Washington HB 1136: Making 2019-2021 supplemental transportation appropriations.

Bill Text

AN ACT Relating to student navigational supports to increase 1
postsecondary enrollment; amending RCW 28B.50.940; and creating a new 2
section.3
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:4
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature recognizes that Washington 5
is ranked among the top states in the nation for the share of jobs 6
requiring postsecondary education and that large majorities of high 7
school students self-report aspirations to continue their education 8
beyond 12th grade. However, only an estimated 40 percent of 9
Washington's high school class of 2021 is projected to obtain a 10
postsecondary credential. This issue is particularly pressing for 11
students from lower income households. The legislature further 12
recognizes that the real or perceived cost of postsecondary education 13
is a critical systemic barrier that impedes prospective students from 14
applying for and enrolling in postsecondary education. This is 15
despite Washington boasting one of the most expansive and equitable 16
set of state-level postsecondary financial aid programs in the 17
country.18
The legislature finds that counseling, advising, and coaching 19
that help students with the postsecondary financial aid application 20
and enrollment processes, and that provide hands-on assistance, are 21
H-0895.1
SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 1136
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2025 Regular Session
By House Postsecondary Education & Workforce (originally sponsored by
Representatives Leavitt, Shavers, Callan, Bronoske, Simmons, Pollet,
Nance, and Bernbaum)
READ FIRST TIME 01/31/25.
p. 1 SHB 1136

evidence-based approaches to increasing rates of postsecondary 1
enrollment. The legislature further recognizes that on-site experts 2
deliver comprehensive school career counseling programs, which 3
provide support for students and their families in securing 4
postsecondary opportunities.5
The addition of enrollment and outreach specialists can provide a 6
valuable resource for comprehensive school career counseling programs 7
and broaden access to student navigational supports throughout the 8
state. Therefore, Washington state should invest in student 9
navigational support and services to advise students to and through 10
postsecondary education and training.11
It is the intent of the legislature to establish a postsecondary 12
outreach and enrollment specialist program for the purposes of 13
helping Washington high school students with postsecondary financial 14
aid and educational opportunities as well as encouraging completion 15
of financial aid and postsecondary enrollment.16
Sec. 2. RCW 28B.50.940 and 2022 c 214 s 3 are each amended to 17
read as follows:18
Subject to availability of amounts appropriated for this specific 19
purpose, the college board shall administer a ((free application for 20
federal student aid and Washington application for state financial 21
aid outreach and completion initiative pilot program.22
(1) The college board shall select community or technical 23
colleges to participate in the pilot program. The colleges selected 24
to participate must each be located within educational service 25
districts that are in the bottom two for free application for federal 26
student aid completion rates when combining their respective school 27
districts' free application for federal student aid completion rates 28
over the past three completed academic years prior to June 9, 2022. 29
Colleges selected to participate shall employ outreach specialists to 30
work directly with the high schools located in the corresponding 31
educational service district. It is the legislature's intent that the 32
outreach specialists be employed at a ratio of one to 600 high school 33
seniors within the corresponding educational service district. The 34
outreach specialists shall make significant contact with high school 35
students and their families for the purpose of increasing free 36
application for federal student aid and Washington application for 37
state financial aid completion rates. The outreach specialists shall 38
use the free application for federal student aid and Washington 39
p. 2 SHB 1136

application for state financial aid data maintained by the student 1
achievement council to conduct targeted outreach and free application 2
for federal student aid and Washington application for state 3
financial aid completion assistance to high school seniors. The 4
outreach specialists shall also provide information on how to access 5
private scholarships. The outreach specialists shall conduct other 6
outreach as appropriate, including virtual or in-person presentations 7
with students and families, announcements on school intercoms and 8
social media channels, outreach to recent high school graduates as 9
peer messengers, and events at school college or career fairs.10
(2) The college board shall report annually to the appropriate 11
committees of the legislature in accordance with RCW 43.01.036 12
beginning December 1,