Pennsylvania 2025-2026 Regular Session

Pennsylvania Senate Bill SB310

Introduced
2/18/25  
Refer
2/18/25  
Refer
5/12/25  
Report Pass
5/12/25  
Engrossed
5/13/25  

Caption

In high schools, providing for Free Application for Federal Student Aid.

Impact

The implementation of SB310 will significantly impact state education laws by introducing a statewide requirement for FAFSA filing across both public and nonpublic schools. By ensuring that every high school student is aware of and has access to federal educational funding opportunities, the bill may increase financial assistance uptake. However, it also raises questions about the adequateness of infrastructure in schools to support such a mandate, especially regarding counseling and information dissemination.

Summary

Senate Bill 310, introduced in 2025, aims to amend the Public School Code of 1949 by requiring students in high school across Pennsylvania to file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) prior to graduation. The bill mandates that every student applies for federal financial aid unless they opt out by submitting a designated opt-out form. This is seen as a measure to encourage more students to access available financial aid resources, which may improve college enrollment rates and alleviate the financial burden on families.

Sentiment

Overall sentiment around SB310 appears to be favorable among proponents who view it as a necessary step towards increasing college affordability and accessibility for all students. Advocates argue that the requirement will lead to higher FAFSA completion rates and that it reflects a commitment to supporting higher education. Conversely, some critics express concerns about imposing additional requirements on students and potentially overstepping parental authority regarding financial decisions.

Contention

Notable points of contention include the debate over the opt-out provision, which some argue does not sufficiently address all scenarios where families may wish to decline participation. Additionally, there are apprehensions regarding privacy and the handling of personal financial information that schools may inadvertently collect during the FAFSA process. Supporters of the bill may need to provide robust assurances and frameworks to address these concerns to ensure the bill's successful implementation.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

PA ACR40

Student financial aid: Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) data.

PA S779

Requires students to complete free application for federal student aid as part of high school graduation requirements or request an exemption.

PA SB305

Seymour-Campbell Student Success Act of 2012: Free Application for Federal Student Aid and California Dream Act application.

PA A3243

Requires schools to universally provide free meals to all students, regardless of whether students are federally eligible for free or reduced price meals.

PA HB1258

In pupils and attendance, providing for personalized education program; providing for student freedom accounts; and establishing the Student Freedom Account Program.

PA S776

Requires school districts to provide information on free application for federal student aid to students in grades 11 and 12.

PA SB315

An act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), entitled "An act relating to the public school system, including certain provisions applicable as well to private and parochial schools; amending, revising, consolidating and changing the laws relating thereto," in preliminary provisions, further providing for Special Education Funding Commission and for minimum number of days or hours; in duties and powers of boards of school directors, providing for admission fees for school-sponsored activities; in intermediate units, further providing for staff; in certification of teachers, further providing for certificates qualifying persons to teach and for instructional certificate grade spans and age levels and duties of department, providing for instructional certificate grade spans and age levels and for State certificate fee reduction, further providing for standard employment application, for career and technical instructional certificate, for program of continuing professional and paraprofessional education and for postbaccalaureate certification, providing for assessment of basic skills, further providing for professional educator discipline fee and providing for career and technical administrative director certification flexibility; in pupils and attendance, further providing for attendance policy at charter, regional charter and cyber charter schools, for procedure when child is truant, for procedure by school when child habitually truant, for procedure upon filing of citation, for penalties for violating compulsory school attendance requirements and for study of truancy procedure, providing for department supports to prevent truancy and further providing for reports to Superintendent of Public Instruction and for exceptional children and education and training; in student supports, further providing for definitions; in school safety and security, further providing for definitions, for School Safety and Security Committee, for school safety and security assessment providers, for School Safety and Security Grant Program, for school safety and security coordinator and for school safety and security training, providing for school safety and mental health grants for 2025-2026 school year and further providing for reporting and memorandum of understanding; in school security, further providing for training, for school resource officers, for school security guards and for duties of commission; in Safe2Say Program, further providing for intent, for definitions, for Safe2Say Program and for annual report; in threat assessment, further providing for definitions, for threat assessment teams and for threat assessment guidelines, training and information materials; in Drug and Alcohol Recovery High School Program, further providing for scope of program and selection of students and for enrollment of students; in evidence-based reading instruction, further providing for definitions and providing for school entity duties related to evidence-based reading instruction, for school entity duties related to reading screening, for reading deficiency identification and parental notification, for reading intervention plans, for grant program, for funding, for reporting, for accountability and for construction; in high schools, further providing for attendance in other districts and providing for Free Application for Federal Student Aid; in interscholastic athletics accountability, further providing for council recommendations and standards; in charter schools, further providing for funding for cyber charter schools, for enrollment and notification and for enrollee wellness checks; in career and technical education, further providing for capital reserve fund for approved purchases of equipment and facility maintenance, for career and technical education equipment grants, for Cosmetology Training through Career and Technical Center Pilot Program and for Barber Training through Career and Technical Center Pilot Program; providing for Nursing Shortage Assistance Program; in community colleges, further providing for financial program and reimbursement of payments; in the State System of Higher Education, further providing for definitions and for Grow Pennsylvania Merit Scholarship Program; in educational tax credits, further providing for limitations; in higher education accountability and transparency, further providing for exit counseling; in miscellaneous provisions relating to institutions of higher education, repealing provisions relating to State-related university performance-based funding model, further providing for prohibition on scholarship displacement at public institutions of higher education and providing for cooperation and for State scholarship renewals; in institutions of higher education, further providing for powers and duties of State Board of Higher Education, for definitions, for Performance-based Funding Council and for public institution of higher education reporting, providing for State-related University Performance Fund, for performance-based funding formula and for public accountability and further providing for agency duties, for grant priority and for report; in Ready-to-Succeed Scholarship, further providing for agency; in funding for public libraries, providing for State aid for fiscal year 2025-2026; in reimbursements by Commonwealth and between school districts, further providing for student-weighted basic education funding beginning with 2023-2024 school year, for extraordinary special education program expenses, for assistance to school districts declared to be in financial recovery status or identified for financial watch status and for Ready-to-Learn Block Grant; in construction and renovation of buildings by school entities, further providing for applicability; abrogating regulations; and making an editorial change.

PA SB1039

In student supports, further providing for definitions and for student supports and providing for the Pennsylvania Mental Health First Aid Training Program; and, in school safety and security, further providing for the School Safety and Security Grant Program.

PA A4319

Establishes three-year pilot program in DOE to provide certain students with information and assistance regarding federal financial aid application.

PA S584

Establishes three-year pilot program in DOE to provide certain students with information and assistance regarding federal financial aid application.

Similar Bills

No similar bills found.