The Davenport School District is participating in a national program designed to get more high school students to apply for financial aid. Learning Support Specialist, Ellen Riley, says currently only about 30 per cent of seniors in Davenport fill out "the fafsa," which stands for the "free application for federal student aid." But she calls it "the gate-way to get financial aid to go beyond high school.
"Students who complete the FAFSA are 90 % more likely to attend some sort of post secondardy schooling after high school."
And that can include a one-year welding or cosmetology certificate, two-year degree, or four year degree.
Riley says part of the problem is filling out the FAFSA forms used to be very complicated, but it's been simplified, and can be done online in as little as 23 minutes.
By filling out the federal forms, students can learn what they're eligible for, and how much - for college scholarships, financial aid, and student loans. Riley says they're focussing on seniors at North and West high schools, and holding special sessions for them and their parents to encourage participation. She's aiming for March first to have all the online forms completed.