school safety; identification system; appropriation

Plain English Breakdown

The official summary does not provide details on recognition or benefits for participating schools, nor consequences for non-compliance.

Financial Aid Awareness Program

This bill establishes a program within the Arizona Department of Education to recognize schools that provide financial aid awareness activities and support for completing the FAFSA starting in the 2027-2028 school year.

What This Bill Does

• Establishes the Financial Aid Awareness Program within the Arizona Department of Education (ADE) to recognize schools providing financial aid awareness activities and support for completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
• Requires participating schools to designate at least one employee as a point of contact for FAFSA-related activities.
• Necessitates that designated employees complete an initial orientation program approved or recognized by either ABOR or a FAFSA support partner and provide information about the FAFSA to students and families.
• Requires participating schools to annually report to ABOR and ADE the name and contact information of their designated point of contact for the FAFSA.
• Instructs participating schools to include the name and contact information of their designated point of contact in student handbooks, at least one communication from the school to students and parents, and on the school's website.

Who It Names or Affects

• Arizona public schools
• Students in grades 9 through 12

Terms To Know

FAFSA

Free Application for Federal Student Aid, a form used to apply for federal financial aid.

Financial Aid Awareness Program

A program established by the Arizona Department of Education to recognize schools that help students understand and complete FAFSA applications.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not specify how much funding will be provided for this program.
• It is unclear what specific recognition or benefits participating schools will receive from ADE.
• There are no details on the consequences if a school fails to meet the eligibility requirements.

Official Summary Text

SB1798 - 572R - Senate Fact Sheet

Assigned to
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PASSED BY HOUSE

ARIZONA STATE SENATE

Fifty-Seventh
Legislature, First Regular Session

AMENDED

FACT SHEET FOR
s.b. 1798

school
safety; identification system; appropriation

(
NOW:
FAFSA; financial aid awareness program
)

Purpose

Establishes the
Financial Aid Awareness Program (Program) within the Arizona Department of
Education (ADE) to recognize schools that provide financial aid awareness
activities and support for completing the Free Application for Federal Student
Aid (FAFSA) beginning in the 2027-2028 school year. Outlines eligibility
requirements for schools that elect to participate in the Program and
administrative requirements on ADE relating to the Program. �

Background

Each individual
seeking to apply for federal financial aid must file an application with the Secretary
of the U.S. Department of Education (Secretary), known as the FAFSA. An
applicant must provide the Secretary with an application that includes outlined
personal and financial information to determine eligibility for federal
financial aid. Upon receiving and processing a FAFSA, the Secretary must
provide to the applicant: 1) the estimated dollar amount of a Federal Pell
Grant award for which the applicant is eligible; 2) information on other types
of federal financial aid for which the applicant may be eligible and how the
applicant can find additional information regarding such aid; 3) specified consumer-tested
information regarding each institution selected by the applicant, including the
median debt of students upon completion and the institutional default rate; 4)
if applicable, a notification of the federal means-tested benefits that the
applicant has not already indicated to receive, but for which the applicant may
be eligible; 5) information on specified education tax benefits; and 6) if the
individual identified as a veteran or a U.S. Armed Forces active duty service
member, information on benefits administered by the U.S. Department of Veteran
Affairs and U.S. Department of Defense (
20
U.S.C. � 1090
).

A public school
must complete an Arizona Education and Career Action Plan (ECAP) for each
student in grades 9 through 12 prior to graduation. An ECAP must allow students
to enter, track and update the student's: 1) academic goals, which includes
identifying and planning the coursework necessary to achieve the high school
graduation requirements and pursue postsecondary education and career options;
2) career goals, which includes identifying career plans, options, interests
and skills, exploring entry level opportunities, and evaluating educational
requirements; 3) postsecondary education goals, which includes identifying
progress toward meeting admission requirements, completing application forms
and creating financial assistance plans; and 4) extracurricular activity goals,
which includes documenting participation in clubs, organizations, athletics,
fine arts, community service and other activities (
A.A.C.
R7-2-302.05
).�

There is no
anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this
legislation.

Provisions

1.

Establishes the Program within ADE to recognize schools that provide
financial aid awareness activities and support for completing the FAFSA.

2.

Directs ADE to administer the Program in collaboration with the Arizona
Board of Regents (ABOR).

3.

Allows,
beginning in the 2027-2028 school year, any school in Arizona to elect to
participate in the Program by notifying ADE and by demonstrating that the school:

a)

designates at least one employee as the school's point of contact for
the FAFSA;

b)

annually reports to ABOR and ADE the name and contact information of the
school's designated point of contact for the FAFSA;

c)

includes the name and contact information of the school's designated
point of contact for the FAFSA in the student handbook and at least one
communication from the school to students and student's parents;

d)

posts the name and contact information of the school's designated point
of contact for the FAFSA on the school's website;�

e)

develops and implements a FAFSA awareness strategy that is aligned with
the State Board of Education's adopted ECAP requirements; and

f)

provides through the school's messaging system, social media accounts,
email accounts and student information system portal, the following information
to the parents of grade 12 students, if the school provides instruction to high
school students:

i.

the importance of completing the parent or contributor portion of the FAFSA;

ii.

any
school-based or statewide support that is available completing the FAFSA; and

iii.

any relevant deadlines or resources.

4.

Requires
each school's designated point of contact for the FAFSA to:�

a)

complete an initial orientation program for the FAFSA that is approved
or recognized by either ABOR or a FAFSA support partner; and

b)

provide
information about the FAFSA, including information about available resources
and assistance to students and families of students.

5.

Allows
a school's designated point of contact for the FAFSA to earn continuing
education credits for completing:�

a)

the prescribed initial orientation program for the FAFSA; or

b)

any
training and education after the initial orientation program to learn about
updates to federal policies and processes relating to the FAFSA.

6.

Specifies,
if a school provides instruction to high school students, that the FAFSA awareness
strategy must provide, through the school's messaging system, social media
accounts, email accounts and student information system portal, the following
information in grade-level communications to students in grades 9 through 12:

a)

the purpose of the FAFSA;

b)

the benefits of completing the FAFSA; and

c)

the
role of financial aid in postsecondary education and career pathways.

7.

Requires ADE to annually determine whether each participating Program
school meets the prescribed eligibility requirements.

8.

Authorizes ADE to require each participating Program school to submit
reports or other evidence of eligibility to ADE in a form and manner prescribed
by ADE.

9.

Allows a participating Program school to include the Program designation
in the school's report card and on the school's website, communications and
promotional materials.

10.

Specifies
that the statutory prohibition on releasing student transcripts to outlined
entities does not prohibit a school district or charter school from entering
into a partnership with one or more postsecondary institutions in Arizona for
the sole purpose of providing information to students about educational
opportunities that are available at each postsecondary institution.

11.

Defines

school
as a school that is operated by a school district or charter
school.
�

12.

Defines

FAFSA
as the application that is required for individuals seeking to
apply for federal financial aid.

13.

Becomes
effective on the general effective date.

Amendments Adopted by
Committee

�

Adopted the strike-everything amendment.

Amendments Adopted by
Committee of the Whole

1.

Establishes the Program within ADE.

2.

Directs ADE to collaborate with ABOR in administering the Program.

3.

Replaces the requirements on high schools relating to designating a
FAFSA point of contact and providing outlined FAFSA information with an
authorization for any school to elect to participate in the Program beginning
in the 2027-2028 school year by notifying ADE and demonstrating that the school
meets outlined eligibility requirements.

4.

Requires ADE to annually determine whether each participating Program
school meets the prescribed eligibility requirements.

5.

Allows ADE to require each participating Program school to submit
reports or other evidence of eligibility to ADE.

6.

Allows a participating Program school to include the Program designation
in the school's report card and on the school's website, communications and
promotion materials.

7.

Specifies that the Program eligibility requirement to provide specified
FAFSA information to parents and students only applies to schools that provide
instruction to high school students.

8.

Specifies that a participating Program school must annually report the
name and contact information of each FAFSA designated point of contact to ADE
in addition to ABOR.

9.

Defines

school
.

10.

Makes technical and
conforming changes.

Amendments Adopted by the
House of Representatives

1.

Specifies that the statutory prohibition on releasing student
transcripts to outlined entities does not prohibit a school district or charter
school from entering into a partnership with a postsecondary institution for
the purpose of providing students information about educational opportunities
that are available.

2.

Makes conforming changes.

Senate Action
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House
Action

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Prepared by Senate Research

June 12, 2026

MH/SM/hk

Current Bill Text

SB1798 - 572R - H Ver

House Engrossed
Senate Bill

school
safety; identification system; appropriation

(now: FAFSA;
financial aid awareness program)

State of Arizona

Senate

Fifty-seventh Legislature

Second Regular Session

2026

SENATE BILL 1798

AN
ACT

amending section 15-142, Arizona
Revised Statutes; amending title 15, chapter 2, article 2, Arizona Revised
Statutes, by adding section 15-249.20; relating to postsecondary
education.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section 1. Section 15-142, Arizona Revised
Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE
15-142.

Directory information relating to students; notice; opt-out;
consent; access to directory information; access to school property; violation;
definition

A. Except as provided in subsection B of this
section, a school may disclose directory information relating to students in
accordance with state and federal law if the school first notifies the parent
or eligible student of all of the following:

1. The types of information that the school has
designated as directory information.

2. The right of the parent or eligible student to
refuse the school's designation of any or all of the types of information about
the student as directory information.

3. The period of time within which a parent or
eligible student must notify the school in writing that the parent or eligible
student does not want any or all of the types of information about the student
designated as directory information.

B. Except as required by state or federal law, a
school may not disclose the address, telephone number or email address of a
student unless either:

1. The parent or eligible student has affirmatively
consented in writing to the disclosure.

2. The parent or eligible student has not opted out
of the disclosure pursuant to subsection A of this section and the disclosure
is either:

(a) To one or more students who are enrolled in the
school and for educational purposes.

(b) To school employees and for school business
purposes.

C. If the governing board of a school district or
the governing body of a charter school allows the release of directory
information relating to students, subject to subsections A and B of this
section, or allows access to school buildings, school grounds or other school
property to persons who inform students of educational or occupational
opportunities, the governing board or governing body shall provide access to
directory information relating to students and to school property on the same
basis for official recruiting representatives of the militia of this state and
the armed services of the United States for the purpose of informing students
of educational and occupational opportunities available in the militia and the
armed services. If the school district or charter school allows the release of
directory information relating to students, subject to subsections A and B of
this section, the information shall be released on or before October 31 of each
year. The department of education shall design and provide to school
districts and charter schools a form to allow parents or eligible students to
request that a student's directory information not be released pursuant to the
elementary and secondary education act as reauthorized by the no child left behind
act of 2001. School districts and charter schools shall distribute the form to
parents and eligible students each year separate from any other form. If a
school district or charter school distributes materials to parents and eligible
students through an electronic communication or on an internet website, the
form may be distributed in the same manner. A person who is wrongfully denied
access to directory information or access to school buildings, school grounds
or other school property may notify the department of education, which shall
report the alleged violation to the United States department of education.

D. Notwithstanding subsection C of this section,
student transcripts may not be released to representatives of postsecondary
institutions, the militia of this state or the armed services of the United
States unless the student consents in writing to the release of the student's
transcript. The governing board of the school district or the
governing body of the charter school shall provide the student with a
transcript release form that allows the student to designate in separate check
boxes whether the transcript is to be released to postsecondary institutions,
the militia of this state or the armed services of the United States, or to any
combination of these entities.
�
This
subsection does not prohibit a school district or charter school from entering
into a partnership with one or more postsecondary institutions in this state
for the sole purpose of providing information to students about educational
opportunities that are available at each postsecondary institution.

E. This section does not authorize school districts
or charter schools to release information that would violate the family
educational rights and privacy act of 1974 (20 United States Code section
1232g). Any person who suspects that a school district or charter school has
knowingly violated the family educational rights and privacy act may notify the
principal of the charter school or the superintendent of the school
district. If the matter is not satisfactorily resolved by the principal
of the charter school or the superintendent of the school district within sixty
days after the notice, the person may file a complaint with the superintendent
of public instruction. If the superintendent of public instruction
determines that a school district or charter school is knowingly in violation
of the family educational rights and privacy act, the superintendent of public
instruction shall notify the school district or charter school that it is in
violation of the family educational rights and privacy act. If the
superintendent of public instruction determines that the school district or
charter school has failed to correct the violation within sixty days after a
notice has been issued pursuant to this subsection, the superintendent of
public instruction may inform the family policy compliance office of the United
States department of education of a possible violation of the family
educational rights and privacy act.

F. For the purposes of this section, "eligible
student" means a student who is at least eighteen years of age or is
emancipated.
END_STATUTE

Sec. 2. Title 15, chapter 2, article 2, Arizona
Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 15-249.20, to read:

START_STATUTE
15-249.20.

Financial aid awareness program; eligibility requirements; annual
determination; designation; definitions

A.
The
financial aid awareness program is established within the department of
education to recognize schools in this state that provide financial aid
awareness activities and support for completing the free application for
federal student aid. The department shall administer the program and shall
collaborate with the Arizona board of regents in administering the program. Beginning
in the 2027-2028 school year,
any school in this
state
may elect to participate in the program by
notifying the department and by demonstrating that the school meets all of the
following eligibility requirements:

1.
designates at
least one employee as the school's point of contact for the free application
for federal student aid. Each designated employee shall:

(
a
) Complete an
initial orientation program for the free application for federal student aid
that is approved or recognized by either the Arizona board of regents or a free
application for federal student aid support partner. The designated
employee may receive continuing education credits for:

(
i
) Completing
the orientation program required by this subdivision.

(
ii
) Completing
any training and education after the orientation program to learn about updates
to federal policies and processes relating to the free application for federal
student aid.

(
b
) P
ROVIDE
information about the free
application for federal student aid, including information about available
resources and assistance, to students and families of students.

2. Annually
reports
to the Arizona board of regents
and the department of
education the name and contact information of each employee who is designated
pursuant to paragraph 1 of this subsection.

3.
includes the
name and contact information of each employee who is designated pursuant to
paragraph 1 of this subsection in the student handbook and in at least one
communication from the school to students and parents of students.

4.
posts the
name and contact information of each employee who is designated pursuant to
paragraph 1 of this subsection on the school's website.

5.
develops and

implements a free application for federal student aid
awareness strategy that is aligned with education and career action plan
requirements adopted by the state board of education.
If
the school provides instruction to high school students, The strategy that is
developed pursuant to this paragraph must provide, through the school's
messaging system, social media accounts, email accounts and student information
system portal, the following information in grade-level communications to
students in each of grades nine through twelve:

(
a
) The purpose
of the free application for federal student aid.

(
b
) The
benefits of completing the free application for federal student aid.

(
c
) The role of
financial aid in postsecondary education and career pathways.

6.
If the
school provides instruction to high school students, provides, through the
school's messaging system, social media accounts, email accounts and student
information system portal, the following information to the parents of students
who are in grade twelve:

(
a
) The
importance of completing the parent or contributor portion of the free
application for federal student aid.

(
b
) Any
school-based or statewide support that is available for completing the free application
for federal student aid.

(
c
) Any
relevant deadlines or resources.

B. The department of education shall
annually determine whether each school that elects to participate in the
program meets the eligibility requirements prescribed by subsection A of this
section. The department may require participating schools to submit
reports or other evidence of eligibility in a form and manner prescribed by the
department.

C. A school that elects to
participate in the financial aid awareness program and that meets the
eligibility requirements, as determined by the department pursuant to
subsection B of this section, may include the financial aid awareness program
designation in the school report card required by section 15-746 and on
the school's website, communications and promotional materials.

D. For the purposes of this section
:

1. "free application for federal
student aid" means the application that is required by 20 United States
Code section 1090 for individuals seeking to apply for federal financial aid.

2. "School" means a school
that is operated by a school district or charter school.
END_STATUTE