Financial-aid push doesn’t happen

Colorado advocates plan for future action

BY JASON GONZALES CHALKBEAT COLORADO

Colorado made no legislative progress toward getting students more support to complete the federal nancial aid application despite a recommendation last year that the state do so.

A Colorado report last year called for the state to make lling out the Federal Application for Federal Student Aid, or the FAFSA, a high school graduation requirement by 2025, with a goal to get 80% of students completing the form by 2026. Filling out the form increases the likelihood that students will attend college, studies show.

Despite the inaction this session, advocates of a Colorado requirement for high school students to complete the federal nancial aid application before graduation expect to make a push for future changes after taking a wait-and-see approach this year.

Many advocates believe requiring students to ll out the FAFSA would be an e ective strategy for Colorado to increase the number of students who go to college after high school.

Studies have shown that Louisiana, the rst to enact a FAFSA graduation requirement, increased college-going among students. E orts in other

In Colorado, legislators have hesitated to place one more burden on

Advocate Sarah Staron said lawmakers, along with school o cials, discussed how a graduation requirement might work but didn’t intro-

So advocates of mandating FAFSA completion focused on addressing

“I felt like we needed to step back,” said Staron, policy coordinator for Young Invincibles, which works toward giving students a voice in policy

Less than 50% of Colorado high school graduates go to college. Advocates have said increasing Colorado’s ranking near the bottom of FAFSA completion would open up more opportunities for students. e form unlocks nancial aid and scholare National College Attainment Network has recognized Colorado for seeking more transparency around which school districts help students complete the form. Advocates also