For those of us involved in preparing students to progress in their education and life plan, the arrival of fall season signals the beginning of October, an important and busy month for high school seniors, their families, college-career and financial aid advisors.

Promoted as College Knowledge Month across America, October is when high school seniors start actively preparing for the next phase of their lives, including funding their postsecondary education.

“FAFSA” is the acronym we hear a lot at this time of year. The open application period for filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) opened October 1. Throughout the month, a community collective effort will include financial aid advising and open houses, some virtual and some in person, to provide families and students with convenient resources and help.

The FAFSA is required to apply for Pell Grant dollars and other federal, state and philanthropic grants and scholarships that help pay for college, making it a critical first step for students to access financial aid that will help them pursue their postsecondary plans.

Even families that think they won’t need or qualify for financial aid are advised to complete the FAFSA to have in place as a safeguard against changing circumstances. In addition, some colleges and universities use the FAFSA in evaluating merit aid awards.

This year it is important to apply early. We know that many families’ financial situations have been adversely affected due to the pandemic, and they may need to budget additional time to submit adjustments and, if necessary, request a review by the college financial aid office. In addition to individual importance, a high rate of FAFSA completion is a welcome indication that students are progressing beyond high school. Last year, Sarasota County Schools won top honors in the large district category in a statewide campaign to increase the proportion of high school seniors completing the FAFSA for the 2019-20 school year compared to the prior year.

That means that 56.1% of Sarasota County public high school seniors completed the FAFSA by the end of June, a reason to applaud, but we want to remain mindful that more than 40% of seniors did not complete the form, which translates to lost potential funding for individuals.

Financial aid is especially important for students who are historically underrepresented in higher education—economically disadvantaged, minority and first generation to attend college.

Local financial aid nights and open houses are coordinated by PLANit Sarasota, the Local College Access Network comprised of a cross-sector group of education and youth services organizations and community partners. In addition to FAFSA help, students and their families can learn about Florida Bright Futures and other local and national scholarships.

PLANit Sarasota is a collective impact collaborative whose long-term goal is to increase the percentage of Sarasota County residents 25 and under who have obtained a high-value postsecondary certificate, degree, or training experience to 60% by 2030.

Along with emphasizing FAFSA deadlines, PLANit Sarasota organizers are encouraging students and families who may have experienced setbacks due to the COVID pandemic to keep looking forward and planning.

Persistence in planning and working through the plan is more important now than ever. Studies show that people with higher levels of education are more resilient and able to withstand unexpected upheavals in their lives and work than those with only a high school diploma.

We all know this year is different from any year before in memory of those living now, and educators are aware that the college matriculation and decision-making process have been turned upside down. It’s a lot for students and families to navigate on their own, and that’s why we are coming together as a community to offer streamlined, accurate information to help students and families obtain the “college knowledge” they need to make informed decisions.

Our dedication is to ensure that each student is prepared to be successful in life. We are committed to help students and families obtain the right information to make life choices like these.

Here are places to find resources and help:

PLANit Sarasota financial aid open houses: https://bit.ly/financialaidnights

LaunchYourPlan: www.launchyourplan.com

LaunchPad4U (the Education Foundation’s new community resource center): www.edfoundationsrq.org/launchpad4u
UnidosNow: email info@unidosnow.org to register for a FAFSA workshop
Reach Manatee (Manatee Local College Access Network): www.reachmanatee.com

Jennifer Vigne is the president and CEO of the Community Foundation of Sarasota County.