RIDE, Office of the Postsecondary Commissioner to Join College Planning Center for Financial Aid Workshop at Woonsocket High School

Published on Tuesday, January 10, 2023

Event comes as Rhode Island pushes for a 70% completion rate of the FAFSA, the gateway to federal financial aid, grants, scholarships, and work-study opportunities

WOONSOCKET, R.I. – Rhode Island Department of Education Deputy Commissioner for System Transformation Dr. Kelvin Roldán and Postsecondary Commissioner Dr. Shannon Gilkey will join the College Planning Center of Rhode Island (CPC) at Woonsocket High School tomorrow, January 11 at 10:30 a.m. to host a presentation and workshop for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). At the event, students will hear from alumni about the importance of the FAFSA and fill out the application. Students will also learn about free FAFSA resources, including the state’s FAFSA dashboard, which shows the percentage of high school seniors who have completed the federal aid application, broken down by school.  

“Filling out this free application can truly be life-changing for our Rhode Island students and families,” said Council on Elementary and Secondary Education Chair Patti DiCenso. “Together, we will continue preparing our students, bridging resources and breaking barriers to prosperity for every learner in Rhode Island.” 

Statewide, 36% of seniors have completed the FAFSA as of December 30, 2022, which is a slight uptick from the same time last year, and above the national average. 60.5% of the class of 2022 completed the FAFSA. Traditionally, Rhode Island is among the top performers in application completion. 

“One of the biggest barriers for first generation college students is lack of access to higher education planning. Being available to this population of students is crucial,” said Commissioner Angélica Infante-Green. “Rhode Island is committed to opening doors for our students, which is why we have incorporated FAFSA completion into the newly revised high school graduation requirements Congratulations to the students who are pursuing their dreams, and I encourage all students and families on this path to file the FAFSA as early as possible.” 

Completing the FAFSA is a gateway for not only federal financial aid, but also grants, scholarships, and work-study. Students who complete the FAFSA can receive up to $6,895 per year in federal Pell grants, which do not have to be paid back. 

“When students apply to FAFSA early, more opportunities for aid will be available to them,” said Shannon Gilkey, Ed.D., Rhode Island’s Commissioner of Postsecondary Education. “Finishing college without burdensome debt should be a goal that all students work toward and that process starts before the very first college application. The Rhode Island class of 2021 who went into postsecondary education left $8,048,815 of Pell Grant dollars unclaimed because they didn’t complete the FAFSA. My advice is simple: Complete the FAFSA. You don’t want to leave any money on the table.” 

FAFSA and state aid completion data will be reported in Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) school report cards and will be included in school accountability. This puts the onus on schools to support students in filling out the FAFSA and state aid forms to ensure all students get help in maximizing financial assistance.  

“Money for college starts with FAFSA and FAFSA is for everyone. Completing a FAFSA can assist more than just those students with significant financial need,” said Stacy Crooks, Director of RISLA’s College Planning Center. “Completing a FAFSA provides eligibility for grants, scholarships, work-study and low-cost federal student loans. Also, free FAFSA competition assistance is available at the College Planning Center for those who feel FAFSA is just too overwhelming and not worth the time and effort. Submitting a FAFSA is definitely worth the effort and we can help!”

Increasing FAFSA awareness and completion is a goal through Prepare Rhode Island (PrepareRI), the state’s initiative for college and career readiness. On the PrepareRI website, students can access a FAFSA toolkit that includes information on application requirements, instructions on how to navigate the platform, an explanation of the different types of financial assistance for college, and links and contact information for community organizations that can further assist with college access. 

Representatives from the College Planning Center and Woonsocket High School counselors will meet with students after the speaking program to help them complete their FAFSA. In addition to Wednesday's workshop, Woonsocket High School held a family informational night, in-school assembly, and college fair, as well as set up individual student meetings to support FAFSA completion and college and career readiness. 

“We are thrilled for the opportunity for our students and their families to attend the FAFSA workshop at Woonsocket High School hosted by RIDE, the Office of Postsecondary Education, and the College Planning Center of RI,” said Woonsocket Superintendent Dr. Patrick McGee. “A major barrier for students to attend college or institutions of postsecondary education is the increased costs of tuition. This barrier can be especially monumental for our low income and middle class families. By providing them with the necessary information, assistance, and resources, our students and their families can realize their dreams of attaining a postsecondary education.” 

The federal FAFSA deadline is June 30, but programs may have different priority deadlines. It is important to apply early because financial aid is first-come, first-served. For more information on the state’s FAFSA completion resources, including FAFSA Myths & FAQS, visit www.Prepare-RI.org/FAFSA.