SB310 would require all high-school seniors attending public or private schools in Pennsylvania to either complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or submit a formal opt-out form. Schools must make opt-out forms available—where students or parents make the request—while also requiring the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency to share FAFSA completion data with schools.
The Pennsylvania State Senate passed SB310 on May 13, 2025 by a vote of 47 to 2. We have assigned pluses to the nays because requiring high-school seniors in public and private schools to complete the FAFSA or an opt-out form infringes on personal freedom and financial privacy. No government—state or federal—should track families’ private finances or mandate disclosure of sensitive information or forcing private schools to comply. Moreover, education is not the proper role of government, and federal involvement in schooling are not authorized under Article I, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution. By forcing participation in an unconstitutional federal program, the bill erodes autonomy, expands government oversight, and conditions young people to accept state intrusion into personal financial matters.
