The Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education approved a new policy that will require the state's roughly 35,000 high school seniors to apply for education aid for college or submit a signed form indicating that they won't.
The board approved the policy last week, The Advocate reported. About 15,000 seniors currently do not seek federal aid.
"We have two problems," said state Superintendent of Education John White. "First, we are leaving tens of millions of dollars every year because we are not applying for financial aid that will fund not just universities but community colleges and technical training. That problem is compounded by the fact that it is really the kids that need the aid the most that are applying the least."
Starting 2018, students will be required to apply for aid through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid or the Louisiana Office for Student Financial Assistance. Applications will be required for graduation.
Read more at the Associated Press: http://www.nola.com/education/index.ssf/2015/12/high_school_seniors_will_be_re.html