COVID-19 may make FAFSA completion and the completion of college applications more challenging this year. It will be important for principals and school counselors to work together to develop strategies for reaching out to families and finding creative ways to ensure that support and assistance is provided. On Thursday, November 12, MASSP partnered with MCAN, MSCA and MACAC on a webinar for principal/counselor teams to help them gain an understanding of the FAFSA challenge and to assist them with developing action plans following the webinar.
Key Takeaways:
Michigan currently ranks 29th out of 50 states in percentage of high school seniors who complete the FAFSA each year. This means Michigan students are leaving millions of dollars in student aid on the table. Last year, nearly $1.15 million in federal Pell Grants were left untapped by high school seniors.
This is the second year that Governor Whitmer has supported the FAFSA Challenge as part of the State’s Sixty by 30 plan, which aims to increase the percentage of Michiganders with high-quality postsecondary credentials to 60% by the year 2030.
The FAFSA helps millions of students enroll in postsecondary education each year, especially for those who may not be able to afford a postsecondary education otherwise. Low income students who complete the form are 127% more likely to enroll in postsecondary education. Overall, students who complete FAFSA are 63% more likely to enroll in postsecondary education.
The primary goal of the FAFSA Challenge is to increase the statewide FAFSA Completion Rate to 75%. There are a variety of resources available to help schools reach this goal, including MCAN’s College Bound Michigan Resource Hub, which includes dedicated resources and communications from MCAN, up-to-date information on College COVID Response Guide, and resources for MI College Month, Cash Campaign and Decision Day. Additionally, MASSP created a FAFSA Toolkit during the 2019 FAFSA Challenge with a variety of resources, including parent and student presentations, a one-page FAFSA guide and other resources that principals and counselors may find helpful.
For more information and resources, watch the recorded webinar by clicking here.
Click here to sign up for the 2020 FAFSA Challenge.
Written by Alicia Pilmore, MASSP Communications and Marketing Manager