View in EDS

FAFSA: Education Needs to Improve Communications and Support around the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Testimony before the Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Development, Committee on Education and the Workforce, House of Representatives. GAO-24-107407

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: FAFSA: Education Needs to Improve Communications and Support around the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Testimony before the Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Development, Committee on Education and the Workforce, House of Representatives. GAO-24-107407
Language: English
Authors: Melissa Emrey-Arras, US Government Accountability Office (GAO)
Source: US Government Accountability Office. 2024.
Availability: US Government Accountability Office. 441 G Street NW, Washington, DC 20548. Tel: 202-512-6000; Web site: http://www.gao.gov
Peer Reviewed: N
Page Count: 41
Publication Date: 2024
Document Type: Legal/Legislative/Regulatory Materials
Reports - Descriptive
Speeches/Meeting Papers
Descriptors: Student Financial Aid, Federal Programs, Audits (Verification), Information Systems, Financial Aid Applicants, Information Processing, Formative Evaluation, Information Technology, Review (Reexamination), Computer Software Reviews, Computer System Design, Systems Development, Communications, Telecommunications, Barriers
Abstract: The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the entry ramp to federal grants and loans that many students depend on to afford college. Congress passed the FAFSA Simplification Act in 2020 in part to make it easier to apply for federal aid. However, Education's rollout of the new FAFSA has suffered from numerous challenges and delays. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) was asked to review the simplified FAFSA rollout. This statement assesses: (1) how Education's rollout of the new FAFSA affected students; (2) the extent to which Education provided students with information and support; and (3) the extent to which Education provided colleges with timely communications. This statement is a companion to GAO's related statement on FAFSA system issues (GAO-24-107783). To conduct this work, GAO analyzed Education data on FAFSA submissions and processing for the current application cycle (2024-25) and comparable data for the prior year. GAO also examined data and performance metrics from Education's call center for the same periods, interviewed Education officials and other key stakeholders from higher education associations, and reviewed relevant federal laws and guidance.
Abstractor: ERIC
Entry Date: 2024
Accession Number: ED660055
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
  Availability: 0
CustomLinks:
  – Url: https://eric.ed.gov/contentdelivery/servlet/ERICServlet?accno=ED660055
    Name: ERIC Full Text
    Category: fullText
    Text: Full Text from ERIC
Header DbId: eric
DbLabel: ERIC
An: ED660055
AccessLevel: 3
PubType: Government Document
PubTypeId: governmentDocument
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
IllustrationInfo
Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: FAFSA: Education Needs to Improve Communications and Support around the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Testimony before the Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Development, Committee on Education and the Workforce, House of Representatives. GAO-24-107407
– Name: Language
  Label: Language
  Group: Lang
  Data: English
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
  Group: Au
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Melissa+Emrey-Arras%22">Melissa Emrey-Arras</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22US+Government+Accountability+Office+%28GAO%29%22">US Government Accountability Office (GAO)</searchLink>
– Name: TitleSource
  Label: Source
  Group: Src
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22US+Government+Accountability+Office%22"><i>US Government Accountability Office</i></searchLink>. 2024.
– Name: Avail
  Label: Availability
  Group: Avail
  Data: US Government Accountability Office. 441 G Street NW, Washington, DC 20548. Tel: 202-512-6000; Web site: http://www.gao.gov
– Name: PeerReviewed
  Label: Peer Reviewed
  Group: SrcInfo
  Data: N
– Name: Pages
  Label: Page Count
  Group: Src
  Data: 41
– Name: DatePubCY
  Label: Publication Date
  Group: Date
  Data: 2024
– Name: TypeDocument
  Label: Document Type
  Group: TypDoc
  Data: Legal/Legislative/Regulatory Materials<br />Reports - Descriptive<br />Speeches/Meeting Papers
– Name: Subject
  Label: Descriptors
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Student+Financial+Aid%22">Student Financial Aid</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Federal+Programs%22">Federal Programs</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Audits+%28Verification%29%22">Audits (Verification)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Information+Systems%22">Information Systems</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Financial+Aid+Applicants%22">Financial Aid Applicants</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Information+Processing%22">Information Processing</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Formative+Evaluation%22">Formative Evaluation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Information+Technology%22">Information Technology</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Review+%28Reexamination%29%22">Review (Reexamination)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Computer+Software+Reviews%22">Computer Software Reviews</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Computer+System+Design%22">Computer System Design</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Systems+Development%22">Systems Development</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Communications%22">Communications</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Telecommunications%22">Telecommunications</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Barriers%22">Barriers</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the entry ramp to federal grants and loans that many students depend on to afford college. Congress passed the FAFSA Simplification Act in 2020 in part to make it easier to apply for federal aid. However, Education's rollout of the new FAFSA has suffered from numerous challenges and delays. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) was asked to review the simplified FAFSA rollout. This statement assesses: (1) how Education's rollout of the new FAFSA affected students; (2) the extent to which Education provided students with information and support; and (3) the extent to which Education provided colleges with timely communications. This statement is a companion to GAO's related statement on FAFSA system issues (GAO-24-107783). To conduct this work, GAO analyzed Education data on FAFSA submissions and processing for the current application cycle (2024-25) and comparable data for the prior year. GAO also examined data and performance metrics from Education's call center for the same periods, interviewed Education officials and other key stakeholders from higher education associations, and reviewed relevant federal laws and guidance.
– Name: AbstractInfo
  Label: Abstractor
  Group: Ab
  Data: ERIC
– Name: DateEntry
  Label: Entry Date
  Group: Date
  Data: 2024
– Name: AN
  Label: Accession Number
  Group: ID
  Data: ED660055
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=eric&AN=ED660055
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Languages:
      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 41
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Student Financial Aid
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Federal Programs
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Audits (Verification)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Information Systems
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Financial Aid Applicants
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Information Processing
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Formative Evaluation
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Information Technology
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Review (Reexamination)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Computer Software Reviews
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Computer System Design
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Systems Development
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Communications
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Telecommunications
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Barriers
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: FAFSA: Education Needs to Improve Communications and Support around the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Testimony before the Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Development, Committee on Education and the Workforce, House of Representatives. GAO-24-107407
        Type: main
  BibRelationships:
    HasContributorRelationships:
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: US Government Accountability Office (GAO)
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Melissa Emrey-Arras
    IsPartOfRelationships:
      – BibEntity:
          Dates:
            – D: 01
              M: 09
              Type: published
              Y: 2024
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: US Government Accountability Office
              Type: main
ResultId 1