Revises high school student financial aid application requirements.

S 2781 makes permanent the requirement for New Jersey high school students to complete a financial aid application as a prerequisite for receiving a high school diploma. Previously, this applied only to the 2023-2024 school year and the following two years, but the bill extends it indefinitely for all public and charter school students. Students may be exempt through a waiver signed by a parent/guardian (or the student if 18+), or if under 18 and parental consent cannot be obtained, a school counselor may authorize the waiver under state regulations. The bill also mandates that the state provide resources like guides and webinars to help students and families complete the application, with schools required to annually notify families of this requirement.