Federal Way high schools schedule FAFSA/WASFA completion week

By From staff reports • November 30, 2016 9:15 am
Federal Way high schools schedule FAFSA/WASFA completion week

In December, each of the Federal Way Public Schools high schools will be offering financial aid application support to student scholars and families. As part of the district’s new strategic plan, the district is measuring the percent of scholars who complete applications for College Bound Scholarships, Free Application for Federal Student Aid and Washington Application for State Financial Aid.

This is in relation to goal five of the strategic plan, persistence to graduation, with the belief that every student scholar will successfully navigate the critical transitions in their schooling, and will graduate from high school ready for college, career, and postsecondary experiences.

Washington is a top state nationally for students receiving undergraduate financial aid. In 2015, students were awarded over $128 billion in the form of grants, work study, and low-interest loans to almost 12 million students at more than 6,100 schools.

Filling out a financial aid application is an important first step for many students to move on towards post-secondary education pursuits.

In Washington state, there are two different applications for financial aid, but students only need to file one. The FAFSA is available if you are a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen. File online at www.fafsa.ed.gov. File the WASFA if you are not eligible to file the FAFSA due to immigration status. Find information and file online at www.readysetgrad.org/WASFA. At each high school, career and college specialists, or school counselors, provide necessary support to help student scholars stay on-track towards college and career pathways.

Since Oct. 1 students have had the opportunity to file the 2017–18 FAFSA or WASFA. This date is an important change to the process that allows students to file for financial aid at the same time they are completing college applications. To qualify for financial aid, it is important to apply.

To help students complete the application process, all Federal Way high schools have scheduled a FAFSA/WASFA completion week from Dec. 12–15. Seniors will be challenged to complete their FAFSA/WASFA during a scheduled time in the school day during this week.

Parents and guardians are asked to help ensure their 12th-grade students complete the application by sending the required financial information with their student or coming to school to complete their portion of the application.

The critical deadlines to meet are the priority financial aid deadlines of the colleges you apply to and your state’s FAFSA deadline. However, filing the FAFSA as early as possible after Oct. 1 will put you near the front of the line for financial aid.

Parents will receive an invitation from their student’s school that provides more detail, including the specific financial information required.

FAFSA/WASFA completion week schedule:

• Decatur High School: 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Dec. 12–15. Contact Renee Novak at 253-945-5213.

• Federal Way High School: 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Dec. 12–15. Contact Carla Boone at 253-945-5417

• Thomas Jefferson High School: 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Dec. 12–15. Contact Eileen Restrepo at 253-945-5617.

• Todd Beamer High School: 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Dec. 12–15. Contact Fonda Mongrain at 253-945-2581.

• Truman High School: 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Dec. 12–15. Contact Debbie Washington at 253-945-5805.

• Federal Way Open Doors: 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Dec. 12–15. Contact Nolita Bentley at 253-945-4590