Texas Application for State Financial Aid: Senate Bill 1528 Students Maria Luna-Torres, Director, Education Finance Initiatives, TG Jane Caldwell, Director, Grants and Special Programs, THECB Janie Alcala, Associate Director, Outreach, TAMU

Background  House Bill (HB)1403 passed - allowing undocumented and domiciled visa holders access to Texas resident tuition and state financial aid  Consortium formed to design state-wide financial aid application (TASFA)  Senate Bill (SB)1528 passed - affirming, revising HB1403

Initial Challenges  Students’ and parents’ lack of knowledge of financial aid availability  Fear of filing FAFSA due to undocumented status  Student, parent, and guidance counselor confusion on application process  Lack of consistency among schools in financial aid application process

Solution  Task force formed to develop a statewide application

Task Force Goals  Simplify the financial aid process  Develop a common application  Encourage use of the form

Task Force Actions  First statewide application finalized in December 2005 for the academic year  Annual survey conducted  Point of contact established

Continued Challenges  Students unaware of aid opportunities  Schools still unaware of form and process  Some schools not willing to use form  Guidance counselors unsure which schools use the form

Application Evolution  Application available in Spanish  Checklist attached  School contact list available  Application available online at – –  Approximately 100 colleges and universities use form

Residency Eligibility Requirements SB 1528 Jane Caldwell, Director, Grants and Special Programs Grants and Special ProgramsTHECB

Residency Requirements Senate Bill 1528  Graduation from public or private Texas high school, or receipt of GED  Texas residency for at least three years  Affidavit of intent to become U.S. permanent resident

Program Eligibility  State grants –Texas Public Education Grant (TPEG) –Texas Equalization Grant (TEG) –TEXAS Grant –Texas Educational Opportunity Grant

Program Eligibility  Self-help aid –College Access Loan –Texas College Work Study (if eligible to work)  State exemption programs  Institutional aid

Financial Aid Process: Needs Analysis Janie Alcala, Associate Director, Outreach TAMU

FAFSA or TASFA

Documentation  Tax returns and W-2s or documentation of income  Item 31 – if no tax return filed, report wages here  Threshold $ –Provide explanation  < $6500 indicated on tax return  >$6500 and no tax return filed  Selective Service registration for males between 18 and 25

Needs Analysis  Manual calculation process  EFC calculators – –Simulation on FAMS  COA – EFC = financial need

Income & Assets

Non Tax Filers

Professional Judgment  May be used in same capacity as with federal aid  Be mindful that these students face unique circumstances  Situations include but are not limited to: –Dependency overrides –No tax return –Parent signature

Audit Documentation  Keep all documents supporting decisions –Completed TASFA application –EFC calculation –Tax returns and W-2s –Income documents, e.g. signed statements of receipt of cash

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