Bill > SB310

This bill requires high schools in Pennsylvania to ensure that students file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or submit an opt-out form beginning in the 2025-2026 school year. Under the legislation, students attending public, nonpublic, and private schools must complete the FAFSA, with an option to opt out by submitting a form developed by the Department of Education. The opt-out form must include a statement acknowledging the student's understanding of FAFSA's purpose. Schools must provide the opt-out form to parents and students, and if no form is filed, they may exempt the student after making a reasonable effort to contact the student's parent or guardian. The bill includes privacy protections, explicitly stating that schools cannot require personal financial information and that any inadvertently obtained financial details are not considered public records. The Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency will provide schools with information about FAFSA completion, if available. The bill defines key terms such as "agency," "department," "FAFSA," and different types of schools, and will take effect 60 days after passage.

Budget and Finance, Education

https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/bill_history.cfm?syear=2025&sind=0&body=S&type=B&bn=310