HARRISBURG – A bill to help Pennsylvania families make informed decisions about pursuing college and job training programs was approved by the Senate Education Committee.

Senate Bill 310, sponsored by Sen. Scott Martin, R-Lancaster, would require high school seniors to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which determines eligibility for federal, state and school financial aid programs. Completing the FAFSA ensures families have access to vital information on aid packages for higher education, career and technical education, certificate programs and more.

Martin said the universal FAFSA policy is a commonsense way to address workforce needs and boost education empowerment and access.

“In too many cases, young people may choose not to pursue post-secondary education options simply because they think it’s too expensive,” Martin said. “Creating a universal FAFSA completion policy will ensure every student and family will know the resources they have available if they want to advance their careers and train for quality jobs.”

Under Martin’s bill, families who choose not to complete the application could opt out on a form provided to parents or guardians. The requirement would not go into effect until the 2025-26 school year.

The National College Attainment Network estimates that the high school class of 2024 left almost $4.4 billion in federal Pell Grants on the table nationwide, including more than $147 million in Pennsylvania alone. Previous data indicate that 92 percent of students who completed the FAFSA enrolled in postsecondary programs by the following November, compared to 51 percent enrollment for students who did not complete the FAFSA.

Nine other states have policies pertaining to completion of the FAFSA. When Louisiana implemented its universal FAFSA policy in 2018, the completion rate jumped by nearly 26 percent.

Similar legislation was approved by the Senate in 2023 by a 46-4 margin. The bill now moves to the full Senate for consideration.