Permitting public high school students submit FAFSA prior to graduation
Summary
HB3446 requires public high schools in West Virginia, beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, to provide students and, where applicable, parents or guardians with support to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) before graduation. Schools must either help students file the FAFSA or collect a state-board form showing that the student or family understands FAFSA and has chosen not to file. The bill’s stated purpose is to increase access to postsecondary education by making sure students are informed about federal financial aid opportunities.
The bill also amends the state’s public charter school law to make clear that charter schools are subject to the new FAFSA requirement. In addition, it retains and restates a broad set of charter-school operating rules, including autonomy over staffing and curriculum, exemptions from most noncharter school statutes and policies, and continued obligations for public accountability, student safety, attendance, assessments, audits, and compliance with federal civil rights and disability laws.
Impact
The bill would add a new section to West Virginia education law requiring FAFSA-related outreach and assistance in every high school, while also making that requirement applicable to public charter schools. It affects county boards, state board rules, authorizers, and school administrators by creating a new graduation-related support obligation and allowing the State Board of Education to adopt implementation rules addressing privacy, confidentiality, and local flexibility. It also reinforces existing charter-school statutory provisions by listing the new FAFSA section among the laws that charter schools must follow.
Sentiment
The bill appears to have generally favorable support in the House, passing on April 2, 2025 by a vote of 75-24. The caption and structure indicate a policy goal of expanding student access to financial aid and postsecondary opportunities, which is typically a broadly popular education measure. No committee transcript was provided, so there is no recorded debate to show detailed support or opposition arguments beyond the floor vote.
Contention
The most likely point of contention is whether schools should be required to actively assist every student with FAFSA completion or instead simply document that the student or family declined to apply. Another possible area of concern is administrative burden on schools and privacy compliance, since the bill requires handling student and family information and limits retention of identifiable data. For charter schools, the bill also reinforces that they must comply with the FAFSA requirement despite their broader statutory autonomy, which may be relevant to charter-school operators and authorizers.
Supplementing and amending appropriations to the Higher Education Policy Commission, Higher Education Policy Commission – Administration – Control Account