(Lewiston, ID) The Office of the Idaho State Board of Education is holding ‘Office Hours’ in regions across the state to give Idaho students one-on-one assistance filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
The federal government recently revamped the FAFSA, intending to make it easier to complete but instead, there have been ongoing problems for students across Idaho and the country in completing the task.
The Office of the State Board recently applied for and received a grant from the ECMC Foundation to provide help in completing the FAFSA. Students and parents can walk into any participating location and get help to successfully fill out the FAFSA.
The Next Steps Idaho website has a list of locations statewide where FAFSA Office Hours are available: https://nextsteps.idaho.gov/resources/fafsa-summer-office-hours
“The grant provided funding to hire school counselors and career advisors during the summer months to help with this effort,” said Jenni Kimball, the Board’s College and Career Program Manager. “By completing the FAFSA, students may be eligible for nearly $7,400 in federal Pell Grants, which is free money to help pay for their post-high school training or education. That is enough to cover the cost of first-year tuition at Idaho’s community colleges and numerous local trade schools, and at least 80 percent of tuition at Idaho’s public universities.”
Each FAFSA Office Hours location will have free snacks and beverages available to help with the process. Students will also have a chance to win a $25 gas card. Select locations will also provide Spanish-speaking advisors.
Students are encouraged to complete their FAFSA before July 30.