AZ FAF$A Challenge
January 2020
52% Goal Progress
As of January 17th, a little over 25,000 Arizona high school seniors have completed their FAFSA resulting in a 32% FAFSA completion rate for the state. Arizona is still up 2% compared to this time last year and with the Spring semester in full swing we must continue our FAFSA completion efforts in order to reach our 52% state FAFSA completion goal.
Currently, 30 high schools throughout Arizona plan to host a Spring College Goal FAF$A event on their campus. Spring FAFSA events are a great opportunity to assist students who have not yet started an application and for students who have an incomplete application on file. Whether a student is planning to attend a university, community college or vocational school, having a completed FAFSA on file brings them a step closer to preparing for postsecondary success! Completing a FAFSA can also be a valuable back-up plan for students who intend to join the military or enter the workforce.
If your student is unable to attend a Spring FAFSA event on your campus, check the AZ FAFSA Challenge events calendar to find a community FAFSA event near you!
And the January 2020 Mini-FAFSA Challenge Winners are...
University High School- Tolleson
AZ College Prep Erie-Campus
Catalina Foothills High School
January 2020 Most Innovative Player
This school year, Catalina High School has already increased their FAFSA completion rate by an astounding 21% compared to this time last year and continue to increase their numbers each week! The Catalina High School team rallied together in order to build FAFSA completion goals into their school's existing initiatives and priorities. Lets take a closer look at their FAFSA best practices that have increased Catalina's FAFSA completion rate while building excitement among their students and staff.
Catalina High School FAFSA Best Practices
Building a College-Going Culture: Catalina High School hosted an early decision day in partnership with the University of Arizona celebrating the seniors who were admitted to the university. They also coordinated a Pima Community College Campus Fair to highlight their college programs and to assist students with exploring postsecondary education options.
30 Day FAFSA Challenge: Catalina created the 30-Day FAFSA Challenge! From November 13th-December 13th their senior government and economics classes hosted the challenge. The class with the highest FAFSA completion rate at the end of the 30-day competition would win a catered lunch courtesy of the schools culinary program.
FAFSA Frenzy Friday's: Each Friday during the 30-day challenge the College and Career Center hosted FAFSA Frenzy Friday’s. During this time seniors received one-on-one assistance with creating their FSA ID’s and completing their FAFSA. This day was also used to assist students with incomplete, partial match and no match indicators.
Recognition: Each time a student completed their FAFSA they put their name on a "FAFSA Dollar" to proudly pin on their tracking board that was displayed in the school hallway. The board created excitement and friendly competition among the classes battling to win the catered lunch. This also sparked interest and excitement for the juniors as a fun event for them to look forward to during their senior year.
Building Positive Relationships: One-on-one assistance has been a key best practice to their FAFSA completion initiative. With the help of Americorps peer coaches, and Advise AZ, Catalina High School was able to provide personable support to each of their seniors. Catalina counselors, teachers, coaches, and administrators all assisted with building positive relationships with their seniors to have conversations with their students about the FAFSA and assisting them with the process
Spring Push: Catalina High School created a plan for the Spring semester to assist students that have not yet completed a FAFSA. Their plan includes the following:
- Provide FAFSA training for key teachers and staff to ensure they are confident with assisting students and their parents with the FAFSA.
- Assign remaining students who have not completed the FAFSA to key teachers and staff to provide individual outreach.
- Provide incentives to students for completing the FAFSA: Yearbooks, prom tickets, giveaways, entrance to end of year tailgate party for students who have complete the FAFSA.
- Set up a FAFSA station at their Senior Parent Night.
FAFSA Summit
When: April 3, 2020
Time: 9:15am to 3:00pm
Where: College Depot 1221 N. Central Ave. Phoenix, AZ 85004
Cost: Free
Click HERE to register
Contact Us
Email: azcpe2@gmail.com
Website: FAFSAChallenge.az.gov
Location: 2020 North Central Avenue, Phoenix, AZ, USA
Phone: 602-542-7230
Facebook: facebook.com/collegegoalaz
Twitter: @collegegoalaz