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Financial Aid and Tuition Assistance Program (TAP)

This site contains information on a number of topics and resources related to postsecondary financial aid and the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP).

FAFSA Completion Initiative - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

FAFSA Completion Initiative FAQs听

(Version 12-19-2024)

1. 听 How do we determine whether a student has applied for financial aid? Do we take their word for it or is there a mechanism to keep track of who is applying for financial aid?

a. 听Schools and districts are encouraged to visit the HESC website () to review resources that may be useful in meeting the new FAFSA completion requirements. The FAFSA Completion Initiative enables HESC to share specific, limited information regarding FAFSA and TAP form completions with high schools and school districts across New York, providing customized reports critical for measuring students' progress in completing these forms. For example, schools and districts can access student-level information by joining HESC鈥檚 FAFSA Completion Initiative and entering into a data-sharing agreement. Data access and security agreements are available for review at听. 听

Alternatively, school districts may develop their own process to comply with the new requirements.听

2. 听Will high schools receive a report from NYSED that provides data on which students have completed their FASFAs?

a. No, NYSED will not be providing a report back to schools with data on which students have completed their FASFAs.听听听

3. 听Where do school districts report FAFSA completion data and what is the deadline for reporting?听

a. Per the enacted budget provision, the deadline for submitting FAFSA completion data to the Department is July 1, 2025. Guidance on submitting this information will be made available on the following听website, under 鈥淔AFSA Completion Initiative - Resources鈥 accordion button.听听听

/postsecondary-services/financial-aid-and-tuition-assistance-program-tap

4. 听Are school districts able to create and use their own waiver form or are we required to use the one that the state has created?

a. School districts may choose to create their own waiver form. A waiver form that is developed locally must be secure and contain the elements required in the law.听听

5. 听Is there a copy of the waiver in different languages?

a. NYSED will not be providing translations of the waiver into different languages.听 School districts can translate NYSED鈥檚 waiver form into languages that will best serve the students and families within their districts.听听

6. 听Do nonpublic schools have any obligations under the FASFA Completion Initiative?

a. Nonpublic schools are not required to collect or submit this information.

7. 听Does this new initiative require BOCES to collect and submit FAFSA completion data for full-day programs or will the information be submitted by the home district?听

a. Information for students attending BOCES programming will be submitted by their districts of residence.

8. 听 Is it permissible to store FAFSA waiver information digitally in school records?听

a. Storage is a local decision that should be made in accordance with a school district鈥檚 data minimization policies. Such information may be destroyed after the data is tabulated. However, if a school district chooses to store FAFSA information, it should ensure that this information is secured to the same extent as other personally identifiable information that it maintains.听听听

9. 听 Can parent/student signatures be obtained electronically? If so, can districts utilize a student management application such as Parent Square?

a. Digital signatures are acceptable. The use of Education Law Section 2-d听 compliant student management platforms is a local decision.

10. 听What if some parents refuse to sign the waiver?

a. Districts should make every reasonable effort to collect the FAFSA completion data and submit whatever responses they have received by the deadline. The legislation prohibits students from being penalized if their parents or guardians do not comply with the above requirements.

11. 听Will there be a grace period for the 2024-2025 year if districts cannot obtain all required signatures?

a. No.听 Per the enacted budget provision, the deadline for submitting FAFSA completion data to the Department is July 1, 2025. Protocols for submitting this information will made available on the following听website, under 鈥淔AFSA Completion Initiative - Resources鈥 accordion button.听

/postsecondary-services/financial-aid-and-tuition-assistance-program-tap

12. 听Where can districts and students find information on state-sponsored scholarships and financial aid?

Please visit the following website:听听.

Updates
High School Equivalency information

High School Equivalency information for the NYS Tuition Assistance Program:

  • State High School Equivalency Diploma -听
  • December 2015 - the听amendment of section 100.7听
  • High School Diploma for WWII, Korea, and Vietnam veterans who left high school before graduating (Section 305 of the NYS Education Law).听
Ability to Benefit Testing

Ability to Benefit Testing:

It is important to note for NYS institutions of higher education utilizing the ATB for eligibility for the NYS Tuition Assistance Program (TAP); the ATB must be administered in accordance with the requirements found in subsection 145-2.15 of the Commissioner's Regulations.

Complaints

Complaints:

  • For an individual complaint about听state student financial aid听matters:contact the Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC) Customer Communications Center at 1-888-NYS-HESC. or 1- 888-697-4372 or 1-518-473-1574
  • For a complaint about the听educational programs or practices听of degree-granting institutions听subject to the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education see the information on the听
Higher Education in 澳门特码王
Statutes and Commissioner's Regulations

Statutes and Commissioner's Regulations pertaining to State Financial Assistance:

  • Link to all of the听听(Navigate specifically to NYCRR, Title 8, Chapter II, Subpart I, Part 145)
Chief Executive Officer Memorandums

Chief Executive Officer Memorandums concerning Student Financial Assistance:

听(Note: These items are provided for reference purposes only. Statutory and regulation updates may have superseded the guidance provided here.)

Links of Interest

Links of Interest Regarding Financial Aid:

  • Program (TAP) - administered by the Higher Education Services Corporation
  • Additional information concerning other student financial aid programs can be obtained from high school counselors, college financial aid officers, and/or the: 澳门特码王 Higher Education Services Corporation, Division of Grants and Scholarships/Scholarship Unit, 99 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY听 12255
    or
    1- 888-697-4372 or 1-518-473-1574
Senator Jos茅 Peralta 澳门特码王 DREAM Act

For more information on the听Senator Jos茅 Peralta 澳门特码王 DREAM Act, visit听

Contact Information

澳门特码王
Office of Postsecondary Access, Support, and Success
89 Washington Avenue, EBA 960
Albany, New York 12234
KIAP@nysed.gov