FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 26, 2024
Contact: Emma Bittner
(972) 510-3395 | Emma.Bittner@younginvincibles.org
New York Secures Funding for Universal FAFSA; A Win for Students, Educational Equity
(Albany, NY) – This week, New York became the 13th state in the nation to pass a Universal FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) policy. This will require all New York high schools to ensure that every graduating senior has support applying for college financial aid. In 2023, New York forfeited over $225 million in unclaimed Federal Pell Grants. With this new policy in place, students won’t miss out on crucial financial assistance.
Outlined in the Executive Budget, the Universal FAFSA policy requires school districts to certify the completion of the FAFSA or the New York State Dream Act application by every high school senior. Alternatively, seniors or their parents/guardians can opt to sign a waiver indicating their awareness of the FAFSA but choose not to fill it out. Importantly, this requirement also does not impede or impact students’ graduation.
The Universal FAFSA policy provides vital support to every high school student, regardless of their background. It aims to bridge equity gaps in accessing FAFSA completion information and support, particularly benefiting first-generation students, those from underrepresented communities, low-income families, and English language learners. Research shows this policy can also help increase postsecondary enrollment and narrow the disparities in enrollment and degree attainment across New York.
In response, Sean Miller, Northeast Regional Director at Young Invincibles said:
“For more than a decade, Young Invincibles has been uplifting students’ concerns and difficulties with completing FAFSA. All too often, this complicated form is a barrier to students finding an affordable path to higher education. Yet, FAFSA is a necessary first step for low-income students to apply to colleges, qualify for federal and state aid, weigh their options and costs, earn a degree, and get a good-paying job. FAFSA is a gateway to economic mobility. As we’ve seen from numerous other states with Universal FAFSA policies, we’re confident that it will help to close equity gaps in access to FAFSA completion, information, and support in New York.
We are thrilled to see the inclusion of the Universal FAFSA Policy in the Executive Budget. Young Invincibles worked closely on the legislation with Senator Andrew Gounardes, the Senate sponsor of the bill. Our team has been advocating for this policy for several years and helped organize a coalition last year to advance the legislation, led by us, The Education Trust-NY, and UAspire. Our coalition is now transitioning our focus to uplifting this massive win for students and educational equity while working across the state to help facilitate conversations between various stakeholders to ensure effective policy implementation and support for New York high schools.”
In response, Melody Garcia, Young Invincibles New York Youth Advisory Board member and Senior at Hunter College, CUNY, said:
“By making FAFSA completion mandatory for schools, the Universal FAFSA Policy is a step towards having a more equitable environment for students who might not otherwise get the attention and support they need to fill it out. When I was a senior navigating the FAFSA, I was lucky enough to have the separate program, South Asian Youth Action (SAYA!) help me fill out the forms when my school did not. From working with high school seniors at my SAT tutoring job this semester, I saw that they were having the same types of struggles with navigating college scholarships and financial aid that I had. This will now ensure schools make this a priority towards college success to show students that they and their continued education is prioritized in New York State.”
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Young Invincibles (YI) is a national advocacy and policy nonprofit organization focused on amplifying the voice of young people in the political process at the local, state, and federal levels. YI focuses on issues impacting young adults ages 18 to 34 in higher education, health care, economic security, and civic engagement. Our offices include Washington, D.C., California, Colorado, Illinois, New York, and Texas. For more information, please contact Emma Bittner at (972) 510-3395 or emma.bittner@younginvincibles.org