Will making the FAFSA more ‘fun’ help get Pell grants into students’ pockets?

We know that encouraging students to complete the FAFSA each year can be an uphill battle. As a result, some communities are getting creative with how to get students to complete the application. GEAR UP Louisiana partner, the Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance (LOSFA), has started a project challenging schools across the state to a FASFA completion competition. Louisiana is one of only a few states that require students to complete the FAFSA (or an opt-out form) to graduate. To support the challenge, educators have received training on how to support students. In addition, educators are meeting students where they are at, literally. “You know, sports and food here in the South. We love sports and food,” said Tireka Cobb, field outreach services director with the Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance. LOSFA has helped support pop-up FAFSA filing events at basketball tournaments across the state, just an example of the community efforts being done across Louisiana. Read more about their innovative efforts here.