In a letter to the U.S. Department of Education (USDE) dated October 13, 2023, twelve education organizations requested that USDE announce a firm release date for the new Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The USDE has said that the release of the revised form will occur this December, but the letter states that “every day counts” in providing support to students and their families in completing the FAFSA.

In fact, a December release is two months later than the usual October 1 release, thus shrinking the window for college officials to make aid offers to applicants.

In 2020, Congress passed legislation to simplify the FAFSA to help students and their families to complete a form that has often been seen as unnecessarily difficult.

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