"The Education Department said Tuesday that colleges cannot submit corrections to students’ financial aid records in bulk this year, a decision that could leave some students unable to pay their bills before classes start in the coming weeks," The Washington Post reports.

... "'The Department’s poor planning has led to a stunning failure,' said Beth Maglione, interim president and chief executive of the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators. 'Some college students might not have financial aid dollars in their hands in time to start classes in the next few weeks. And for schools, the impact of today’s announcement means more than a few extra hours of work. It’s the difference between pushing a button versus making thousands of keystrokes in terms of administrative burden.'"

... "Tuesday’s announcement arrives a week after NASFAA and four other associations wrote Education Secretary Miguel Cardona urging him to deliver a fully functioning FAFSA, even if it means delaying the rollout by two months. The recommendation comes as congressional Republicans have introduced legislation requiring the form be available on Oct. 1, which has been the traditional launch date since 2016. Some associations worry that the mandate could result in another piecemeal rollout to the detriment of students and colleges."

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: 7/30/2024