State Efforts to Raise FAFSA Completion by Requiring

State Efforts to Raise FAFSA Completion by Requiring Completion for Graduation NCAN Presentation by Carrie Warick, Director of Policy and Advocacy 2/25/2020

2/25/2020 ABOUT NCAN WWW. NCAN. ORG

HIGH SCHOOL FAFSA COMPLETION OVERVIEW

NCAN. org WHY DO WE TALK ABOUT HIGH SCHOOL FAFSA FILING SO MUCH? 127% https: //www. ncan. org/news. asp? id=456025

NCAN. org FAFSA FILING: HIGH SCHOOL CLASS OF 2019 BY JUNE 28, 2019 • High School Graduate Completion: 61. 2% • +up 0. 3% from last year • High School Senior Completion: 57% • -0. 4% from last year • 10, 248 fewer FAFSAs • year-over-year decrease of -0. 5% https: //www. ncan. org/news. asp? id=459758

NCAN. org CURRENT TOP FIVE STATES FOR HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR FAFSA COMPLETION https: //formyourfuture. org/fafsa-tracker/

NCAN. org WHICH STATES HAVE THE HIGHEST YEAR OVER YEAR GAINS? LOUISIANA HAS HAD TO TOP PERCENT OF SENIORS COMPLETING THE FAFSA FOR TWO CONSECUTIVE CYCLES. https: //www. ncan. org/news/490565/through-mid-february-tennessee-and-louisiana-top-fafsa-tracker-rankings. htm 4. 1% 3. 8% California and Louisiana Kansas 3. 3% Arizona and Nevada

TRAILBLAZER: LOUISIANA

NCAN. org LOUISIANA: PROGRAM DESIGN • Announcement in December 2015 • Effective for high school class of 2018 (updated) • FAFSA or TOPS application for high school graduation • Waiver options • Parent or guardian waiver • Extenuating circumstances school waiver

NCAN. org LOUISIANA: EARLY RESULTS 25. 9% Increase in high school seniors filing FAFSA after first year of implementation. Represents 7, 778 students • Class of 2018: 77. 1% seniors filed a FAFSA • Highest graduation rate in history 81. 4% (up 3. 2 ppt) • Black student graduate rate 78% - above national average for first time • Represented 19% of overall national FAFSA increase • Number of HS seniors immediately enrolling hit an all time high – 25, 083 • Enrollment percentage down -0. 3 but during a time when more high school graduates and more enrollers • Class of 2019: 78. 3% of seniors filed a FAFSA https: //www. ncan. org/news. asp? id=456006

NEXT UP: ILLINOIS AND TEXAS

NCAN. org ILLINOIS • H. B. 2719, passed in 2019 • Goes into affect 2020 -21 high school year (updated) • Waiver options: Parental, special circumstance • State MAP Grant awarded on first-come, first serve basis (already 10 th highest FAFSA completion level) https: //www. ncan. org/news. asp? id=456006

NCAN. org TEXAS • House Bill 535 requires FAFSA or TASFA for high school graduation • Passed in 2019 • Effective for 2021 -22 high school year (updated) • Waiver options • 1) parent or guardian opt-out signature • 2) student opt-out signature if 18 or not a minor • 3) a school counselor authorization • Potential to shift overall national figures of FAFSA completion https: //www. insidehighered. com/news/2019/07/10/texas-becomes-second-state-require-fafsa-completion

STATES CONSIDERING A GRADUATION REQUIREMENT

NCAN. org STATES CONSIDERING MANDATORY FAFSA 2020 Legislative Sessions • California (AB 1617) • Florida (HB 993) • Hawaii (SB 2296) • Indiana (SB 223) • Kentucky (HB 87) • Maryland (SB 762) • Nebraska (LB 1089) • New Jersey (S 68) Source: https: //track. govhawk. com/reports/23 Bbq/public

POLICY CONSIDERATIONS

NCAN. org POLICY CONSIDERATIONS - DO • Use non-legislative avenues if available • Provide a thorough opt-out choice • Ensure data-sharing • Federal-State Data Share: https: //www. ncan. org/page/Federal. State. Data. Sharing • Plan for a long roll-out to allow for strong implementation • • Build coalitions Provide or support robust trainings and materials

NCAN. org POLICY CONSIDERATIONS – DON’T • Don’t call it MANDATORY • Short change implementation time • Create perception of unfunded mandate • Use restrictive processes, like legislation, if unnecessary • E. g. Nebraska high school graduation requirements do not live in statute

QUESTIONS? CARRIE WARICK DIRECTOR OF POLICY AND ADVOCACY NATIONAL COLLEGE ATTAINMENT NETWORK WWW. NCAN. ORG WARICKC@COLLEGEACCESS. ORG @CARRIEWARICK