(1) The eligible student will make application directly to the board.

(2) The completed application will include a data sheet, signed certification statement, a copy of the parent's previous calendar year's federal tax return for the purpose of verifying the income, and any other documentation requested by the board in response to missing, incomplete, or unclear information. Student income information will be accepted, in lieu of parental information, when the board recognizes the applicant as being an independent student.

(3) The board will treat all applications in a confidential manner.

(4) Applications will be made available through several means including:

(a) Mailings to public and private high school principals in the state;

(b) Posting on the HECB web site (http://www.hecb.wa.gov/);

(c) Direct mailing to students.

(5) The board will annually set a deadline for the receipt of applications from that year's eligible graduating high school seniors and the deadline for renewal applications from eligible students having graduated in prior years.

(6) Applications must be received by the deadline for each graduating class of high school seniors to be considered for payment at any time during the authorized use period.