By Kenneth McGhee, Director of the DC Tuition Assistance Grant Program
A lot of hard work has taken place and is ongoing related to the 2024- 2025 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) initial rollout. Some significant changes were made, and it has impacted the questions students, parents and guardians are asking when reviewing directions. More students are now applying for college funding and planning for fall 2024 college enrollment. Plans are also in place to prepare for the 2025 – 2026 FAFSA, which is scheduled to be available on October 1, 2024. As we continue to support students to complete the process, below are some enhancement ideas for the future.
- Contributor Definition and Clarity – For students who did not live full-time with one parent, deciding which parent to list on the FAFSA has regularly been a family question. In many cases, the 51 percent versus 49 percent calculation, related to which parent was providing the most support, took place. The change from the custodial parent to contributor question has made the decision of which parent to list even more complicated for many families. For example, some divorce decrees state which parent can claim a student on taxes in rotating years. This can also impact which state funds a student may receive and state tuition charges for public colleges. More clarity is needed to assist families make the decision of which parent to list on the FAFSA.
- Provisional Independent Status – It is normal for students and parents to have a disagreement, but this does not automatically make a student independent on the FAFSA. The dependency appeal process allows financial aid administrators to review the specific details involved to see if a permanent incident has broken down the family unit. Some examples are abandonment by parents, an abusive family environment such as physical/mental abuse or other forms of domestic violence, and/or an unsuitable household, for example, a child removed and placed in unofficial or official care of others. More specific directions are needed so applicants are clear if they need to select this on the FAFSA or not.
- Changing Role of Counselors – Many high school counselors and community-based college access program staff have years of experience assisting students complete the FAFSA. The revised application process has a separate parent and student section and has a built-in electronic email notification for the other section to be done once one person has done their part. This is good from a data security perspective. The counselor’s role has now changed from a FAFSA completion assistant to a FAFSA completion coordinator. Additional clarity, handouts, and outlines are needed related to the role of the student, parent/guardian, and counselor so everyone is clearer about the role they play in getting FAFSA applications completed.
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