Education

catbyte

(35,772 posts) Wed Oct 25, 2023, 09:56 AM Oct 2023

FAFSA form could be Michigan high school graduation requirement

Published: Oct. 25, 2023, 9:06 a.m.
By Ben Orner | borner@mlive.com

LANSING, MI – A Free Application for Federal Student Aid, the form for prospective college students, would be required to graduate high school under a bill advancing in the Michigan Legislature.

Senate Bill 463 says students won’t be able to receive a high school diploma unless they completed the FAFSA form, necessary to secure federal grants, work-study jobs and loans. Students can obtain waivers if they’re ineligible to submit a FAFSA or if their parents or guardians do not respond to the school’s efforts to send them the form.

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“In 2023, only about one half of graduating seniors completed a FAFSA in Michigan,” Sen. Darrin Camilleri, D-Brownstown Township said last week. “… On average, Michigan students are leaving about $100 million in federal aid on the table simply because this form is not filled out.”

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Twelve other states, including Indiana and Illinois, either require FAFSA for high school graduation or are considering it. Graduation rates in those dozen states haven’t been harmed by increased FAFSA completion, Camilleri said.

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Full article

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I'm torn on this. On one hand, it would be so beneficial for students, but on the other it could be a logistical nightmare. But, if it's working on other states, perhaps it wouldn't be that bad.

6 replies

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Highlight:

FAFSA form could be Michigan high school graduation requirement (Original Post) catbyte Oct 2023 OP

Forcing that to be a graduation requirement? LiberalFighter Oct 2023 #1

This is a terrible idea genxlib Oct 2023 #2

The FAFSA is being greatly simplified. Igel Nov 2023 #6

Only if the schools include training for alternatives to 4-year college. CoopersDad Oct 2023 #3

A FAFSA isn't just for colleges and universities. It's also used extensively at accredited catbyte Oct 2023 #4

Thanks, good to know! CoopersDad Oct 2023 #5

LiberalFighter

(53,472 posts)

1. Forcing that to be a graduation requirement?

Reply to catbyte (Original post)

Wed Oct 25, 2023, 10:16 AM

Oct 2023

No!

If they don't want students to lose out on financial aid then just hand it out to students or mail it to the parents.

Making sure they understand the importance shouldn't be that difficult.

genxlib

(5,691 posts)

2. This is a terrible idea

Reply to catbyte (Original post)

Wed Oct 25, 2023, 11:36 AM

Oct 2023

For one thing, the FAFSA is a royal pain in the ass and no one should have to do if they don't need to

Second, the FAFSA is a family effort and needs input from kids and parents which can be really problematic in broken families.

Third, it is really invasive and digs deep into your finances which would be a really unnecessary invasion of privacy for some.

Fourth, if you don't go to college or trade school it really doesn't do anything for you. Why hold a HS diploma from kids that don't have a path to a higher degree.

Fifth, it is also really pointless if you have too much or make too much money. Once you rise above the levels of getting assistance, it is really just a waste of time to just to be told you will get nothing.

Sixth, it isn't even the metric that all colleges use, some use a different program to assess college need.

Seventh, the FAFSA doesn't even tell you how much you are due. It just tells you how much your family is expected to be able to pay (which is always higher than people think is reasonable). It isn't until that number is processed through a college financial aid program that it actually means anything.

There has to be a better way to make sure kids get what they deserve than to punish everyone getting a HS diploma.

Igel

(36,086 posts)

6. The FAFSA is being greatly simplified.

Reply to genxlib (Reply #2)

Thu Nov 16, 2023, 10:11 PM

Nov 2023

Of course, it's just going to link to IRS and other government-held data.

But some of the questions are just going away.

CoopersDad

(2,876 posts)

3. Only if the schools include training for alternatives to 4-year college.

Reply to catbyte (Original post)

Wed Oct 25, 2023, 01:57 PM

Oct 2023

There are several pathways.

Paid apprenticeships, trade schools, military service.

https://www.ngpf.org/search/?q=alternatives

NGPF is becoming a regular part of instruction in several states.

catbyte

(35,772 posts)

4. A FAFSA isn't just for colleges and universities. It's also used extensively at accredited

Reply to CoopersDad (Reply #3)

Wed Oct 25, 2023, 03:13 PM

Oct 2023

voc/tech schools. I used to work for a federally-funded program designed to help at-risk youth and low-income, first-generation college students enter college and we always had students fill out the FAFSA no matter where they wanted to go-- just as long as it was accredited.

CoopersDad

(2,876 posts)

5. Thanks, good to know!

Reply to catbyte (Reply #4)

Thu Oct 26, 2023, 12:55 PM

Oct 2023

I'm beginning to see less stress on four-year college as a requirement for success, happily.

Many succeed without it. Thanks for the information about FAFSA grants.

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