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Examining the Impact of the FAFSA Simplification Act on Undocumented High School Seniors

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Title: Examining the Impact of the FAFSA Simplification Act on Undocumented High School Seniors
Language: English
Authors: Emily Gonzalez Ferrari
Source: Online Submission. 2026Ed.D. Scholarly Research Project, Bradley University.
Peer Reviewed: N
Page Count: 111
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Reports - Research
Tests/Questionnaires
Education Level: High Schools
Secondary Education
Higher Education
Postsecondary Education
Descriptors: Undocumented Immigrants, High School Seniors, Financial Aid Applicants, College Applicants, Student Financial Aid, Federal Aid, Federal Legislation, Educational Legislation, Equal Education, Action Research, Barriers, Access to Education, State Aid, Court Litigation, Advocacy, School Counselors, College Administration, Disclosure, Fear, Information Security, Trust (Psychology), Privacy
Geographic Terms: North Carolina
Laws, Policies and Program Identifiers: Doe v Plyler, Development Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)
Abstract: This action research project examines the critical impact of the FAFSA Simplification Act (FSA) of 2022 on undocumented high school seniors, a population historically marginalized within the United States education system. While the FSA was designed to streamline aid applications, the study centers on how these changes created unintended systemic barriers for undocumented and mixed-status families. The primary purpose was to investigate the specific effects of the Act on FAFSA completion and financial aid accessibility, guided by a research question focused on the lived experiences of students navigating these new regulations. To explore this, a qualitative methodology was employed with a critical action research (CAR) lens and a case study design, conducting semi-structured interviews with four undocumented seniors in southwest North Carolina. The study's findings reveal a "paradox of simplification," where shortened forms were negated by impenetrable technical glitches, such as the system's inability to process Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers (ITINs). These barriers caused a severe emotional and psychological toll, including anxiety and fear of family exposure to immigration authorities. Conclusions indicate that the FSA's new automated data-sharing requirements inadvertently created fresh forms of exclusion, making aid unattainable without highly specialized support. Implications for practice emphasize the urgent need for enhanced school counselor training, seamless ITIN integration, explicit data protection policies to build trust, and expanded state-level financial aid options to ensure true educational equity.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: ED680076
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
  Availability: 0
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  Data: Examining the Impact of the FAFSA Simplification Act on Undocumented High School Seniors
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Online+Submission%22"><i>Online Submission</i></searchLink>. 2026Ed.D. Scholarly Research Project, Bradley University.
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  Data: N
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  Label: Page Count
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  Data: 111
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  Data: 2026
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  Data: Reports - Research<br />Tests/Questionnaires
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22High+Schools%22">High Schools</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Secondary+Education%22">Secondary Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Higher+Education%22">Higher Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Postsecondary+Education%22">Postsecondary Education</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Undocumented+Immigrants%22">Undocumented Immigrants</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22High+School+Seniors%22">High School Seniors</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Financial+Aid+Applicants%22">Financial Aid Applicants</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22College+Applicants%22">College Applicants</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Student+Financial+Aid%22">Student Financial Aid</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Federal+Aid%22">Federal Aid</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Federal+Legislation%22">Federal Legislation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Educational+Legislation%22">Educational Legislation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Equal+Education%22">Equal Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Action+Research%22">Action Research</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Barriers%22">Barriers</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Access+to+Education%22">Access to Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22State+Aid%22">State Aid</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Court+Litigation%22">Court Litigation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Advocacy%22">Advocacy</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22School+Counselors%22">School Counselors</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22College+Administration%22">College Administration</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Disclosure%22">Disclosure</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Fear%22">Fear</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Information+Security%22">Information Security</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Trust+%28Psychology%29%22">Trust (Psychology)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Privacy%22">Privacy</searchLink>
– Name: Subject
  Label: Geographic Terms
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22North+Carolina%22">North Carolina</searchLink>
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  Label: Laws, Policies and Program Identifiers
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SU" term="%22Doe+v+Plyler%22">Doe v Plyler</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="SU" term="%22Development+Relief+and+Education+for+Alien+Minors+Act%22">Development Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="SU" term="%22Deferred+Action+for+Childhood+Arrivals+%28DACA%29%22">Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: This action research project examines the critical impact of the FAFSA Simplification Act (FSA) of 2022 on undocumented high school seniors, a population historically marginalized within the United States education system. While the FSA was designed to streamline aid applications, the study centers on how these changes created unintended systemic barriers for undocumented and mixed-status families. The primary purpose was to investigate the specific effects of the Act on FAFSA completion and financial aid accessibility, guided by a research question focused on the lived experiences of students navigating these new regulations. To explore this, a qualitative methodology was employed with a critical action research (CAR) lens and a case study design, conducting semi-structured interviews with four undocumented seniors in southwest North Carolina. The study's findings reveal a "paradox of simplification," where shortened forms were negated by impenetrable technical glitches, such as the system's inability to process Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers (ITINs). These barriers caused a severe emotional and psychological toll, including anxiety and fear of family exposure to immigration authorities. Conclusions indicate that the FSA's new automated data-sharing requirements inadvertently created fresh forms of exclusion, making aid unattainable without highly specialized support. Implications for practice emphasize the urgent need for enhanced school counselor training, seamless ITIN integration, explicit data protection policies to build trust, and expanded state-level financial aid options to ensure true educational equity.
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  Data: As Provided
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  Data: 2026
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  Data: ED680076
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=eric&AN=ED680076
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Languages:
      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 111
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Undocumented Immigrants
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: High School Seniors
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Financial Aid Applicants
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: College Applicants
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Student Financial Aid
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Federal Aid
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Federal Legislation
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Educational Legislation
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Equal Education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Action Research
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Barriers
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Access to Education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: State Aid
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Court Litigation
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Advocacy
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: School Counselors
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: College Administration
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Disclosure
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Fear
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Information Security
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Trust (Psychology)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Privacy
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: North Carolina
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Doe v Plyler
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Development Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Examining the Impact of the FAFSA Simplification Act on Undocumented High School Seniors
        Type: main
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            NameFull: Emily Gonzalez Ferrari
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            – D: 01
              M: 05
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
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            – TitleFull: Online Submission
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