Jessica Johnson says that the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form typically takes about 30 minutes to complete. However, she understands how the number of steps can be a barrier for some students and their families.
Last year, the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) provided up to $50 million in funding through its FAFSA Student Support Strategy. The initiative aimed to increase FAFSA completion rates for high school seniors, particularly first-generation college students and students of color.
Under this effort, Johnson, a board member of the Atlanta Board of Education and the founder and executive director of the Scholarship Academy, worked to meet that goal for high school students across metro Atlanta. However, she says that DOE recently notified her about its decision not to continue funding its initiative.
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