California lawmakers have extended the deadline for student financial aid applications due to delays caused by a glitch in the federal government’s application system.
The glitch prevented parents without a Social Security number from completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which is required to apply for California’s financial aid programs.
Driving the news: Initially, California extended the deadline from March 2 to April 2. Now, the state Senate has approved a bill to further extend the deadline until May 2.
- Up to 100,000 students in California may have been impacted by the glitch, affecting their ability to apply for state aid programs.
- The U.S. Department of Education claims to have fixed the glitch, but the delayed resolution has caused concerns among lawmakers and advocates about potential negative impacts on students’ college plans.
- The FAFSA process has already faced other challenges, including delays and glitches since its overhaul in 2020.
- The problems with FAFSA have led to a decline in California’s application numbers, particularly among low-income students and students of color.
- The issues with FAFSA have also caused colleges and universities, including the University of California and California State University systems, to postpone their admissions deadlines.
