GEN-05-10
Subject: 2006-2007 FAFSA on the Web Worksheet and Paper FAFSA Distribution Plan
September 2005
Dear Partner:
Background and Context
As you probably know, the
number of FAFSAs filed electronically has increased dramatically. Currently,
more than 80 percent of all FAFSAs are filed online using FAFSA on the Web
and only about 12 percent are filed using paper FAFSAs. The remainder are submitted
using FAA Access and other electronic media. This means that while we print
and distribute more than 23 million paper FAFSAs, fewer than two million paper
applications are actually submitted for processing.
Our research, including
conversations with financial aid administrators, tells us that many applicants
obtain one or more paper FAFSAs to use in preparation for completing the FAFSA
on the Web application. We agree that it makes sense that students have
their answers ready before going to the online application. However, because
of "skip logic" and other features of the Web application, the order
of the questions on the paper FAFSA is not the same as the order of the questions
on FAFSA on the Web. This makes it difficult for applicants to complete
the online application using a paper FAFSA. Because of this, we introduced the
Pre-Application Worksheet in 1999-2000 to provide Web filers with a preparation
tool better suited to their needs than the paper FAFSA. We made the Pre-Application
Worksheet available to students and to schools by posting it in PDF format
to several of our Web sites, including www.fafsa.ed.gov.
The Improved FAFSA
on the Web Worksheet
Over the past year, we
listened to feedback from students, parents, and financial aid administrators
to help us learn how we could improve the Worksheet. Among other things,
we learned that schools were not printing and distributing the Worksheet
because of the time and expense involved. We also discovered that schools needed
the form earlier in preparation for the beginning of processing in January of
each year. Finally, we learned that many students do not use the Worksheet
because it does not look like an official U.S. Department of Education document
and that its layout is not user-friendly.
We used that feedback to
address student and school concerns in our design of the Worksheet for
2006-2007. First, we renamed it the FAFSA on the Web Worksheet to more
accurately describe its purpose. We also put the U.S. Department of Education
seal in a prominent place on the form and we addressed formatting issues by
creating a cleaner layout with instructions throughout the form. Finally, while
it will still be available for download from the Web, we plan to print and distribute
the 2006-2007 FAFSA on the Web Worksheet early so that postsecondary
schools, high schools, libraries, and community agencies can have bulk quantities
of the Worksheet available for students and families.
(See the discussion below for details on the distribution plan.)
As enthusiastic promoters
of FAFSA on the Web, we now ask your help in promoting the use of the
Worksheet, which will benefit both you and your students because it is
the best tool for gathering the information needed to complete the Web application.
It also will be available earlier than the paper FAFSA and can be distributed
as a part of schools' outreach and admission efforts. Most importantly, the
Worksheet, used in conjunction with the improved FAFSA on the Web
help text, will create an enhanced application experience for students.
It is important to understand
that the 2006-2007 FAFSA on the Web Worksheet is not an official
FAFSA, and there is no requirement that it be used before completing the FAFSA
on the Web application. It is an optional tool that students and families
can choose to use before going to the Web site. Also, schools may develop and
distribute their own worksheets if they feel a different format better meets
the needs of their students.
It is also very important
to note that the Worksheet cannot be submitted to the Department for
processing since it does not have all of the information needed to establish
eligibility nor does it include the required certifications and signatures.
For the same reasons, the Worksheet cannot be submitted to a school for
the purpose of using FAA Access. Submission of applications using FAA Access
still requires that schools collect and retain a signed paper FAFSA.
2006-2007 Printing
and Distribution Plan
Within the next few days,
schools will receive in the mail a paper sample of the 2006-2007 FAFSA on
the Web Worksheet. Schools can also view a draft of the Worksheet
on the Web at http://ifap.ed.gov/dpcletters/attachments/0607FAFSAWebWksht.pdf.
As you view the online draft, please keep in mind that the actual Worksheet
is formatted as a booklet, rather than eight separate pages.
In the past, we automatically
mailed supplies of paper FAFSAs to high schools, libraries, and to community
agencies. Postsecondary schools ordered FAFSAs in early autumn using our Bulk
Publication Ordering System (BPOS) at www.edpubs.org/bpos.
Then when the paper FAFSAs became available in November, they were shipped to
schools based on their BPOS orders. For the 2006-2007 processing year, we will
implement a new strategy for the printing, ordering, and distribution of the
2006-2007 FAFSA on the Web Worksheet and the 2006-2007 paper FAFSA.
The new process will be
as follows:
Worksheets
- Early September - We
will mail a sample 2006-2007 FAFSA on the Web Worksheet to postsecondary
schools, high schools, libraries, and community agencies.
- Mid September - Postsecondary
schools, high schools, libraries, and community agencies may begin to submit
orders at BPOS for additional copies of the Worksheet, beyond the amounts
that will be automatically shipped as described in the next bullet. BPOS will
fulfill such orders as soon as possible after the automatic distribution of
the Worksheet.
- Early October - We will
automatically ship a supply of 2006-2007 FAFSA on the Web Worksheets
to all postsecondary schools, high schools, libraries, and community agencies.
For postsecondary schools, this first distribution of Worksheets will
be in a quantity of approximately 60 percent of the school's initial 2005-2006
order for paper FAFSAs. High schools, libraries, and community agencies will
receive a limited number of the Worksheets.
- As noted above, additional
Worksheets may be ordered from BPOS as early as mid September and throughout
the processing year.
- The 2006-2007 FAFSA
on the Web Worksheet will also be available in PDF format on FAFSA
on the Web, Student Aid on the Web, and Information for Financial
Aid Professionals (IFAP) web sites. Students can print the Worksheet
and use it to prepare for completing and submitting an application using FAFSA
on the Web.
- Students and families
may request single copies of the Worksheet by phone at 1-800-4-FED-AID.
Paper FAFSAs
- Early November - We
will automatically ship a supply of 2006-2007 paper FAFSAs to all postsecondary
schools, high schools, libraries, and community agencies. Since, as noted
above, more than 80 percent of FAFSAs are now filed electronically and the
Worksheet will be available earlier, we expect that the need for paper
FAFSAs should be less. Therefore, for postsecondary schools, this first distribution
of paper FAFSAs will be in a quantity of approximately 10 percent of the each
school's initial 2005-2006 order for paper FAFSAs. High schools, libraries,
and community agencies will automatically receive a limited number of paper
FAFSAs.
- Mid November - We understand
that some schools, especially those that accept signed paper FAFSAs from their
students for submission using FAA Access, may need additional paper FAFSAs.
Therefore, if needed, postsecondary schools, high schools, libraries, and
community agencies may begin to submit orders to BPOS for additional paper
FAFSAs.
- Students and families
may request single copies of the paper FAFSA by phone at 1-800-4-FED-AID.
The improved 2006-2007
FAFSA on the Web Worksheet provides a timely and appropriate tool for
the vast majority of students and families who will be completing a FAFSA
on the Web application. The new distribution strategy recognizes the continuing
shift from paper applications to Web applications and the subsequent limited
need for paper FAFSAs at most schools. However, the strategy includes the option
for schools to order additional supplies of either document in order to meet
the needs of their students-Web filers and paper filers.
Again, we acknowledge and
thank you for your support and promotion of electronic filing of student aid
applications. If you have any questions or comments about the information provided
in this letter, please email us at FOTWWorksheet@ed.gov.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Douglas
General Manager
Student Aid Awareness and Applicant Services Channel
Federal Student Aid
U.S. Department of Education
Attachments/Enclosures:
GEN-05-10:
2006-2007 FAFSA on the Web Worksheet and Paper FAFSA Distribution Plan in PDF
Format, 3.67MB, 3 pages
2006-2007
FAFSA on the Web Worksheet in PDF Format, 283KB, 8 pages
Posted September 2, 2005 on www.NASFAA.org, the Web Site of the
National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA).
Please submit Web Site questions or comments to web@nasfaa.org
