No more FAFSA mandate: Kansas cuts new high school graduation requirement
The Kansas State Board of Education on Tuesday voted 8-2 to repeal the new requirement that high school students completed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA.
The FAFSA requirement was added in May 2024 as part of a slate of changes to high school graduation requirements. Those changes were the culmination of years of work to update the minimum graduation requirements for the first time in two decades.
But the FAFSA requirement caused consternation among some board members as well as lawmakers on an oversight committee, and the board decided in July to backtrack. Due to the slow speed of the regulatory process, it took until now to formally repeal it.
R. Scott Gordon, general counsel for the Kansas State Department of Education, said public comment during the regulatory process was universally opposed to the FAFSA requirement.
"It was attached to graduation, to a diploma, and that was not OK for me," said board chair Cathy Hopkins, R-Hays. "Should schools be putting it out there? Absolutely, 100%. Everybody needs to know what's available to them. ... I just don't think it should be a requirement to graduate."
Board member Jim Porter, R-Fredonia, was one of the two no votes. He said he had concerns about the FAFSA requirement but had supported it because there were safeguards.
"The fact is we have people that believe that we are emphasizing non-college over college, and it's not a zero-sum game," Porter said. "I believe that we're emphasizing both, and I think that removing the FAFSA sort of plays into that scenario. I believe there will be many first-generation students that won't know what their options that would probably have more options had they gone through that process."
The graduation requirement had mandated that every student fill out a FAFSA, starting with this academic year's freshman class, unless their parent opted them out or their superintendent exempts them. Educators said the intent was to get students to take advantage of federal financial aid that they may not have known they qualified for had they not applied.
Opponents of the idea had suggested that parents shouldn't have to submit information to the federal government, that schools shouldn't have data on whether students completed a FAFSA, that it places a burden on students and families and that it's not an appropriate thing to have as a graduation requirement.
State education officials have said they will look to accomplish the goal in a different way, such as through the accreditation process.
Jason Alatidd is a Statehouse reporter for The Topeka Capital-Journal. He can be reached by email at jalatidd@gannett.com. Follow him on X @Jason_Alatidd.
This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Kansas repeals new FAFSA requirement for high school graduation
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Yahoo
Lubbock hit by cyberattack last week that knocked off websites, says Texas Attorney General
The Office of the Texas Attorney General has confirmed the City of Lubbock has been hit by a cyber attack. According to an OAG's "Catastrophe Notice," it says "Lubbock experienced a cyber attack beginning Tuesday, August 12, 2025, which resulted in the shutting down of all systems and its resources for fulfilling Public Information Requests." The Lubbock Avalanche-Journal first reported that "network issues" were plaguing the City of Lubbock's websites, knocking out most of its websites — including those of the Lubbock Police Department and Lubbock Fire Rescue around 3 p.m. on Aug. 12. However, the city sent a screenshot of a press release on social media that the livestream of the Lubbock City Council Meeting was being disrupted and would later be published on the city's YouTube page. A few hours later, the City of Lubbock confirmed that it had taken offline all of its websites due to "a potential security concern." On Wednesday, the City of Lubbock confirmed to the A-J that its IT department had restored most of the city websites and the pubic safety websites. Finally, in a filing from Lubbock Assistant Attorney Rachael Foster to the Texas OAG, the City of Lubbock confirmed that a cyberattack hit it. It is currently unknown what extent the cyberattack on the City of Lubbock has reached or if any sensitive data has been exposed. This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Texas Attorney General says Lubbock was hit by cyberattack last week Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
17 hours ago
- Yahoo
Bill's changes to federal loans, grants to affect Calhoun, Athens State students
Jul. 31—Students at Calhoun and Athens State can expect changes in federal student loans and grants made by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act starting next year, and Alabama's nearly 660,000 federal student loan borrowers currently in repayment may see more immediate effects. Calhoun Community College Director of Student Financial Services Melissa Creasy said the college cannot yet predict how many current students will be directly affected. For the previous school year, Calhoun dispersed over $28 million in federal aid. President Donald Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), which he signed into law July 4, outlines changes for new federal loan limits, the elimination of certain federal loan types, loan repayment, and loan and Pell Grant eligibility. "President Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill is a historic win for students, families, and taxpayers," said the Acting Under Secretary for the Department of Education James Bergeron in press release from the department. Like other sections of the bill, public reception to student loan changes has been mixed. Denise Forte, president and CEO of the left-leaning EdTrust, called the bill a "full-scale assault on educational opportunity and economic fairness" in a statement. According to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) data for the 2025 — 26 cycle, approximately 34,000 students in Alabama from the high school graduation class of 2025 have applied for federal student aid. The application is open for 15 months for any given academic year. The most recent data is through July 18. Locally, more than 1,500 recent graduates from Morgan, Limestone and Lawrence counties have submitted an application for the upcoming school year. Starting with the 2026 — 27 school year, federal loans that these college freshmen or future students borrow will be subject to borrowing caps and have just two repayment plan options. — Pell Grant changes Creasy, Calhoun's financial services director, said that Calhoun students' Pell Grant eligibility could be affected. Each year 36% of Calhoun students receive Pell Grants, totaling approximately $18 million, according to Creasy. More than 100,000 students in Alabama received a Pell Grant for the 2023 — 24 school year, according to the Education Department. Unlike loans, Pell Grants don't need to be repaid. These disbursements make up the majority of federal aid Calhoun students receive. Starting July 1, 2026, students won't be eligible for a Pell Grant if their student aid index — which is determined by the FAFSA — is twice or more than the maximum Pell Grant amount for the year. For example, using the maximum amount of $7,395 for the 2025 — 26 award year, someone with a student aid index of $14,790 or higher wouldn't qualify for a Pell Grant. The index determines the amount of aid a student may qualify for by deducting annual living expenses from financial resources. The bill also increases the amount of funding available for Pell Grants by nearly sixfold, addressing a funding shortfall, according to Bergeron's statement. Athens State University disbursed Pell Grant funds to 1,467 students in the 2024 — 2025 academic year, totaling more than $7 million, according to its Financial Aid Office. Athens State Public Relations Manager Lauren Blacklidge said a large number of part-time students depend on Pell Grants. "On a positive note, earlier versions of the proposed legislation included changes to the definition of full-time enrollment for the Federal Pell Grant program and the elimination of Federal Pell Grants for less-than-half-time enrollment," Blacklidge said. "Although these provisions may seem minor, preserving the current Pell Grant structure is a significant win for Athens State students." OBBBA also introduces a Workforce Pell Grant, which can be awarded to students in a short-term educational program — lasting between eight and 15 weeks. Such programs should qualify as "high-skill, high-wage," according to OBBBA. The grant will first be available starting July 1, 2026. "We don't have the details and the requirements, but hopefully there will be something in it for Calhoun students," Creasy said. "Hopefully they will be able to qualify for funding through that new program." Calhoun offers certificate programs in 24 areas of study. It is unclear at this time how many of those programs would be Workforce Pell eligible. — Borrowing limits Blacklidge said caps on Parent PLUS loans, the elimination of Graduate PLUS loans and lifetime loan caps will also affect Athens State students. Starting July 1, 2026, parents can only borrow up to $20,000 per year per dependent enrolled in an eligible higher education institution and a maximum aggregate amount of $65,000 on behalf of each child through the Federal Direct PLUS loans. "While only a small number of parents currently pursue Parent PLUS loans for their children, imposing annual or aggregate limits could create affordability gaps for these families," Blacklidge said of Athens State. "This may increase retention risks and place additional pressure on institutional aid resources to help cover unmet need." The bill also establishes an annual borrowing limit of $20,500 for graduate students not enrolled in a professional program, such as medical, law and business schools. Professional students can borrow up to $50,000 per year. Aggregate borrowing limits are also created for graduate school. Starting July 1, 2026, graduate students are capped at $100,000 total. Professional students can borrow up to $200,000. Furthermore, OBBBA eliminates the Grad PLUS loan, which previously allowed graduate and professional students "to cover any costs not already covered by other financial aid or grants, up to the full costs of attendance," according to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. "Eliminating the Graduate PLUS program could severely affect our graduate students who have already borrowed up to their unsubsidized limits, forcing them to rely on private educational loans to complete their degrees," Blacklidge said. "For context, we have consistently awarded Graduate PLUS loans over the past two years, making this a critical funding source for many of our students." Athens State gave out $438,565 in combined Parent PLUS and Grad PLUS loans last year to 56 different students. The lifetime maximum federal borrowing cap for a student is set at $257,500 for combined undergraduate and graduate loans, as well. "Lifetime loan caps could hinder degree completion for transfer students, adult learners, and those pursuing multiple degrees, increase drop-out risks, and create a greater need for proactive financial aid counseling," Blacklidge said. — Other changes Alabamians could see more immediate changes from OBBBA's restructuring of loan repayment and forgiveness. The bill has halted regulations from the Biden administration concerning borrowers' defense to repayment. The regulations were controversial and a court blocked them from taking effect pending a final decision. Also contested in court, the Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) Plan begins accruing interest Thursday after roughly a year in forbearance. Loans disbursed after July 1, 2026, will only have two repayment options: the Standard Repayment Plan and an income-based Repayment Assistance Plan, which will replace multiple current income-contingent plans. People previously ineligible for financial hardship can now qualify for income-based repayment. Interest subsidies and principal matching are created to help borrowers using the Repayment Assistance Plan pay off loans. The bill also eliminates deferment for any loans made after July 1, 2027, and sets restrictions for forbearance. In a subsection titled "Accountability," OBBBA calls for an evaluation of the return on investment of degree programs. If a particular program doesn't yield a higher median annual income for a degree holder than for someone with a lower level of education, it could become ineligible for federal student loan disbursement. — or 256-340-2437 Solve the daily Crossword
Axios
18 hours ago
- Axios
Tennessee college-going rate dips, but enrollment numbers vary widely
In Tennessee, the share of public high school seniors heading to college last year varied widely depending on where they lived. Why it matters: The discrepancy in college enrollment across the state points to significant factors driving students' decisions, particularly family income. The big picture: Statewide, 56% of the seniors at public high schools enrolled in college last year after graduation, according to a new report out last week. That figure is down slightly from 56.7% in 2023. State of play: A closer look shows different realities in different parts of the state. Tennessee's wealthiest county, Williamson, by far logged the highest college-going rate among public school graduates at 84%. (That's about 16 points higher than second place.) Meanwhile Cocke County in East Tennessee, which is economically distressed, logged 38.6%. Nashville's college-going rate dipped to 49.4% (from 50.8%). Zoom in: There is a significant enrollment gap based on the financial barriers students face. Students who are considered economically disadvantaged enrolled at a 38.7% rate, while nearly 65% of their peers who were not disadvantaged enrolled. An analysis included with the state report on college enrollment found some high school graduates chose work over college as the job market improved in recent years. Racial and gender-based enrollment gaps grew last year. Hispanic men had the lowest college-going rate among high school seniors, according to the state, at 32.5%. The group that enrolled at the highest rate was white women, at 69%. Driving the news: The dip in the college-going rate coincided with the chaotic rollout of the new FAFSA in 2024. Technical glitches made the federal aid application harder for many students and delayed financial aid decisions. College officials nationwide predicted the bungled FAFSA launch would chip away at enrollment. Yes, but: Even though Tennessee's college-going rate went down the raw number of students heading to college ticked up a bit because the Class of 2024 was larger than the Class of 2023. What's next: The Tennessee Higher Education Commission launched a new effort this summer to invest more in college-related support for students in "under-resourced communities." A new pilot program starting this fall seeks to streamline college enrollment statewide. Students at about 230 high schools will get automatic admissions decisions from participating colleges.
