Federal Student Aid, an office of the Department, subsequently developed an application process to collect and process the data necessary to determine a studentâs eligibility to receive Title IV, Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, program assistance. The regular application process involves an applicantâs submission of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®). After submission and processing of the FAFSA form, an applicant receives a FAFSA Submission Summary, providing a summary of the processed data they submitted on the FAFSA form. The applicant reviews the summary, and, if necessary, will make corrections or updates to their submitted FAFSA data. Institutions of higher education listed by the applicant on the FAFSA form also receive a summary of processed data submitted on the FAFSA form, which is called the Institutional Student Information Record (ISIR). The appropriate state higher education agency will also receive the ISIR data to coordinate eligible state funds to be provided to the applicant via the institution of higher education.
The Department will conduct three additional beta testing periods (Beta 2â4) for the 2025-26 FAFSA process beginning in October 2024 to prepare for general availability of the form in December 2024. The implementation of the 2025-26 FAFSA process is being conducted through a phased beta process to ensure a stable and reliable platform for submission of required information for all filers, contributors, and other financial aid community users such as high schools and high school districts, institutions of higher education, state agencies and community-based organizations (CBOs) who assist college bound students.
Beta 2-4 will expand the number of participating organizations including high school districts, institutions of higher education, state agencies and CBOs who assist college bound students. Beta 2â4 will also increase the number of students and their contributors to further stress test the system and allow for refinements of the process.
If the Department were required to put the collection through the normal clearance process, we would be unable to conduct this critical testing by the launch of the 2025-26 FAFSA form, which could result in significant delays for students to apply and receive their aid eligibility for the 2025-26 award year. Any delay in getting access to the FAFSA form would increase the potential for public harm through delayed access to student financial aid and the possibility of decreasing the likelihood of postsecondary enrollment.
As a result, in order to meet the September 2024 form launch date, the Department is requesting that OMB approve the collection associated with 2025-26 FAFSA Beta Testing Phases 2â4 no later than the morning of September 11, 2024 to inform the full launch of the FAFSA by December 1, 2024.
US Code:
20 USC 1090
Name of Law: Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended
This is a new collection. The anticipated 4,300 burden hours is based on 45,700 responses from 45,700 respondents in all of the Beta 2-4 testing phases.
$0
No
Yes
Yes
No
No
No
No
Beth Grebeldinger 202 708-8242
No
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.
2025-26 FAFSA Beta Testing Phases 2-4 - Public
FAFSA Beta 2-4 Interest Form Emergency Memo Final 9.10.24.docx
2025-26 FAFSA Beta Testing Phases 2-4 - Public