Over the summer, communities across Florida came together to ensure the class of 2024 completed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The form recently experienced an overhaul aimed at streamlining the application after the passage of the FAFSA Simplification Act. However, throughout the school year, many students faced challenges with the form including technical difficulties and simply needing assistance.
To alleviate some of these complications, four organizations – Bridge 2 Life, Graduate Miami-Dade, LEAP Tampa Bay, and PLANit Sarasota – were awarded financial support from FCAN and Florida Philanthropic Network, in partnership with Helios Education Foundation and Kresge Foundation, to support students with FAFSA completion. Their work helped many students with the financial aid process that has been difficult to navigate.
Bridge 2 Life, the local college access network (LCAN) serving Broward County, offered one-on-one advising sessions and provided students a gift card incentive for completing their FAFSA.
The 9 sessions were led by high school counselors and college financial aid representatives who provided guidance to over 1,000 parents and guardians by the end of July. View their FAFSA Family webinar to learn more.
Miami-Dade County community members join a FAFSA Train-the-Trainer workshop.
Graduate Miami-Dade, the LCAN serving Miami-Dade, organized a Train-the-Trainer workshop in partnership with Florida International University to teach FAFSA basics to youth development workers, students, or other college access professionals.
Community FAFSA workshops for students were also hosted in collaboration with Miami Dade College.
LEAP Tampa Bay, the LCAN serving Pinellas and Hillsborough Counties, implemented a series of targeted outreach and support initiatives aimed at increasing FAFSA completion rates among students in the local area. Financial aid experts helped families with the process and answered any questions they had about the form.
Before the events, families were encouraged to create a Federal Student Aid (FSA) ID, a key step that students and contributors should take to log in to their account.
FAAME ambassadors, LEAP TB Staff and Pinellas School College and Career Coordinators assist at the Pinellas County FAFSA completion event.
PLANit Sarasota, the LCAN serving Sarasota County, collaborated with schools to identify and reach students who had not yet completed their FAFSA.
The organization’s partners and Sarasota County Schools coordinated multiple FAFSA completion events throughout Sarasota County while providing flexibility, allowing schools and communities to host events at their sites or utilize downtown offices. A total of 24 events were hosted.
FCAN applauds the efforts local communities have made to support students and ensure they can fund their education after high school. To learn more about the 2025-26 FAFSA release, visit www.floridacollegeaccess.org