FAFSA Gets a Fresh Start After Last Year's Hiccups

The U.S. Education Department is rolling out a new version of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) this year, hoping to avoid the problems that plagued last year's launch. Congress had asked the department to simplify the application process so more students could get financial aid for college. But technical issues and delays led to many students not getting their aid on time. This year, the department is starting with a test run. They're letting students fill out the FAFSA with help from experts and then processing those forms. If there are mistakes, students will have a chance to fix them. After that, the information will be sent to colleges and state agencies. This test comes after two reports criticized the department for not thoroughly testing last year's form before releasing it. The reports also said the department didn't address key requirements needed to calculate final aid eligibility.

The department has hired new experts and added more customer service representatives to help with this year's FAFSA. They're also conducting extensive testing. However, there are still issues from last year that need to be resolved. Some students are still waiting for their final financial aid package for this school year. The department says they have workarounds for many of the problems but will take time to fix the less important ones.

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