"The House’s education committee Wednesday advanced a bill that would require the U.S. Department of Education to release the Free Application for Federal Student Aid by Oct. 1 each year," Higher Ed Dive reports.

... "The National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators expressed similar concerns Wednesday."

"Formalizing the FAFSA’s Oct. 1 launch date has long been a priority for NASFAA, according to Karen McCarthy, the group’s vice president of public policy and federal relations."

"'When operating as intended, an earlier release date allows colleges and universities to provide financial aid information to students much sooner,' she said in a statement."

"But cementing the earlier launch date needs to be part of a comprehensive plan, McCarthy said. She pointed to the need for a clear timeline from the Education Department throughout the FAFSA process, including when data transfer and form corrections will be available."

"'Forcing an October 1 deadline this year does not guarantee a fully functioning form, and may in fact work against efforts to release a product that has been tested and found to run smoothly,' she said."

NASFAA's "Notable Headlines" section highlights media coverage of financial aid to help members stay up to date with the latest news. Articles included under the notable headlines section are not written by NASFAA, but rather by external sources. Inclusion in Today's News does not imply endorsement of the material or guarantee the accuracy of information presented.

Publication Date: 7/10/2024