Requiring the FAFSA Louisianas Plan to Provide All

Requiring the FAFSA: Louisiana’s Plan to Provide All Students with a Pathway to Prosperity

Tennessee- Louisiana Challenge

Vision for Postsecondary Education Access in Louisiana In its 2010 report, Help Wanted: Projections of Jobs and Education Requirements Through 2018, the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce projected that 51 percent of Louisiana’s jobs would require postsecondary education by 2018. It was clear that Louisiana had to equip its students with the postsecondary education and training necessary to meet the requirements of this new economy and that graduates would need a way to fund their futures. To that end, the Louisiana Department of Education decided to • raise public awareness about the importance of applying for financial aid; • preserve the attainment of postsecondary education for future generations; and • ensure that all students benefit equitably. 3

The State of Financial Aid Completion in Louisiana During the 2014 -2015 school year, the FAFSA completion rate nationwide was approximately 55 percent. Louisiana’s public school completion rate was 48 percent. Louisiana students were forgoing tens of millions each year in federal grants, state opportunities, and other funding for postsecondary education. In Louisiana and nationally, students most in need financially are applying for financial aid at much lower rates than more economically privileged students. 4

Financial Aid Policy In December 2015, the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education approved a revision to Bulletin 741, Louisiana Handbook for School Administrators, which requires that public school students graduating spring 2018 and beyond have taken one of the following steps as part of their Individual Graduation Plan: • • Submit the FAFSA Complete the Louisiana TOPS form Submit an opt-out non-participation form Receive a waiver through the school system Several resources are available on the Louisiana Believes Financial Aid web page to support schools in ensuring students meet this graduation requirement. 5

Financial Aid Policy D. Beginning with the 2017 -2018 school year, each graduating senior shall, as part of his individual graduation plan and as a requirement for graduation, complete at least one of the following steps to support a successful transition to postsecondary education or training: 1. complete and submit to the Office of Student Financial Assistance an application for a Taylor Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS) award; 2. complete and submit to the U. S. Department of Education a free application for federal student aid; or 3. a parent or legal custodian, or a student legally emancipated or of the legal age of majority, may certify a waiver in writing to the LEA if he refuses to complete such an application; 4. if a graduating senior is not able to fulfill the requirements of Subsection D of this Section due to extenuating circumstances, the LEA may apply for a waiver to be approved by the state superintendent of education to waive the student of this requirement for graduation.

Department Actions In January 2016, the Department formed the Financial Aid Working Group to ensure that parents, students, and districts are properly supported throughout the implementation of policy. To primary goal of the group was to assist the Louisiana Department of Education with the implementation of the financial aid access policy approved by the Board in December 2015 by 1. Developing a state action plan for school-level financial aid form completion; 2. Assisting the Department in the ongoing identification of support services and programs available for secondary schools and families; and 3. Assisting in the development of partnerships with financial aid-related support programs, services, and other stakeholders The group comprised over 40 participants from across the state representing local school systems, higher education institutions, nonprofit organizations, government agencies, financial aid service providers, and other stakeholders. 7

Department Actions • The Department created the financial aid web page as a resource for school systems, students and parents in accessing financial aid. It includes many financial aid planning resources including a Regional Financial Aid Calendar of Events. • The Department hired a full time financial aid expert and a Counselor Assistance Center employee, who is a professional school counselor, to aid school systems with the implementation of financial aid policy. • Department staff regularly conducts training on financial aid planning and FAFSA submission to school personnel around the state in both live and online formats. • The department analyzes FAFSA data weekly based on various factors and disseminates to school systems and schools. • Department staff regularly visits schools across the state to aid students/parents with FAFSA submission at both day and night events. 8

FAFSA Data 9

FAFSA Data The Louisiana Department of Education provides school system and schoollevel data. The Department tallies submission rates, not completion rates, for public schools only, per state policy. Through this lens, about 64% public school students have submitted the forms. 10