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In April of 2021, State Board of Education Board members will have the opportunity to include completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as a requirement for graduating high school seniors. 

The FAFSA gives students access to the largest source of financial aid for certificates or degrees, whether at two-year or four-year programs. Completing the FAFSA is a critical step towards pursuing and affording education after high school, but only 53% of Alabama’s Class of 2020 completed the FAFSA by the end of June. This means an estimated $59,068,185 of free aid was left on the table by students in our state last year.

Ensuring students complete the FAFSA to access critical financial aid closes equity gaps in postsecondary education. Need-based aid, such as Pell Grants of up to $6,495/year, increases college enrollment and completion for low-income students and is particularly important for students of color. 

We have seen that adding FAFSA completion as a graduation requirement can be an effective strategy; Louisiana implemented a similar requirement and saw a significant increase in the state’s FAFSA completion and college enrollment rates. The policy includes an opt-out waiver and allows the principal or counselor to waive the requirement in extenuating circumstances. Furthermore, the policy doesn’t put an added burden on the students or their families – it ensures they will be provided needed support to meet the completion requirement.   

The vote is less than one month away. Please take the steps below to use your voice to encourage your State Board of Education representative to support this policy that will open the gateway to postsecondary access for all learners in our state. 

ACTION STEPS

  1. Find your State Board of Education District using the map below or by using this interactive map.
  2. Once you know the number of your district (#1-8), click the appropriate email link to access a pre-populated email urging your State Board of Education member to prioritize FAFSA completion. Having trouble with the link? Scroll down to find an email template you can copy and your representative’s contact information.
  3. Customize the email as you wish and press send!

EMAIL TEMPLATE

  • District 1: Vice President Zeigler, jzeigler3071@gmail.com
  • District 2: Representative West, traciewest3@gmail.com
  • District 3: Representative Bell, stephaniewbell@gmail.com
  • District 4: Representative Richardson, yvetterichardson348@gmail.com
  • District 5: Representative Stewart, toneastewart7@gmail.com
  • District 6: Representative McCarty, csmccarty60@gmail.com
  • District 7: Representative Newman, newmanjef@hotmail.com
  • District 8: Representative Reynolds, drwaynereynolds@aol.com

Dear Representative,

I am writing to request that you please consider including completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as a requirement for graduating high school seniors. As your constituent, I ask that you support this policy that will benefit students of our district and all learners in Alabama.

According to the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Federal Student Aid, over $2 billion in Pell Grants goes unclaimed by low-income college students every year. For Alabama’s class of 2020, 47 percent (23,915 seniors) left $59,068,185 on the table. An estimated 13,727 Pell-eligible graduates did not complete the FAFSA. The average Pell Grant award for students in Alabama is $4,303.

Ensuring students complete the FAFSA to access critical financial aid closes equity gaps in postsecondary education. Need-based aid, such as Pell Grants of up to $6,495/year, increases college enrollment and completion for low-income students and is particularly important for students of color. This new strategy to expand postsecondary access is essential to meeting our state’s goal of adding 500,000 highly skilled workers to Alabama’s workforce by 2025.

We have seen that adding FAFSA completion as a graduation requirement can be an effective strategy; Louisiana implemented a similar requirement and saw a significant increase in the state’s FAFSA completion and college enrollment rates.

The U.S. Department of Education reports that 9 out of 10 students who complete a FAFSA enroll in a postsecondary pathway the following fall. Supporting this policy will open the gateway to postsecondary access for all learners in our state. I appreciate your consideration in fulfilling this request.

Thank you!