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Department of Education implements strategy to help institutions with implementation of new FAFSA

By Catherine Mueller

February 15, 2024

To alleviate some of the issues with implementation of the 2024-25 FAFSA, the Department of Education developed what it is calling the FAFSA College Support Strategy, and this week announced further steps it will take to help institutions.

The Department announced the plan on February 6, saying the strategy deploys additional personnel, dedicates funding for technical assistance and support, and delivers additional tools to help colleges prepare to package students’ financial aid as quickly and accurately as possible

In a February 13 Electronic Announcement, the Department outlined additional steps it will take to help colleges process student records faster and more efficiently. This includes:

• Significantly reducing verification requirements. The Department said it will reduce verification requirements, while continuing key measures focused on avoiding identity fraud. Part of the reduction is due to the implementation of the direct data exchange with the IRS. Because the Department is receiving the vast majority of income data directly from the IRS, the information will not need to be further verified.
• Suspending new routine program reviews. The Department said it will suspend all new program reviews through June 2024, except for those related to the most serious issues like suspected fraud or a severe breach of fiduciary duty. Program reviews are conducted to ensure a college meets the Department’s requirements for institutional eligibility, financial responsibility, and administrative capability.
• Providing additional flexibility on recertification. For those schools whose Program Participation Agreement (PPA) expires in March, June, or September 2024, the Department said it will waive the requirement for recertification 90 days before the agreement expires, meaning these schools have until their expiration day to submit a recertification application.

In the announcement, the Department said these steps “build upon the work underway to support colleges and students through the Department’s FAFSA College Support Strategy.”

Also, the Department said this week it is sending a letter from the Secretary via email to leadership at all institutions of higher education alerting them to the support and services available to them under the FAFSA College Support Strategy.