IMPROVING THE FAFSA EXPERIENCE
On September 23, Secretary Cardona sent a letter and white paper regarding the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) to leadership at all institutions of higher education, updating them on the progress that has been made — with the help of partners in the field — in the past year and detailing the improvements underway for the 2025-26 cycle. The Department is committed to learning from challenges with the launch of the 2024-25 FAFSA form, increasing transparency, and upgrading the experience for students, families, and schools in the coming year.
“[W]e very much understand the deep frustrations many expressed in the initial months after the launch of the 2024-25 FAFSA form. I know how challenging that was for students, families, high school counselors, community-based organizations supporting students, institutions of higher education and their staffs, and states,” the Secretary wrote. “[W]e have put all hands on deck at the Department to make sure we release the 2025-26 FAFSA in a way that reflects industry-standard practices for technological transformation and responds to the feedback and recommendations of our partners. I am proud of the progress we have made over the last few months.”
The letter lists 10 actions the Department is taking to address common issues raised by students, families, schools, and partners, and the white paper provides details on those actions. For example, the Department added more than 700 new call center agents (since January 2024) to handle expected calls this December, when the 2025-26 FAFSA form will be available for all students and contributors. Additionally, the Department will keep some procedures from the last cycle in place to help with the identity validation process for mixed status families.
“Over the coming months, we will continue to incorporate feedback as we make additional improvements to the FAFSA form and processes; produce and update resources for families, institutions, counselors, and financial aid professionals; and keep the field updated on our progress,” the Secretary added. “[W]e will open new doors of opportunity and bring the American Dream within reach for so many who once saw cost and complexity as an unmoving obstacle.”
DEADLINE: FRESH START FOR BORROWERS
The clock is ticking! Borrowers have until September 30 to move their federal student loans out of default under the Department’s temporary Fresh Start program. This is the last chance to avoid collections and federal benefit withholding, as well as restore eligibility for federal student aid and make progress toward federal loan forgiveness. To sign up (in less than 10 minutes!), go to myeddebt.ed.gov or call the agency’s Default Resolution Group at 1-800-621-3115.
BLUE RIBBON SCHOOLS
Also this week, Secretary Cardona announced the 2024 National Blue Ribbon Schools (video slideshow). This recognition program honors public and private elementary, middle, and high schools where students perform at the highest levels and/or where progress is being made on closing achievement gaps among student subgroups. Chief State School Officers nominate public schools, while the Council for American Private Education nominates non-public schools. All 356 schools will be recognized at a ceremony in Washington, D.C., November 7 and 8. Since 1982, the program has bestowed more than 10,000 awards to some 9,700 schools, with some sites winning multiple awards — as schools are eligible to be re-nominated every five years (press release and infographic). (Note: Honoree profiles and program applications are posted online.)
Also, the Department invites governors or their designees to nominate up to two classified school employees for the annual Recognizing Inspiring School Employees (RISE) Award by November 1.
SUPPORTING MINORITY-SERVING INSTITUTIONS
Last week, President Biden, Secretary Cardona, and the White House Initiative on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence, and Economic Opportunity through Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) welcomed school leaders, faculty, students, and supporters to the 2024 National HBCU Week Conference. This annual conference is the nation’s premiere convening of influencers in the HBCU space. It is implemented under the leadership of the Initiative, in full consultation with the Executive Office of the President and the Department, and provides an occasion for over 2,500 representatives from HBCUs, federal agencies, private sector companies, and philanthropic organizations to share useful information and successful models to improve instruction, degree completion, and engagement — thereby strengthening the role of HBCUs. This year’s theme was “Raising the Bar: Where Excellence and Opportunity Meet.” Among the notable conference speakers were White House officials, Cabinet members, and members of Congress (President’s remarks, Secretary’s remarks, White House fact sheet on HBCU investments, and Department’s grant announcement on diversifying the educator and science, technology, engineering, and mathematics [STEM] workforce).
In advance of the conference, the President issued a proclamation on National HBCUs Week.
Separately, the President issued a proclamation on National Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15-October 15), the Secretary released a video celebrating the month (see also the Secretary’s remarks from the Waterbury Puerto Rican Parade and the White House reception for Latino leaders), and the Department announced nearly $50 million for Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs). (Note: For further insight, read the Homeroom blog on academic advising at HSIs in English and Spanish).
Additionally, the President issued a proclamation on National Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs) Week.
MODERNIZED ED.GOV
The Department recently launched a modernized ED.gov web site to better meet the needs of the public. This transformation is part of ongoing efforts to make accessing important information easier, faster, and more intuitive for all users. With a more robust search engine, improved topic-based navigation, and a sleek, contemporary design, ED.gov is equipped to help customers and partners find the information they need — when they need it.
Plus, whether users are on a computer or a phone, the new mobile-friendly design ensures that ED.gov is accessible anytime, anywhere. And, built for scalability, ED.gov is designed to adapt to future technology.
President Biden signed into law a Continuing Resolution (CR), extending funding for education programs and other parts of the federal budget at Fiscal Year 2024 levels through December 20, 2024.
President Biden and Vice President Harris announced an Executive Order directing federal agencies to improve school-based active shooter drills and combat emerging firearm threats, while a fact sheet outlines progress on reducing gun violence on the one-year anniversary of the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention.
On September 21, First Lady Dr. Jill Biden and Secretary Cardona hosted the first-ever Back to School Night on the White House South Lawn (photos).
The Secretary delivered remarks on book bans at a Washington, D.C., “Shelved Voices” symposium (see also video with Congressman Maxwell Frost).
Federal student loan borrowers can now see their payment counts, updated through this summer, including how many payments they have left until they are eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF).
The Department announced updated deadlines for institutions to report required information under the Financial Value Transparency and Gainful Employment rules.
The Department also announced the appointment of Thomas Flagg as its Chief Information Officer.
And, the Department published its inaugural Open Data Plan. The plan not only addresses key components of the OPEN Government Data Act but also meets the requirements of Goal 4 of the agency’s Data Strategy and targets gaps in the agency’s current open data practices, including providing a centralized, searchable index of the thousands of data files; sufficiently describing data files with metadata to include them in the Federal Data Catalog; and establishing a uniform point of contact for handling issues with data made available for public use.
Don’t miss these video recaps of Secretary Cardona’s Back to School Bus Tour and Deputy Secretary Cindy Marten’s supplemental travels.
Watch these video stories of impactful federal pandemic relief investments in Nevada, Georgia, and Minnesota schools.
The Department and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) are teaming up to engage students in STEM education during after-school hours. This interagency program aims to reach 1,000 students in over 60 21st Century Community Learning Center sites across 10 states.
The Department’s Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education (OCTAE) is seeking feedback on proposed changes to the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Actstate plan requirements and related annual data collections.
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) reports examine the persistence and attainment of 2019-20 first-time postsecondary students after three years and parent/family involvement in students’ education during the 2022-23 school year.
On successive dates, the Institute for Education Sciences (IES) announced new National Research and Development Centers focused on improving rural postsecondary education, supporting teacher recruitment and retention, and advancing elementary science.
The National Assessment Governing Board (NAGB), which oversees the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), is soliciting nominations through November 1 for a number of open board positions.
QUOTE TO NOTE
“HBCUs go the extra mile for their students, and that’s why the Biden-Harris Administration has gone the extra mile for our HBCUs. HBCUs have produced 40% of all Black engineers, 50% of Black teachers, 70% of Black doctors, and 80% of Black judges. Not to mention 100% of our nation’s Black women vice presidents! And this Administration has invested more in HBCUs and their students than any other in history — over $16 billion, with a ‘b’! The impact of these funds is far-reaching, from the emergency aid that helped 450,000 HBCU students stay enrolled during the pandemic to a new federal grant for research and development infrastructures and facilities at HBCUs and [Minority-Serving Institutions], because we need you to get the big contracts! There’s also record funding for teacher preparation programs…. And, [President Biden] has elevated HBCUs with a slew of new partnerships across the federal government, from the Department of Commerce to the Pentagon to NASA and beyond.”
— Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona (9/16/24), from remarks at the 2024 HBCU Week Conference in Philadelphia
UPCOMING EVENTS
All are welcome on October 3, from 1 to 2 p.m. Eastern Time, for the first session in the webinar series “Blending and Braiding: How to Make it Easier to Use Different Funding Streams to Meet the Needs of the Whole Child.”
All are also welcome on October 9, from 2 to 3 p.m. ET, for a webinar about the Department of Energy’s Efficient and Healthy Schools 2024-25 recognition program.
The Department’s Federal Student Aid (FSA) office will host a free Federal Financial Aid Virtual Bootcamp on October 23 — geared toward students, parents, school counselors, college access professionals, college and career coaches, and other members of the financial aid community.