districts (ESDs) to serving all ESDs. SBCTC, in consultation with the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI), shall select community and technical colleges to participate in the program. SBCTC may also consider tribal colleges or community-based organizations to participate in the program.

 

Outreach and Persistence Specialists. The outreach specialists are renamed outreach and persistence specialists. In addition to any responsibilities related to financial aid application completion, the outreach and persistence specialists are also required to assist students in exploring college services and programs to improve skills and increase academic achievement. The outreach and persistence specialists must focus on students who are eligible for public benefits programs. In collaboration with OSPI the college board must outline the roles and responsibilities of organizations employing outreach and persistence specialists.

 

Beginning December 1, 2025, SBCTC must report annually on the financial aid completion and community and technical college retention pilot program. Participating colleges must share student-level data with WSAC. Tribal or community-based organizations that are selected to participate must enter into data sharing agreements with partner colleges. The report must include information about effectiveness in increasing FAFSA and WASFA filing and how the initiatives worked to increase college retention.

 

Financial Aid Certification Program. WSAC is responsible for administering a financial aid certification program that is available at no cost to secondary school teachers and counselors as well as staff at the institutions of higher education and community partners. Minimum requirements for the financial aid certification program are provided.

 

By September 1, 2026, OSPI in collaboration with WSAC and the Professional Educator Standards Board (PESB) must offer continuing education credits to in-service educator on the topic of financial aid. OSPI, WSAC, and PESB must make recommendations to the Legislature regarding additional incentives to encourage participation.

Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Requested on January 22, 2024.
Creates Committee/Commission/Task Force that includes Legislative members: No.
Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.