Educators

On April 8, 2021 the Alabama State Board of Education approved a resolution requiring every graduating senior to complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This requirement is based on a variety of reasons:

  • Alabama high school graduates leave approximately $47 million in federal grants on the table each year because they do not complete the FAFSA.
  • 92 percent of students who complete the FAFSA enroll in postsecondary education the following fall term.
  • Most Alabama high school students quality for some type of federal financial assistance.

FAFSA completion rates by high school are getting more attention. Several new websites are dedicated to state-level FAFSA completion rates, including ACHE’s FAFSA Completion Portal. High school superintendents and educators should be aware of their school’s FAFSA completion rates and be mindful of public perceptions associated with higher and lower rates.

The Alabama Commission on Higher Education (ACHE) has developed a free web-based tool called the FAFSA Completion Portal. This portal provides a variety of resources to help school educators maximize their FAFSA completion rates. This presentation provides a general overview of the portal’s features and functionality that are available to end-users:

  • ACHE's FAFSA Completion Portal FAQ
  • An Use Agreement whereby school officials can designate which of their educators can access the portal.
  • Three types of users or access levels who have access to student data in the FAFSA Completion Portal:
    • High School: These users can view student data for one individual high school.
    • District: These users can view student data for multiple high schools within a school district.
    • Local Access Manager (LAM): These users can view student data for multiple high schools within a school district, and also have the capability to add, modify, or delete user accounts for the district. This presentation provides step-by-step instructions for frequently used administrative LAM functions:

For more information contact ACHE (fafsa@ache.edu).

ACHE has additional web tools to make students aware of all types of financial aid and detailed information about Alabama’s two- and four-year public institutions to help students make informed decisions about what institution to attend.

Financial Aid

Other Resources

Other Partners

Call Us:
334-242-2211
Email Us:
fafsa@ache.edu
Alabama Commission on Higher Education
100 North Union Street
Montgomery, AL  36104