Senior year of high school is an exciting, busy time for both you and your student. In the months ahead, we hope that you are able to make wonderful memories of this special time before your student begins their next steps in life. For many, this may also be a time when you are having serious conversations about college costs or how to secure financial aid for college. Knowing this, starting with all students first enrolled in 12th grade in the 2021-22 school year and beyond, the Texas Education Agency has added a FAFSA/TASFA completion graduation requirement. In order for a student in the class of 2022 to meet this new high school graduation requirement, they must comply with the following:
Before graduating from high school, each student must complete and submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or a Texas Application for State Financial Aid (TASFA) (for all undocumented students).
There are some exceptions to meeting this graduation requirement:
(1) The student's parent or other person standing in parental relation submits a signed FAFSA Opt-Out form indicating that they authorize the student to decline to complete and submit the financial aid application, or
(2) The student signs and submits the FAFSA Opt-Out form on the student's own behalf, if the student is 18 years of age or older, or
(3) A school counselor authorizes the student to decline to complete and submit the financial aid application for good cause, as determined by the school counselor. FAFSA/ TASFA Applications open October 1, 2021.
This year, to help ensure that all students have met the state requirement, our Government and Economics teachers have shown a video to students with detailed information about the FAFSA requirement and access to a Moodle course where they can submit the state-required evidence. Seniors who do not have a high school Government or Economics class this semester are being contacted individually.
I want to encourage you to visit the course with your student. All portions of the Moodle course are available as needed, and only one step is required. Students must upload a screenshot of their submission confirmation page or their signed opt-out form that they can download through Moodle.
Please remember that students should NOT upload a copy of their FAFSA or income tax information. NISD does not need your personal financial data to fulfill the requirement. We only need confirmation that it has been submitted.
Some Important Reminders:
· Students should submit their FAFSA or TASFA sooner rather than later. Grant and scholarship funds are limited for each college. Students who wait to submit their forms may find that there is no money available to them outside of student and parent loans.
· Submitting the FAFSA and TASFA is not the same as signing a promissory note and does not commit a student or parent to borrow money.
· The priority deadline for FAFSA and TASFA submissions is January 15. The NISD deadline for submitting a confirmation of submission or a completed opt-out form to Moodle is February 10.
Please visit our FAFSA Google Site to learn more about the state requirement and access the Moodle course.
