Idaho high school seniors will have more time to apply for federal financial aid.
The deadline for filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, is now March 31, instead of March 1. The State Board of Education rolled back the deadline Monday, citing the “ongoing problems” students are facing with the new version of the online FAFSA form.
Nonetheless, the State Board is encouraging students to fill out their FAFSA and apply for the state Opportunity Scholarship as soon as possible.
“Students should reach out to their school counselors and learn about FAFSA application support events in their local communities,” State Board college and career access officer Sara Scudder said in a news release Monday.
Meanwhile, the State Board says it will need to scramble this spring to get the word out to applicants for the Opportunity Scholarship, which provides up to $3,500 a year to Idaho college-bound students. The State Board doesn’t expect to receive student FAFSA information until mid-March, and says it will award scholarships as quickly as possible.
“We know this will be frustrating, but we are committed to notifying students of their scholarship status as quickly as we can, and it will be helpful if students apply as soon as possible even though the FAFSA deadline has been extended,” Scudder said.
