This post originally appeared on the Florida College Access Network's blog. Read more about the National College Attainment Network's universal FAFSA work here.
Over 10 states have adopted a universal Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) policy for their graduating high school seniors. Florida has not yet adopted such a policy, resulting in continuous high school graduating classes missing out on
over $300 million in Pell Grants every year. The Florida College Access Network (FCAN) continues to advocate for this policy as data shows 90% of students who complete the FAFSA are more likely to enroll in college directly from high school.
On August 22, FCAN hosted a webinar highlighting examples of this policy adoption and implementation in Louisiana, Alabama, and Indiana.
Deborah Martin, FCAN's Policy Analyst, hosted the webinar.
The First State: Louisiana Department of Education and Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance (LOSFA)
Louisiana was the first state to pass a universal FAFSA policy, which took effect during the 2017-18 academic year. Louisiana high school students knew they wanted to go to college but the FAFSA presented a road block for many. In 2014, the Louisiana
Department of Education created a financial aid working group to evaluate their state’s financial aid completion rates and identify solutions.
Barrye Bailey, Education Program Consultant for the Louisiana Department of Education, described the makeup of the working group, vastly made up of broad groups throughout the state. “We looked at everyone that would have a stake in this. We had LOSFA
at the table, Department of Revenue, Department of Juvenile Justice, superintendents, teachers’ associations, counselors’ association, community partners…to help us figure out what to bring to the table.”
After the findings of the working group, which still meets today, Louisiana’s Board of Elementary and Secondary Education approved a policy centered around postsecondary planning for their high school seniors. In order to increase access to state and
federal financial aid, their seniors must do one of the following: complete the Taylor Opportunity Program for Students application or the FAFSA, declare a hardship through a waiver, or submit a parental opt-out waiver to their local school system.
Ebony Holmes, Director of Public Information & Advising for LOSFA, described the efforts on their FAFSA Now Campaign. Outreach efforts to urge students to complete the FAFSA include the LOSFA FAFSA lab, virtual office, a texting platform (“Text 50056”),
and FAFSA FSA ID workshops.
To read the rest of the post, and access the recording and slides, visit Florida CAN's blog.
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