As the U.S. Department of Education works to simplify the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, known as the FAFSA, groups in Michigan have some tips.

Congress passed the FAFSA Simplification Act last year, and most of the changes won't go into effect for another year or two, though some have started rolling out. For instance, questions have already been removed about drug-related convictions and the Selective Service.

Ryan Fewins-Bliss - executive director of the Michigan College Access Network - said research has found many find the FAFSA form difficult to navigate, especially low-income or first-generation students.

"The department has received feedback over the years that FAFSA is a barrier to accessing federal financial aid and ultimately, a barrier to accessing college," said Fewins-Bliss. "And so, if we really want more people to go to college, they need to simplify the form."

He added that some of the planned changes include reducing the number of questions from 108 to 36, and changing the way they present the estimate of how much students and their families will be expected to pay.

Fewins-Bliss noted that because the Education Department is removing the Selective Service question, they're also considering removing the gender question. But the Michigan College Access Network and other groups recommend keeping it in place.

"We think they should add gender-inclusive language," said Fewins-Bliss. "But ultimately, we want to be able to look at the data and understand what's happening, and use gender as one of those factors."

Groups are also pushing for eliminating a separate form for applicants who are incarcerated. They say it only serves to contribute to the stigma surrounding incarceration.

Fewins-Bliss said no matter their circumstances, it's important for every college applicant to fill out the FAFSA.

"The FAFSA is filled with surprises for lots of families, especially low-income families who often don't fill it out because they feel like college is not accessible," said Fewins-Bliss. "If folks don't fill it out, they'll never know that they were actually eligible for so much aid."

He notes Pell Grant-eligible students can get an associates degree from any Michigan community college free of cost.

Support for this reporting was provided by Lumina Foundation.

Texas educators spent the summer in meetings and workshops devising a playbook for the upcoming Texas legislative session.

The Educator's Bill of Rights contains 10 issues based on feedback from K-12 and higher education employees.

Alejandro Pena, government affairs specialist for the American Federation of Teachers-Texas, said they are taking their concerns directly to lawmakers.

"Playing defense is not enough because you might prevent bad things from happening," Pena observed. "But things will never get better if positive change is not realized."

The top five issues educators are concerned about include reasonable working conditions, fair wages, secure retirement, quality child care and a healthy, safe and secure working environment.

Security tops of mind following this week's mass shooting at a Georgia high school. In a survey of educators last year gun violence prevention was the top priority among 11 community and social justice issues.

Pena noted House Bill 3, which requires an armed security guard to be on every school campus in the state, is considered by many educators as an unfunded mandate.

"The legislature only provided $15,000 per campus and a measly additional 28 cents per student for school districts to comply with this requirement," Pena pointed out. "Whereas it's been found that the cost of hiring an armed security guard can be anywhere from $80,000 to $100,000."

Last year, the state of Texas had a $33 billion budget surplus but funding for public education did not increase. The next legislative session starts Jan. 14.

Latinos make up 40% of California's population and more than 56% of K-12 public school students.

However, Latino high school graduation rates are low, prompting a national effort to encourage parental involvement. The Parent Institute for Quality Education is a nonprofit focused on social justice and equity-based approaches, empowering families to advocate for their children's success in education.

Elizabeth Cabrera, vice president of program and impact for the organization, said forging a strong bond between parents and the school is key.

"Data show that if families are involved, the chances of students graduating from high school going off to college are greater," Cabrera reported. "It needs to be a priority and we need to create action plans around it to make it happen. And it's not a 'nice to have,' it's a must-have to really be able to support the student all around."

As of 2020, 66% of Latinos in California had a high school diploma, compared with 95% of white residents. High school graduation rates and enrollment in higher education among Latino students have improved in recent years.

Cabrera pointed out her group leads workshops for parents around the state.

"We directly work with districts and school leaders to have us come into their schools, work with their families, to train them and teach them about everything from what the education system looks like," Cabrera outlined. "What's at the state level, at the county level, at the local level, and what can you do to get involved and ask the right questions. Also, things like better understanding the different assessments."

The U.S. Department of Education has awarded the group a $5 million grant to establish a statewide Family Engagement Center.

Support for this reporting was provided by Lumina Foundation.


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By Kody Fisher for WISH-TV.
Broadcast version by Joe Ulery for Indiana News Service reporting for the WISH-TV-Free Press Indiana-Public News Service Collaboration

Two student leaders at Purdue University want to change the Indiana Lifeline Law.

The law gives legal protection to anyone who calls 911 to get an underage drinker medical attention. However, it does not protect the person needing medical attention.

The students are trying to lobby lawmakers at the Statehouse in Indianapolis to expand the law to give legal protection for everyone involved in the situation, including the person who needs medical attention.

Purdue Student Body President Jason Packard said, “A lot of students don’t know about the protections that they have, and they don’t seek medical help.”

Purdue Student Body Vice President Rebecca Siener said, “Students do hesitate in these circumstances because they aren’t familiar with the policy, or the person in need of medical attention isn’t protected.”

Packard told I-Team 8 he used to be an resident assistant at a dorm on campus. In that roll he was responsible for calling 911 if one of the students in the dorm needed medical attention because of alcohol poisoning, “This is something we saw a lot within the dormitories. Within Tarkington Hall that I worked in, we probably had to call for an ambulance multiple times every single weekend out of the semester.”

In 2012 when the Lifeline Law was introduced, it initially had full legal protections for everyone involved in the situation. “Unfortunately, this does get negotiated down and it only protects the caller and those who assist the caller,” Siener said.

Now, Packard and Siener are trying to break the stigma around the law and it’s impact on underage drinking.

Seiner said, “I think often what people use as a counterargument to this is that it incentivizes, or it encourages, underage drinking, but several studies have shown that reported underage drinking has gone down since implementing the Indiana Lifeline Law.”

Packard and Siener also want to work with students at other universities in the state to put pressure on the Legislature to expand the law.


Kody Fisher wrote this article for WISH-TV.


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