S-1026.1

SENATE BILL 5655

BySenators Torres, Dozier, and Wellman

AN ACT Relating to creating the Washington achievers grant program; and adding a new chapter to Title 28B RCW.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

(a) Establish a request for proposal process to select the institutions of higher education that may benefit from grants provided under the Washington achievers grant program; and

(b) Create criteria for evaluating and reviewing the request for proposals that, at a minimum, must consider:

(i) The number of potential eligible students to be served;

(ii) Success of the existing federal TRIO programs in providing services for individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds; and

(iii) Success of the federal TRIO programs in helping eligible students succeed in the educational pipeline.

(2) The student achievement council shall develop a process for helping institutions of higher education identify eligible students through Washington application for state financial aid submissions.

(3) The definitions in this subsection apply throughout this section, unless the context clearly requires otherwise:

(a) "Eligible student" means a student who:

(i) Is a resident student as defined in RCW 28B.15.012(2) (a) through (e);

(ii) Demonstrates academic need; and

(iii) Is one of the following:

(A) A first-generation college student meaning neither parent or guardian has a four-year college degree;

(B) Has a family income at or below 150 percent of the federal poverty level as adjusted for family size and determined annually by the federal department of health and human services; or

(C) Has a documented disability.

(b) "Institutions of higher education" has the same meaning as in RCW 28B.10.016.

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