OKLAHOMA CITY ( KFOR ) — There’s a new law in Oklahoma that requires high school graduates at public high schools to submit a free FAFSA application and learn about federal funding for college.
While there is an option to opt out, students must file one or the other before graduating.
“I could see how hard students in Oklahoma were working to get qualified to go to college and to get accepted to college. But a lot of times their families didn’t know how to pay for it,” said Senator Mary Boren (D-Norman).
Lawmakers express concern over next year’s FAFSA
The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education explains each school district will have a school employee in charge of collecting information regarding student compliance before graduation.
“I could also see that a lot of families just didn’t know how to navigate the financing of it. And they weren’t aware that how important the FAFSA was to opening up those doors of funding for college,” said Senator Boren.
Counselor Josh Bottomly said last year only 38% of FAFSA applications were completed.