Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson moved to require high school students to complete the FAFSA (or the state equivalent) to graduate, aiming to lift the state’s college-aid participation rate. The proposal would allow students to opt out by signing a form, with the legislation expected in the 2026 legislative session. Ferguson released state data showing the FAFSA completion rate for the class of 2026 reached 59.6% nationally, while Washington lagged at 50.7%—though that still represents an 11.6% improvement from the prior year. The governor highlighted FAFSA completion as a practical lever for raising enrollment into college and job training. The governor’s office also pointed to districts already using similar “complete-or-opt-out” approaches, where two-thirds of students submitted the form. Ferguson has tasked the Washington Student Achievement Council with creating a FAFSA completion goal effective 2026-2027 and reporting progress by October. The plan is designed to improve Washington’s ranking for FAFSA completion and would need to pass the state’s Democratic-controlled Legislature.