Del. DOE to provide support, coaching for college financial aid

Delays at the federal level have led to college-hopefuls having problems with applying for and receiving financial aid. (Photo by Brian A Jackson/Shutterstock)

College is more expensive than it’s ever been, but a state agency is trying to financially ease the burden for Delaware students looking to advance their education post-high school.

The Delaware Department of Education announced Thursday that it’s offering support to students applying for financial aid for college who have been affected by delayed federal financial aid determinations.

“We will continue to look for ways to remove hurdles and provide direct support to help students interested in pursuing their education after high school find the resources and assistance they need to succeed,” said Mark Holodick, Delaware Secretary of Education. 

The U.S. Department of Education recently transformed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form. 

The newer FAFSA reflects changes to processes that were 40 years old, including changes to the length of the FAFSA form and eligibility calculations. 

These changes ultimately will benefit more than seven million students who will be eligible to receive a Pell Grant, which provides a maximum of $7,395 a year for low-income families.

However, the new FAFSA roll out has had challenges, including a three-month delay in the opening of the 2024-25 FAFSA application and delayed responses.

As of March 1, 2024, 32 percent fewer Delaware high school seniors have filed a 2024-2025 FAFSA than last year, reflective of the national trend. 

Regionally, 35.7 percent fewer students have filed a FAFSA. 

Both the state’s SEED and Inspire scholarships require FAFSA completion so it is imperative that students complete the FAFSA before the fall 2024-25 semester begins. 

To date, the federal processor has transmitted significantly fewer FAFSA results to states and colleges, which will delay financial aid and scholarship awarding. 

The Delaware Department of Education’s Higher Education Office is working to support Delaware students and increase FAFSA completion. 

State scholarship application deadlines are extended to allow more time for students to complete their FAFSA and for the federal processor to send results to the state.

The state’s FAFSA completion deadline of May 15, 2024 will also be extended through June 15, 2024, or longer if needed to account for further federal delays or issues.

The state education department has contracted Stand By Me – an organization that provides free financial coaching –  to provide direct FAFSA completion support to every high school senior, at no cost to the school or the student. 

Stand By Me provides in-school FAFSA support and virtual appointments including evenings and weekends.

The Delaware Department of Education will also launch community-based FAFSA completion supports to students and families from May 2024 through Sept. 2024 to reach students outside of the high school setting.

Jarek Rutz

Raised in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, Jarek earned a B.A. in journalism and a B.A. in political science from Temple University in 2021. After running CNN’s Michael Smerconish’s YouTube channel, Jarek became a reporter for the Bucks County Herald before joining Delaware LIVE News.