HARRISBURG – A bill to help PA families make informed decisions about pursuing college and job training programs was approved by the state Senate Education Committee. Senate Bill 310, sponsored by Sen. Scott Martin of Lancaster & Berks Counties, would require high school seniors to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid or FAFSA, which determines eligibility for federal, state, and school financial aid programs. Completing the FAFSA ensures families have access on aid packages for higher education, career and technical education, certificate programs, and more. Martin said in many cases, young people may not pursue post-secondary education because they think it’s too expensive. Creating a universal FAFSA completion policy will ensure every student and family knows the resources available. Under the bill, families could opt out. The requirement would not go into effect until the 2025-26 school year. Estimates show 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 PA alone. The bill now moves to the full state Senate.
SEN. SCOTT MARTIN