IMPORTANT NEWS: Filing FAFSA earlier and more transparency on success of students who receive federal aid

Big news in the College Performance and FAFSA world this weekend.

Here are the links to two Higher Ed articles that explain the things you’ve probably heard, or will hear, on the news.

·         In 2016, students will be able to submit the FAFSA for 2017-18  in October, using 2015 IRS data. This should allow students to have a good sense of their need based aid 3+ months sooner and using IRS data that is available.

Ultimately, BEGINNING this time next year, we will need  to shift the FAFSA focus (including things like College 101 Night for Seniors and Parents and our FAFSA help night) to fall instead of January. https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2015/09/14/obama-administration-unveils-shifts-fafsa#.VfbomoFANfs.mailto

·         This new data shows publicly, for the first time, the share of a college’s former students who make some progress in paying down their federal loans within the first three years after leaving college. And they provide the first comprehensive look at how much students who receive federal loans and Pell Grants end up earning after they leave a specific college, both in the short term and long term. In spite of their limitations, the new data is likely to add fuel to the growing debate in Washington over ways to hold the nation’s colleges -- which collectively receive roughly $150 billion in federal aid each year -- more accountable for student outcomes. https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2015/09/14/obama-administration-publishes-new-college-earnings-loan-repayment-data#.VfbyD8tkaGc.mailto

·         And here’s news we already know if we have or have had teens in our lives. http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/rulesforengagement/2015/09/_during_adolescence_biological_changes.html?cmp=eml-enl-eu-news2