FAFSA 2025-26 Beta Testing
On Wednesday, September 12, the Department of Education (ED) provided updated details on the next phases of FAFSA 2025-26 Beta testing. ED also released information about the community-based organizations that were selected to participate in FAFSA Beta 1 testing.
As promised this is an update on our FAFSA Beta 1 testing post.
FAFSA Beta 1 Testing
The chosen CBOs are in the states of California, Virginia, Texas, Alabama, Florida and Georgia.
As best we can tell, no organization (see ED release for the list of names) from a mid-west state has been selected in the first round of testing.
Broward County, FL with a population of close to two million residents appears to have the largest pool of students to solicit volunteers.
No details on how many interest forms were received or how CBOs were selected have been provided.
With only six CBOs hosting events with approximately one hundred students, the question arises if this is a sufficient sample size to uncover all the issues that may be present.
On the other hand, this size might be appropriate for identifying and resolving system communication issues as they are revealed.
Reaction from Financial Aid Professionals
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As you can imagine and read from comments left by financial aid administrators, there’s a fair amount of skepticism and lingering frustration with the FAFSA 2024-25 cycle.
Although this is a relatively small response sample, it does reflect the sentiments of those in the profession we’ve been in contact with.
These comments along with telephone conversations and email exchanges call to mind that infamous moment from the 1981 Wimbledon.
Yes, there are many lingering issues with the 2024-25 application.
These persistent problems are what prompted the phased rollout approach to the new application cycle.
The Next Phases
According to ED, there will be an additional three stages of beta testing. Phase 2 is scheduled to begin in mid-October, phase 3 in early November, and phase 4 in mid-November.
Interest forms are no longer limited to CBOs. High schools and institutions of higher education, may now apply to participate.
According to our sources, state agencies are coordinating with federal officials.
…to identify high schools with whom we have a long track record of providing outreach and awareness events, and thus have the engagement and infrastructure to offer student cohorts to serve as testers.
All forms for phases 2 through 4 are due by 3:00 PM (ET) on Friday, September 20, 2024.
The next phases will include a greater number of participating students. As outlined by ED phase 2 will include over 1,000 students and in the next two phases over 10,000 students.
“Students” …an all-encompassing word for students and their contributors.
Granting Full Access to All
After a nearly three-month delay, releasing the untested 2024-25 FAFSA application over the New Year’s holiday weekend was a head-scratching choice, but one that was, at least, partially due to legislative obligation.
As of this writing, ED still has December 1 as the target date for all students to have full access to the 2025-26 application. That date falls during the Thanksgiving break, which sets the stage for the maximum number of applicants to be ready, willing, and able to access the portal.
As noted above, all issues with the current FAFSA application haven’t been resolved in the nine months that it’s been open.
Let’s hope the beta testing catches and ED corrects the bugs.
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