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 SB750

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

PA HB1312

In high schools, providing for free application for Federal student aid and graduation requirements.

PA HB1904

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

PA HB1367

In school health services, providing for student mental health awareness.

PA SB843

In preliminary provisions, further providing for Special Education Funding Commission, for Basic Education Funding Commission and for Commission on Education and Economic Competitiveness and providing for public job posting database, for instructional vacancy data and for data transparency; providing for Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact; in drug and alcohol recovery high school program, further providing for scope of program and selection of students, providing for enrollment of students and further providing for academic programs; in terms and courses of study, further providing for Economic Education and Personal Financial Literacy Programs; in early learning programs, providing for quarterly reporting; in high schools, further providing for attendance in other districts; in educational tax credits, further providing for definitions; in credit card marketing, further providing for regulation of on-campus credit card marketing; in reimbursements by Commonwealth and between school districts, further providing for assistance to school districts declared to be in financial recovery status or identified for financial watch status; and abrogating regulations.

PA HB1708

In preliminary provisions, further providing for definitions; in pupils and attendance, providing for educational oversight for students in facilities, further providing for possession of weapons prohibited and providing for school stability for certain students; in safe schools, further providing for definitions and for reporting and establishing the School-Based Diversion Programs Fund; in school security, further providing for powers and duties and providing for limitations on proceedings and arrest; and, in school districts of the first class, repealing provisions relating to placement of certain adjudicated students.

PA HB1555

In preliminary provisions, further providing for definitions; in pupils and attendance, providing for educational oversight for juveniles in facilities, further providing for possession of weapons prohibited and providing for placement of certain adjudicated students; in safe schools, further providing for definitions and for reporting and providing for School-Based Diversion Programs Fund; in school security, further providing for powers and duties and providing for limitations on proceedings and arrest; and, in school districts of the first class, repealing provisions relating to placement of certain adjudicated students.

PA HB27

In preliminary provisions, further providing for Basic Education Funding Commission and for special provisions applicable to limited school years, establishing the Child Reunification Program in the Department of Education and providing for minimum number of days or hours, for public job posting database, for instructional vacancy data and for data transparency; in duties and powers of boards of school directors, further providing for additional schools and departments; in school finances, providing for school district budget timeline for 2024 and for procedure for securing approval of electors; in grounds and buildings, further providing for limitation on new applications for Department of Education approval of public school building projects; in school directors' associations and county boards of school directors, further providing for powers and duties; in intermediate units, further providing for visual services and for school safety and security enhancements; in professional employees, repealing provisions relating to religious garb, insignia, etc., prohibited and penalty; in certification of teachers, further providing for substitute teaching permit for prospective teachers, for locally issued temporary certification for substitute teachers and for permit for classroom monitors; providing for Educator Pipeline Support Grant Program; in pupils and attendance, further providing for compulsory education of physical defectives, for dependent children, for cost of tuition and maintenance of certain exceptional children in approved institutions, for payment of cost of tuition and maintenance of certain exceptional children, for transfer of funds for transferal programs and for children under six with defective hearing and parent or guardian advised of schools, etc.; in safe schools, further providing for definitions and for Office for Safe Schools, repealing provisions relating to regulations and to reporting, further providing for policy relating to bullying and for maintenance of records, repealing provisions relating to safe schools advocate in school districts of the first class, to standing, to enforcement and to construction of article and other laws; in school safety and security, further providing for definitions and for School Safety and Security Committee, providing for duties of committee, further providing for School Safety and Security Grant Program, providing for Targeted School Safety Grants for Nonpublic Schools and School Entities Program, for standardized protocols, for county safe schools' collaborative and for school mental health grants for 2023-2024 school year, further providing for school safety and security coordinator training and providing for reporting and memorandum of understanding, for safe schools advocate in school districts of the first class and for enforcement; in school security, further providing for definitions, for school police officers, for annual report and for school security guards; in school health services, further providing for dental examinations and dental hygiene services and providing for eating disorder awareness and education; in drug and alcohol recovery high school program, providing for enrollment of students; in terms and courses of study, providing for calculation of average daily membership for a dual credit course and further providing for Economic Education and Personal Financial Literacy Programs; in early learning programs, providing for quarterly meetings; in character education program, further providing for character education program; providing for the Dual Credit Innovation and Equity Grant Program; in high schools, further providing for attendance in other districts; in community colleges, further providing for financial program and reimbursement of payments; in educational tax credits, further providing for qualification and application by organizations, for limitations and for low-achieving schools; in school districts of the first class, further providing for qualifications of principals and teachers; in funding for public libraries, providing for State aid for fiscal year 2023-2024; in credit card marketing, further providing for regulation of on-campus credit card marketing; in reimbursements by Commonwealth and between school districts, further providing for definitions and for payments on account of pupils enrolled in career and technical curriculums, providing for Level-Up Supplement for 2022-2023 school year, further providing for payments on account of courses for exceptional children, for payments to intermediate units, for assistance to school districts declared to be in financial recovery status or identified for financial watch status, for payments, for payments on account of pupil transportation, for Ready-to-Learn Block Grant and for payment of required contribution for public school employees' Social Security; in construction and renovation of buildings by school entities, further providing for applicability; providing for School Environmental Repairs Program; abrogating a regulation; and making an editorial change.

PA HB2109

In terms and courses of study, providing for student mental health supports.

PA SB757

In Treasury Department, establishing the Pennsylvania Award for Student Success Scholarship Program and the Pennsylvania Award for Student Success Scholarship Fund; in bonus and tax reports and returns and reports and records relating to tax collections, further providing for confidential information; in tax credits, further providing for Department of Community and Economic Development; in 2022-2023 budget implementation, further providing for Department of Education; and making a repeal.

Similar Bills

No similar bills found.