Education Department vows 'full-scale review' of financial aid office after FAFSA debacle
Education Secretary Miguel Cardona promises “transformational changes” after technical issues caused months of delays and errors with the overhauled aid form.
The Education Department said Thursday that it is taking steps to improve operations at its Federal Student Aid office after months of delays and errors with this year’s overhauled Free Application for Federal Student Aid. The form, known as FAFSA, had a botched rollout, disrupting decision timelines for current and prospective college students and schools across the country.
In a letter to staff members Thursday, Secretary Miguel Cardona said the agency was conducting a “full-scale review of FSA’s current and historical organization, management, staffing, workflow structures, business processes, and operations,” as well as vendor contracts.
In addition, the department is shaking up the office’s leadership and bringing on a team of information technology experts to help with FAFSA next year, among other efforts.
“For half a century, Federal Student Aid (FSA) has helped millions of Americans access higher education,” Cardona wrote. “Today, FSA maintains the same mission. But like any organization, its methods and scope of work have changed dramatically over time, and the environment where it now operates is continuously evolving.”
The Education Department has hired the Boston Consulting Group to recommend ways to improve the FSA office, an agency spokesperson told NBC News. It is also working to improve oversight and accountability, Cardona said in his letter, adding that “transformational changes” at the office will be “informed by input from students, educators, and experts in systems design.”
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