Senate Bill 5999

BACKGROUND:

The Washington College Grant (WA Grant) provides need-based financial aid to income-eligible students graduating from Washington high-schools who are pursuing education or training beyond high school. Eligibility for the WA Grant is determined by the household income of students pursuing higher education. Currently, a person is eligible if they are:

• Washington residents (including undocumented people)

• Recent high school graduates or working-age adults

• Low- to middle-income families and individuals

• People who plan to attend an approved certificate program, job training, apprenticeship, or college, part-time or full-time

Income-eligibility is based on Median Family Income (MFI), adjusted for family size. Median family income is the amount at which half of all households make more than that amount and half of households make less than that amount.  The MFI for 2022-23 for a family of 4 was $107,000, so to generate the full award amount a student’s median family income for a family of four would need to be $64,500 or less.

Currently, a WA College Grant recipient’s family would need to be at or below 60% of MFI, adjusted for family size, to receive the full award amount. Students can still qualify for Washington College Grant award of between 10 % and 60% of the full award amount if their family income is between 61% and 100% of the state MFI. Students from families above 100% MFI are not eligible to receive the WA College Grant.

In 2022, the legislature started to provide funding through the 2024-25 school year for a Bridge Grant that would make students who are eligible for the full WCG award, but who do not qualify for the College Bound Scholarship, eligible for a $500 annual stipend to cover additional higher education costs beyond tuition and fees, such as books. A similar grant already exists for College Bound Scholarship recipients.

SUMMARY:

This bill would eligibility for the maximum award amount from 60% to 70% of Median Family Income (MFI), adjusted for family size. and it would increase award amounts for qualifying students.

Median Family Income (MFI)............................................Award Amount

0% - 70% of state MFI.......................................................Maximum award

71% - 80% of state MFI........................................50% of maximum award

81% - 90% of state MFI........................................25% of maximum award

91% -100% of state MFI.......................................10% of maximum award

The bill also makes the Bridge Grant program permanent.

• This would enable students who qualify for the maximum Washington College Grant award  and who are not receiving the College Bound Scholarship to qualify for an annual amount of $500 to cover the cost of books and other costs in addition to tuition and fees.

POINTS TO CONSIDER ABOUT THIS BILL:

The cost of attaining postsecondary degrees and credentials can be a significant barrier for students who do not have the financial resources to enroll and persist in higher education opportunities. Providing additional stipends for students to cover the costs of attendance beyond tuition and fees can enable students to purchase the course materials and other resources needed to engage in their learning and continue their enrollment in higher education.

Learn more:

• What Evidence from Research Tells Us: Closing Racial Equity Gaps in K-12 Postsecondary Transitions (WA Student Achievement Council)

• Equity Landscape Report: Exploring Equity Gaps in WA Postsecondary Education (WA Student Achievement Council)

• Higher Education Context and Barriers to Equitable College Access and Readiness (Center for Policy Research and Evaluation)