The roll-out of the new Better FAFSA in 2024 was bumpy. The application release was delayed by several months, from October 1 to December 31. There were numerous issues with the Department of Education website, system glitches, and confusion over new terminology and processes. This resulted in countless students submitting their applications much later or choosing not to apply, inevitably delaying college. We realized the need to continue providing FAFSA support throughout the summer so that we could support as many students as possible.
At College Possible Washington, we quickly mobilized to expand our outreach and financial aid workshops through the end of September. Our support was offered to any student in King County (regardless of whether they were in our program). We collaborated with our high school and community partners to provide in-person sessions and adapted our services to offer virtual workshops and individual appointments. To meet the volume of student needs, we hired four additional staff members (former AmeriCorps coaches with College Possible Washington) to lead our summer efforts.
We supported over 500 students who completed a FAFSA application due to our extended efforts. We are proud of this impact, and we join a collective of high schools, higher education institutions, education nonprofits, and other organizations across the nation who met the FAFSA challenges with creativity, innovation, and impact. While this work is essential, we know it only erases some of the effects that will be felt due to the disrupted process. We join others in this work who will closely watch what the enrollment data tells us about the inevitable impact of FAFSA.
What remains clear is how important and timely our work is at College Possible Washington. Our service model and coach support have allowed us to be nimble in meeting student needs, and we look ahead to how we can continue to provide support. Throughout all of this, our students and families remain resilient and focused on the college journey.
We look forward to sharing more about our FAFSA work throughout the year.
