February, 2024
By Fatima Ayala, News & Commentary Editor
In a surprising move, the Department of Education (DOE) has introduced significant changes to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the Texas Application for State Financial Aid (TASFA) for the 2024 academic year. These modifications have left the next generation completely unprepared and awaiting for up and coming changes.
The cornerstone of the alterations is the introduction of a “Simplified FAFSA,” touted by the DOE as a more inclusive version designed to accommodate students with special circumstances. One notable feature is the ability for students to invite “Contributors” to their financial aid application, reflecting an effort to consider diverse family structures and financial support systems.
When asked about the sudden changes, Ingrid Fragoso, a college counselor, commented, “The Department of Education decided to make a ‘better’ version of the financial aid application to account for students that have special circumstances. This Simplified FAFSA is meant to be able to be filled out by more people because of the new feature where students invite ‘Contributors’ to their financial aid application.”
FAFSA and TASFA are crucial for students aspiring to pursue higher education, serving as graduation requirements in several states, including Texas. The financial aid applications not only facilitate access to higher education but also enable universities to provide necessary financial support to students who might lack the resources to pursue their academic dreams.
Fragoso emphasized the importance of parents filing taxes to ensure eligibility for financial aid, calling it “CRUCIAL for parents to file taxes so students can receive aid from universities.” Despite the significance of these applications, the sudden changes have caught many off guard, leaving students and counselors grappling with unexpected challenges.
Fragoso shared advice on how students should prepare for these changes, stating, “It’s really hard to prepare given that these issues are due to the Department of Education not being fully prepared to launch the new FAFSA. There will continue to be glitches and parts of the application that are still not available, so the best-recommended course of action is to wait and monitor announcements coming from DOE regarding the issues.”
As for how KIPP, a national network of charter schools, is preparing its counselors for this change, Fragoso explained, “KIPP is continuing to monitor any changes based on announcements from either DOE, partner universities, or community-based partners. We have attended training for practitioners regarding the changes and, of course, are looking at FAFSAs with students to understand the student/parent experience.”
Expressing a sense of optimism, Fragoso concluded, “I do want to name that our counselors with KIPP Forward are and will be supporting students and families every step of the way! I know this is causing a lot of anxiety but know that as soon as we get some good news from the Department of Education, we will move with urgency to ensure everyone submits their financial aid information!”
With FAFSA Night approaching on February 15, students and counselors are hopeful for swift resolutions to the glitches and issues surrounding the new FAFSA/TASFA system, as they navigate the complexities of the financial aid landscape.
The Cardinal Post 