FILLING OUT FINANCIAL AID FORM BY HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS COULD BECOME NEBRASKA REQUIREMENT

LINCOLN - The Legislature advanced a bill Tuesday that would require public school students to fill out an application for financial aid for college, called FAFSA — Free Application for Federal Student Aid.

The bill (LB1089), introduced by Omaha Sen. Tony Vargas, would also allow a parent or guardian to decline to submit such an application, or a principal to authorize a student declining to fill out the form. Each school would have to report how many students submit the applications.

Filling out the FAFSA would be a graduation requirement, he said, unless the requirement is waived.

Vargas said if the bill passes and is signed into law, Nebraska would be the fourth state to require the financial aid applications. Louisiana requires FAFSA completion and has the highest rate of completion, he said, accompanied by an increase in high school graduation and college attendance.

Senators voted 28-9 to advance the bill to a second round of debate.

View article HERE.