FAFSA Process Changes Coming

From OSPI:

Comments

Jet City mom said…
With the current earliest date of January 1st, of the year the student will be attending, there are many students unable to finalize even by February or March, because their parents are still waiting for information needed to complete taxes.
I'm wondering what the rationale is to move it up? I would worry it would increase disproportionality.
Its true that students applying early decision to private colleges may have earlier deadlines for financial aid, but the PROFILE is generally needed in those cases anyway.
9/15/15, 1:14 PM
Anonymous said…
I see that this allows use of tax numbers from the previous year, so no estimating early. Instead file using the previous April's return. Perhaps the PROFILE will follow.

-HS Parent
9/15/15, 1:39 PM
Jet City mom said…
So aid packages will be based on income from two years ago throughout their college years, not one.
I hope families of current high school students are getting this information, it could change their plans.
9/15/15, 1:54 PM
NW mom said…
Hmm. My kid is a college freshman (leaving on Sunday, OMG). So I can use the same tax info I used for this year's FAFSA for next year's as well? Fascinating.
9/15/15, 2:24 PM
Rufus X said…
@NW Mom - No. As I understand it (and someone please correct me if I'm wrong), this change will take effect when your current college freshman is applying for financial aid for his/her junior year.

So:
**For this coming cycle (i.e. 2015-16 HS seniors & college freshman applying for 2016-17 academic year), Nothing changes. FAFSA window opens Jan. 1, 2016, based on 2015 tax filings.

**For the next cycle (High school class of 2017 [this year's juniors] & 2016-17 college sophomores [this year's college freshmen], the FAFSA application window opens Oct. 1, 2016, is for financial aid for the 2017-18 academic year, and will be based on 2015's taxes.

**For the years after that, FAFSA application window continues to be opened on October of the year prior to the academic year one is applying for, and will be based on taxes filed 2 years prior to the academic year one is applying for.

Clear as mud, right? I apologize if I haven't explained that well.
9/15/15, 8:04 PM
NW mom said…
Thank you Rufus X! Those years are clearly listed, jeez. My reading comprehension was lacking.
9/15/15, 11:48 PM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Tuesday Open Thread

The speaker list is up for the Board meeting tomorrow; not as packed as I thought with just four people on the waitlist. The majority of the speakers are speaking on high school boundaries (with several wanting to talk about Ballard High). There are only three of us speaking about the Green Dot resolution asking the City to not grant the zoning departures that Green Dot has requested.  It's me, long-time watchdog, Chris Jackins, and the head of the Washington State Charter Schools Association, Patrick D'Amelio.  (I knew Mr. D'Amelio when he headed the Alliance for Education and Big Brothers and Big Sisters; he's a stand-up guy.)
Read more

Breaking It Down: Where the District Might Close Schools

Update 2: an absolutely fabulous interactive map made by parent Beth Day (@thebethocracy on Twitter - she covers Board meetings and is fun to read).   end of update    Update 1: Mea culpa, I did indeed get Decatur and Thornton Creek mixed up. Thanks to all for the correction. end of update   I suspect some who read this post will be irate. Why do this? Because the district seems very hellbent on this effort with no oversight skid marks from the Board.    To clearly state - I do not believe that closing 20 schools is a good idea. I think they hit on 20 because they thought it might bring in the most savings. But the jury is still out on the savings because the district has not shown its work nor its data. I suspect closing schools and THEN leasing/renting them is the big plan but that means the district really has to keep the buildings up.   But this district, with its happy talk about "well-resourced schools" is NOT acknowledging the pain and yes, gr...
Read more