Financial aid and access: Getting the word out— research findings and possible practices WACAC 2005 Paz M. Olivérez Mari Luna De La Rosa

The Problem Low-income urban high schools have poor retention rates –Senior classes consist of < 50% of freshman class Financial aid information does not reach all students Consequently, few students go on to college

The Study Focuses on the challenges low- income students and families face in acquiring college and financial aid information. Seeks to determine what financial aid-related services are available to low-income students and families.

Study Sample 9 large low-income urban high schools in Los Angeles –4-year college-going rates: 9-23% –Student populations: 2,000-5,500 –Demographics: Primarily Latino (2); Primarily African American (1), Mixed Latino & African American (3), Diverse with small portions of Caucasian students (3)

Methodology Mixed-method –Interviews with 9 college counselors –Interviews with 270 high school seniors –5,200 high school juniors and seniors surveyed –Focus groups with multiple constituencies College counselors Financial aid experts College preparation practitioners

“ We lose many students who would otherwise go to college based on the money.” - College Counselor

Financial Aid Information & Services The High School Post-Secondary Institution- or Program-Sponsored Events Community/Government/Loan Agencies

The High School: Information Resources Daily announcements Newsletters/flyers Classroom presentations College counseling office

The High School: Financial Aid Services Application assistance Interpreting financial aid eligibility and awards Fee-waivers

The High School: Targeting students & families Students –High-achieving students targeted most often with college/financial aid information –Low- or middle-achievers least likely to be targeted Families –Some counselors do not target families –Information sent home to families is primarily in English –Some events have translation and some do not

Support from Outside the High School School- and community-based financial aid and scholarship information workshops Classroom presentations Line-by-line FAFSA workshops Financial aid award interpretation Collegiate money management workshops

Challenges to Disseminating Information & Services School size Limited counseling staff Lack of familial participation Special populations –Undocumented students –Foster youth