Bill > HB1587

This bill encourages local governments (including municipalities, counties, and federally recognized Indian tribes) to establish their own promise scholarship programs within Washington's existing Opportunity Scholarship Program. The goal is to reduce barriers for students seeking postsecondary education by creating scholarships with minimal administrative complexity. Under the proposed legislation, local government partners can create scholarship programs administered by the Washington State Opportunity Scholarship Program, which will help select, notify, and distribute scholarship awards. Eligible students must have received a high school diploma or equivalency certificate in Washington and attend a public two-year institution or professional-technical certificate/degree program. The scholarship will cover the difference between a student's total tuition and fees and other state-funded financial aid, with local governments having the option to provide additional funds for educational expenses. Each local government partner's scholarship program can establish its own independent rules, and state matching funds will be limited to $250,000 per fiscal year. The bill also requires institutions of higher education to verify student eligibility and mandates annual reporting on the program's outcomes, including demographic information about participants and the total number of students served by each local government partner.