Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Financial Aid Outreach topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee advances substitute bill to expand financial aid outreach and increase postsecondary enrollment supports
Summary
Substitute House Bill 1136, which replaces a pilot FAFSA/WASFA outreach initiative with a financial aid completion and postsecondary enrollment program, was reported out of committee. The substitute increases outreach specialists from three to five and adds registered apprenticeship outreach responsibilities.
The Postsecondary Education & Workforce Committee voted Jan. 28 to report out substitute House Bill 1136, a package that restructures a FAFSA/WASFA outreach pilot into a statewide financial aid completion and postsecondary enrollment program and expands outreach staffing.
Committee staff explained that the bill "repeals the free application for federal student aid and the Washington application for state financial aid, outreach, and completion initiative pilot program, and establishes the financial aid completion and post secondary enrollment program," and that it requires annual reporting to the Legislature and coordination among the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges, the education data center, the Washington Student Achievement Council and the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction.
A proposed substitute (H‑0895.1) reduces the original scope of mandatory hires by adding two outreach specialists to the three currently serving under the pilot — bringing the total to five rather than requiring an outreach specialist in every education service district (which would have been nine). The substitute also requires outreach and enrollment specialists to assist high school students in connecting with staff and instructors affiliated with state‑registered apprenticeship programs and adds statewide apprenticeship organizations to the list of collaborating entities. Staff said the substitute removes some training‑credit requirements previously assigned to the Student Achievement Council and OSPI.
Representative Levitt described the substitute as targeting districts with the lowest FAFSA completion and limited local support; the substitute prioritizes limited resources for districts deemed highest need. Some members expressed questions about the focus on state‑registered apprenticeships versus federal programs operating in the state.
The committee adopted the substitute and voted to report it out with a due‑pass recommendation; the clerk recorded 12 ayes and 5 nays. The substitute will proceed to the House calendar.
