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Bill would link High School and Beyond plan platform to financial-aid application data
Summary
Substitute Senate Bill 5,841 would expand the universal online High School and Beyond plan to import Washington Student Achievement Council financial-aid application data and add the Washington Opportunity Scholarship to required counseling elements. Sponsors and student witnesses say the change helps students and families track aid eligibility and increase enrollment and completion.
Substitute Senate Bill 5,841 would expand the state’s universal online High School and Beyond plan so it can import financial‑aid application data maintained by the Washington Student Achievement Council and display students’ progress on state and federal aid applications. Committee staff Ethan Moreno said the change aims to give students, parents and authorized school staff a consolidated view of financial‑aid completion and eligibility.
The measure also adds the Washington Opportunity Scholarship Program to the list of financial-aid programs that students must demonstrate they have received information about in their High School and Beyond plans. Sponsor testimony from Senator Behnke framed the measure as a practical modernization to help students — especially non‑English speakers and first‑generation applicants — find and act on scholarship and aid opportunities.
A student witness, Sandra Gerard of the Washington Student Association, urged support, saying accessible aid information could boost degree completion and address workforce shortages. Committee members raised questions about data privacy and opt‑in provisions; sponsor testimony described an opt‑in design intended to address immigrant and DACA students’ concerns about information sharing.
The committee held a brief public-comment session (17 pro, 2 con/other sign-ins) and closed the hearing without action at this session.
