The U.S. Department of Education (the Department) has released a Request for Information (RFI) soliciting feedback on ways to improve the “help text” of the 2025-2026 FAFSA® form as well as for the development of supporting materials. The Department also seeks feedback on ways we can provide additional support to ensure applicants and contributors complete the FAFSA and institutions of higher education and state grant agencies have support for the processing and packaging of student aid. The Department encourages comments from institutions of higher education; schools and school districts (including school and district leaders); state educational agencies; state higher education agencies; school counselors and college advisors; college access organizations; student support professionals; students and their families; stakeholders within the education community; and other members of the public.
The Department recognizes that for every student to have the opportunity to successfully complete the FAFSA form, our partners will need effective tools and resources for both student and contributor outreach, ISIR processing, and packaging of federal student aid. While the Department will not make substantive changes to the structure of the form in 2025-26, we will continue to develop tools and resources for students and families, and those that support them, including counselors and financial aid administrators, to ensure a successful 2025-26 FAFSA cycle. Based on the suggestions submitted in response to this notice, the Department will consider changes to the 2025-2026 FAFSA supporting materials and develop a new Better FAFSA Better Future roadmap, tip sheets, trainings, videos, help text, and other resources to support FAFSA completion.
The notice for the RFI is available on the Federal Register’s website. Comments are due by September 13, 2024.