Newark Schools Were Ahead Of The Curve For This NJ Law

NEWARK, NJ — When Gov. Phil Murphy signed a new state law mandating that students must submit college financial aid applications before graduating high school, it represented a milestone moment for New Jersey. But in Newark, the wheels have already been in motion on that for more than a year, administrators say.

Murphy signed A1181/S2054 on Jan. 16. Beginning with the 11th grade class of 2023-2024, students and their guardians will be required to complete and submit either the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the New Jersey Alternative Financial Aid Application, as guided by the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (HESAA), in order to receive their high school diploma.

Students and their families are able to submit a waiver requesting an exemption from the requirement.

Some critics of the law argued that students may find it burdensome to complete the forms, especially if they can’t get help from their parents. But supporters of the law say that it will be one more way of chopping away at the frightening mountain of student loan debt that looms across New Jersey. See Related: Student Loan Forgiveness Could Change Lives In NJ – Here's How

After the governor signed the new law, school officials in Newark gave a round of applause.

However, the concept of having high school students apply for college aid has already become reality in New Jersey’s largest city, according to a statement from the Newark Board of Education:

“In Newark, the board of education proactively shaped the future of its students by instituting a pivotal policy change in 2022. Beginning with that graduating class and onwards, seniors in the Newark Public School District became the first to be required to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid or the NJ Alternative Financial Aid Application as a graduation requirement.”

A study conducted by Rutgers University-Newark found completion rates rose to 62 percent as of September 2022, an increase from 50 percent in 2020, New Jersey Spotlight reported.

“Our goal is to ensure that every student is well-informed about the resources available to them for their educational journey and to learn firsthand that college is accessible to every child regardless of zip code or family income,” Superintendent Roger León said.

• See Related: Newark vs. Camden: Friendly 'Challenge' Will Empower Local Students

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