SB1798 – Strengthening FAFSA Support in Arizona High Schools
On Tuesday, March 24, the Arizona House Education Committee will hear SB1798, which could improve postsecondary enrollment rates for high school graduates. If passed, the bill would encourage every Arizona public high school to designate a trained FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) lead and implement a comprehensive, schoolwide FAFSA awareness and completion support strategy, including clear communication to students and families, as well as annual reporting to the state. The bill passed the Senate last week with bipartisan support, and now needs your voice
This proposal is not a FAFSA mandate and does not require students to complete the application. Instead, it builds school-level infrastructure to ensure that every student has access to accurate information and trusted guidance about financial aid opportunities, with the goal of increasing FAFSA completion. Data clearly shows that simply filling out the FAFSA increases the likelihood of attaining postsecondary education by 84%.
Why SB1798 Matters
Beginning in the 2027–2028 school year, SB1798 would encourage every Arizona public high school to:
- Provide FAFSA awareness information and completion assistance to students and families.
- Designate at least one FAFSA point of contact who completes an approved orientation and receives ongoing updates.
- Annually identify and report designated staff to the Arizona Board of Regents.
- Publicly share designated staff contact information in the student handbook, school communications, and on the school website.
- Develop and implement a FAFSA awareness strategy aligned with Education and Career Action Plan (ECAP) requirements adopted by the Arizona State Board of Education.
- Provide grade-level communications (grades 9–12) explaining FAFSA’s purpose, benefits, and connection to postsecondary and career pathways.
- Communicate directly with seniors and their families about deadlines, available support, and the importance of completing the parent/contributor portion.
The bill strengthens awareness and support without imposing new graduation requirements and reinforces the work that many schools are already doing to increase FAFSA completion rates.
Increasing Access to Postsecondary Pathways
The FAFSA is the gateway to federal grants, work-study, loans, and many state- and school-specific scholarships. When students don’t complete the FAFSA, they often leave thousands of dollars of scholarship money unclaimed.
Research shows that students who complete the FAFSA are more likely to enroll in postsecondary education. Yet many Arizona students, particularly first-generation, rural, and low-income students, lack the information or support needed to navigate the process. By embedding FAFSA awareness beginning in ninth grade and recommending that every high school has a trained point of contact, this bill will help students:
- Understand how financial aid makes postsecondary education affordable.
- Connect academic choices to career pathways.
- Enroll in certificate, community college, apprenticeship, or university programs aligned with workforce needs.
Access to financial aid expands access to opportunity.
Making FAFSA Clear and Manageable for Arizona Families
For many families, the FAFSA process can feel complicated. Clear, proactive communication about the value and purpose of the form, as well as how to complete it, reduces confusion and builds confidence.
A completed FAFSA opens the door to Pell Grants and other aid, reduces financial barriers, and helps families make informed decisions about how to make postsecondary education financially accessible.
Strengthening Arizona’s Workforce Pipeline
Arizona’s fastest-growing sectors, including advanced manufacturing, healthcare, and technology, require education and training beyond high school, and Arizona is not currently producing enough high-skill workers to fill open jobs.
Increasing FAFSA awareness, and therefore, raising the completion rate, strengthens the pipeline into postsecondary programs that lead to high-wage, high-skill, high-demand careers, supporting stronger, sustained economic growth.
Take Action
Designating a trained FAFSA point of contact in every Arizona high school is a practical, cost-effective step toward increasing postsecondary enrollment and credential attainment.
By improving awareness, supporting families, and aligning education planning with workforce needs, SB1798 will help more Arizonans pursue postsecondary education, secure meaningful employment, and achieve a higher quality of life.
Education Forward Arizona encourages Arizonans to contact their elected officials in the House Education Committee and share why this bill is critical for the future success of our state.