High school students may soon have access to more supports when applying for college and filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, more commonly known as the FAFSA, thanks to two measures led by State Senator Javier Loera Cervantes, which recently passed the Senate. “There are many barriers for young people to fill out the FAFSA, including the forms being confusing for students who may be the oldest in their family or the children of immigrants with English as a second language,” said Cervantes (D-Chicago). “If we want our young people to pursue higher education, we need to make the process of applying for financial aid easier. Ensuring their schools have designated times and an expert on the application is an easy way to do that.” After many students struggled to complete FAFSA applications for the 2024-2025 academic year, Cervantes and the Illinois Student Assistance Commission developed legislation to offer assistance for students wishing to fill out the FAFSA. First, House Bill 3096 would require high schools to designate a member of their staff to serve as a point of contact for students on matters concerning the application. This would create clarity on who young people can turn to if they have questions or need assistance with the process. House Bills 3096 and 3097 passed the Senate on Thursday.
