Supporting the Connecticut FAFSA Challenge

Using our networked improvement approach, RISE partnered with the state to launch an improvement community with 26 Connecticut high schools working together to promote FAFSA completion and access to higher education.

Across the country, the pandemic has contributed to lower rates of college enrollment and FAFSA completion. While all students have big dreams for the future, the complexities due to COVID have led to the largest two-year decline in college enrollment seen in the last 50 years.

Motivated by the troubling national data, the RISE Network kicked off a partnership with the Connecticut State Department of Education and Governor’s Office to launch the Connecticut FAFSA Challenge during the 2020-21 school year. Using our networked improvement approach, RISE partnered with the state to launch an improvement community in 2020-21 with 26 Connecticut high schools working together to promote FAFSA completion and access to higher education.

The FAFSA Challenge invited schools to pursue new and innovative approaches to increase FAFSA completion, thereby supporting college affordability. By completing the FAFSA students may access thousands of dollars each year to lower the cost of college or trade/ technical programs; however, the FAFSA can be confusing. While it takes the average family less than one hour to complete the FAFSA, the application is technically complex and thousands of eligible Connecticut students fail to complete the FAFSA each year, leaving millions of dollars in unclaimed federal student aid.

In 2020-21, RISE facilitated monthly community of practice sessions for FAFSA Challenge high schools and shared promising practices to support innovation across the FAFSA Challenge community. The collaborative approach to FAFSA campaigns inspired participating schools to try new practices within their schools. One participating educator, Gary Maratea from Platt High School, said “The key word is team. It is hard work but each completed FAFSA application is like a mini victory and feels awesome!”

In 2020-21, schools participating in the FAFSA Challenge collectively increased their completion rates by nearly 4 percentage points, while the country’s FAFSA completion rates declined by over 4 percent relative to 2020. Additionally, 42 percent of the high schools participating in the 2021 FAFSA Challenge exceeded their 2020 FAFSA completion rates in 2021 by 5 percentage points or more.

“Every year, we see that FAFSA completion has the power to transform lives. By completing the FAFSA, students and families can access the resources they deserve to pursue their dreams of higher education. However, we also know the FAFSA can be daunting and too many students do not complete this key access milestone,” said Emily Pallin, Executive Director of the RISE Network. “By working together as a statewide community, we are excited to once again improve FAFSA completion rates, share promising practices, and close access and opportunity gaps for all Connecticut students.”

The RISE Network is continuing its partnership with the state in 2021- 22 to extend the FAFSA Challenge to new high school communities. Now in its second year, the FAFSA Challenge offers schools individualized monthly coaching with RISE staff, as well as statewide training opportunities around the FAFSA.

Did You Know?

2020-21 FAFSA Challenge high schools improved FAFSA completion rates by nearly 4 percentage points, while the country’s FAFSA completion rates declined by over 4 percent relative to 2020.

26 Connecticut high schools across 16 districts participated in the 2020-21 FAFSA Challenge.

In its second year, 40 Connecticut high schools and 19 districts are participating in the 2021-22 FAFSA Challenge.

According to the National College Attainment Network, FAFSA completion increases the likelihood of postsecondary enrollment by 84%.