HB 1554
In CommitteeHouse
College bound scholarship
Providing equity in eligibility for the college bound scholarship.
This status may be delayed. See Action History below for the latest updates.
How does a bill become law?
- Introduced: The bill is filed and assigned a number.
- Committee: A subject-matter committee holds hearings, takes public testimony, and decides whether to advance the bill.
- Floor Vote: The full chamber (House or Senate) debates and votes on the bill.
- Opposite Chamber: The bill repeats the committee and floor vote process in the other chamber.
- Governor: The Governor reviews the bill and decides whether to sign or veto it.
- Signed: The bill has been signed into law.
AI Analysis
This bill expands eligibility for the Washington College Bound Scholarship to include more low-income students and youth in or recently adopted from foster care, and streamlines automatic enrollment. It also clarifies how the scholarship interacts with other financial aid and sets rules for use and expiration.
- Expands eligibility to include students who qualified for free or reduced-price lunch in 7th or 8th grade (even if not later eligible), and students who qualify in 9th grade after being ineligible earlier.
- Adds eligibility for youth currently in foster care (ages 13–21) and those adopted from foster care between ages 14–18 with a qualifying agreement.
- Requires automatic enrollment by the Office of Student Financial Assistance—no action needed by students or families.
- Maintains income cap at 65% of state median family income at time of high school graduation, and requires graduation or equivalency, no felony convictions, and Washington residency.
- Requires students to enroll in college within one year of graduation; scholarship eligibility expires after six years or 150% of program length.
- Clarifies that the scholarship pays tuition/fees (after other state aid), plus $500 for books, and must be applied before other aid is reduced.
Who is affected
- Low-income students — Students who qualified for free or reduced-price lunch in 7th or 8th grade (and may continue to qualify later) and students who qualify in 9th grade after previously being ineligible in earlier grades.
- Youth in foster care or recently adopted from foster care — Youth currently in foster care (ages 13–21, including those adopted between ages 14–18 with a negotiated agreement), who may qualify regardless of income or prior school performance.
- Recent high school graduates and equivalency recipients — Students who graduate from a Washington public or approved private high school, earn a high school equivalency certificate, or complete home-based instruction, and meet income and residency requirements.
- Undocumented students eligible under state law — Students who are residents of Washington but whose immigration status makes them eligible under RCW 28B.15.012(2)(e) (e.g., under the Washington Dream Act); they must provide an affidavit about pursuing permanent residency.
Pro/Con Analysis
Stronger case for benefits
Potential Benefits (5)
Expanding eligibility to students who qualified for free/reduced-price lunch in 7th–8th grade—even if later ineligible—and to youth in foster care (ages 13–21) and those adopted from foster care (ages 14–18) significantly broadens access to higher education for historically excluded groups, especially those facing systemic disadvantage.
EducationPeopleRef: Sec. 1(1)(a)(i), Sec. 1(1)(b), Sec. 1(1)(c)Automatic enrollment—no action required by students or families—removes a major barrier for low-income, first-generation, and foster youth who lack access to college navigation support, directly increasing participation and reducing administrative burden.
EducationPeopleRef: Sec. 1(2)(a), Sec. 1(2)(c)The scholarship covers tuition/fees *after* other state aid (e.g., Washington College Grant), plus $500 for books, and is designed to reduce unmet need *before* other aid is cut—ensuring the scholarship directly fills gaps for low-income students without displacing other support.
FinancialPeopleRef: Sec. 1(5)(a), Sec. 1(7)Allowing youth in or formerly in foster care to meet graduation requirements via high school equivalency (e.g., GED) acknowledges their unique life circumstances and increases flexibility—critical for those who may have exited school early due to instability.
EducationPeopleRef: Sec. 1(1)(c), Sec. 1(3)(a)(ii)Mandating outreach and awareness materials to schools and requiring acknowledgment of scholarship terms improves transparency and empowers students to plan ahead—helping mitigate information asymmetry that often disadvantages low-income students.
EducationPeopleRef: Sec. 1(2)(b), Sec. 1(2)(c)
Potential Concerns (5)
Expanding eligibility to students who qualified for free/reduced-price lunch in 9th grade *after* being ineligible earlier may create administrative complexity and inconsistent application across districts, potentially delaying or denying benefits to some eligible students due to verification challenges.
FinancialRef: Sec. 1(1)(a)(ii), Sec. 1(3)(d)The scholarship’s fixed $500 book allowance and tuition-only coverage may be insufficient for students at private institutions or vocational schools, especially if institutional aid is limited—reducing real-world purchasing power and increasing out-of-pocket costs for low-income students despite the intent to reduce burden.
FinancialLean peopleRef: Sec. 1(5)(b), Sec. 1(5)(c)The one-year enrollment deadline after graduation may disadvantage students who face transitional barriers (e.g., housing instability, health issues, or delayed college applications), disproportionately affecting youth in or recently adopted from foster care who often experience disrupted timelines.
EducationLean peopleRef: Sec. 1(6)The requirement of a “C” average for direct admission to four-year institutions may inadvertently exclude students who otherwise qualify academically but attend under-resourced schools where grade inflation or curriculum rigor varies—potentially limiting access to selective pathways.
EducationRef: Sec. 1(3)(a)(ii)The income cap (65% of state median family income) excludes some working-class families just above the threshold—despite their financial vulnerability—while the foster care provisions do not include youth adopted *before* age 14, creating arbitrary eligibility cliffs.
Rights & LibertiesRef: Sec. 1(1)(c), Sec. 1(3)(d)
Who Is Most Affected
Low-income students who qualified for free/reduced-price lunch in 7th–8th grade gain automatic access to tuition coverage—reducing financial barriers to college entry and increasing postsecondary attainment. However, those who lose eligibility mid-high school due to income gains may not qualify under current rules.
Youth currently in foster care (ages 13–21) and those adopted from foster care between ages 14–18 gain unprecedented access to tuition coverage regardless of income—addressing systemic gaps in college access for this high-risk group. However, youth adopted before age 14 or after age 18 remain excluded.
Recent high school graduates and equivalency recipients benefit from streamlined enrollment and expanded eligibility, but those who miss the one-year enrollment window or fall just above the income cap may be excluded despite financial need.
Undocumented students eligible under the Washington Dream Act gain access to the scholarship—enhancing educational equity—but must submit an affidavit about immigration status, which may deter some due to privacy or fear concerns.
Public and private postsecondary institutions in Washington will see increased enrollment of scholarship-eligible students, potentially increasing state funding through tuition unit redemption—but may face administrative burdens in coordinating aid stacking and reporting.