PHEAA UPDATE
August 2024
Greetings from PHEAA’s Pennsylvania School Services!
The U.S. Department of Education (Department) announced that the 2025-26 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA® form) will be launched through a new process. Starting on October 1, the Department will release the 2025-26 FAFSA form for testing with a limited set of students and institutions. The Department will make the application available to all students on or before December 1.
If you scheduled a FAFSA Completion Workshop between the dates October 1 and December 1 and have not rescheduled to December or later, please reach out to me, Kurt Deutsch. My contact information is at the bottom of the email. Thank you.
PHEAA is hosting a state-wide webinar on September 10th from 6:00-7:00PM to help students search and apply for scholarships. The cost of a postsecondary education can add up quickly for students and families. Thankfully, there is funding to help cover those expenses. Join us as we share tips to help students successfully search and apply for scholarships. After attending this webinar, students will understand the different types of scholarships, resources for finding scholarships, and tools to help increase their chances of earning those scholarships. Register here!
PHEAA News:
PHEAA Update
Please share our resources page with parents and students about the financial aid process, aid opportunities, and Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) completion. They can watch PHEAA’s “how to” videos, access publications, and find other financial aid information.
Additional resources for counselors and partners can help you to guide families and students through the financial aid process and plan FAFSA Completion Events and Financial Aid Nights. Our toolkit includes social media posts, FAFSA-themed images, and links to help you promote the FAFSA to your students and families.
Financial Aid Workshops for Educators—Join us for a free workshop to learn more about the 2025-26 FAFSA, federal and state financial aid programs, and guiding students through the application process. Help us increase access to financial aid in Pennsylvania. At the end of the workshop, a link to a quiz will be provided that is required to receive Act 48 credits.
Register at least 1 week prior to the workshop you wish to attend. Upon registration, you will receive an email confirmation with workshop location, directions, and parking information.
If you haven’t already done so, please contact your Access Partner at your earliest convenience to start scheduling your events for the upcoming school year.
PA Forward Webinars
Do your students come to you for information on how to cover tuition gaps and need more information on how to interpret their bills? PHEAA’s PA Forward Team will be hosting webinars to help families with any questions they have. Our goal is to provide you and your families with a comfort level when it comes to understanding balances and making decisions on financing them. Visit pheaa.org/virtual to register to attend our valuable webinars.
Industry News:
QuestBridge National College Match
QuestBridge National College Match—QuestBridge is a national nonprofit that connects qualifying, high-achieving, high school seniors from low-income backgrounds with full, 4-year scholarships and admission to one of 52 participating colleges in the U.S. An application, available at QuestBridge.org, must be submitted by September 26. Additional information can be found at QuestBridge.org and on their YouTube channel. Educators can contact educators@questbridge.org with questions.
Resources:
Schoolhouse Connection is a national non-profit organization working to overcome homelessness through education. Explore their extensive library of resources, guidance, and tools tailored for educators, service providers, and advocates at local, state, and federal levels, covering everything from school districts to early childhood, higher education, and policy areas.
The Newcomer Toolkit is designed to help U.S. educators, elementary and secondary teachers, principals, and other school staff who work directly with immigrant students—including asylees and refugees—and their families. The Newcomer Toolkit has five chapters, and contains an overview, sample tools, and resources.