Happy Financial Future Month! New York City is proud to announce November as Financial Future Month, an effort to increase the number of students who develop a financial plan, including applying for financial aid. In this edition, we focus on things your school can do to help seniors complete their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and NYS Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) application. To support students in completing the FAFSA, the How-to Guide for High School Students on FAFSA will be delivered to your school for all seniors who are enrolled in your school, according to ATS, by November 15. Additionally, college and career point designees can access real-time FAFSA and TAP completion data for all graduating seniors on the FAFSA Completion Data Portal until June 30.
Please note that federal law allows DOE staff members access to student records, only if the information is necessary for the staff member to perform his or her professional responsibilities. Refer to Chancellor’s Regulation A-820 for more information concerning student confidentiality requirements. Furthermore, we advise school staff to support students who plan to enroll in postsecondary institutions in the fall of 2020 to complete their financial aid applications before the December break in order to access Work-Study and other federal funds that are allocated on a first come first serve basis.
We thank you for supporting our students with creating a financial plan for their future!Nov. To-Do List:
- Hang up the Financial Future Month posters and distribute FAFSA guides. Schools will receive printed copies for every 12th grader in English and in their home language.
- Review the FAFSA guides with each graduating senior before Thanksgiving break.
- Use the FAFSA completion data to follow-up with seniors who have not completed their FAFSA. Review FAFSA completion data portal manual, if you have questions about using the portal.
- For username, password and other registration questions, contact the Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC) Help Desk at 866-431-4372. Note that any designation(s) you made during the 2018-19 school year will carry over to the 2019-20 school year.
- Encourage and support undocumented students with filling out the NYS DREAM Act application for NY state financial aid. Options curated a webinar recording and resources to support professionals in the field with this new application process.
- Review financial aid toolkit for best practices, templates, and other resources to support your FAFSA completion efforts.