Financial Aid Learning Community Convening

SHEEO hosted its third in-person convening of the Financial Aid Learning Community from May 20-21, 2025, in Alexandria, Virginia.

The Learning Community convening allowed states to connect with their peers and reflect in-depth on the challenges and opportunities associated with the simplified FAFSA and strategies for improving state aid programs. This two-day closed meeting provided an opportunity for state teams to hear updates from federal and state agency staff, reflect on the impacts of policy changes on student aid eligibility and receipt, consider strategies for modifying state grant programs to align with best practices, and discuss shared experiences with their counterparts across the country.

Presentations from the convening can be found below:

• Conversation with Federal Student Aid Staff: 2026-27 FAFSA
• Federal Update
• Supporting All Students: Strategies for States to Address FAFSA and Aid Gaps for Undocumented Students and Students from Mixed-Status Families
• Reducing the Administrative Burden of Financial Aid Applications
• Workforce-Aligned Grant Aid
• State Share-Out: Innovations in State Grant Programs