Posted: December 28, 2022
Author: Office of Postsecondary Education
Subject: Publication of the 2024–25 Draft FAFSA® Specifications Guide
The FAFSA Simplification Act, enacted into law as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 and amended by the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2022, represents a significant overhaul of federal student aid, including the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form, need analysis, and many policies and procedures for schools that participate in the Title IV programs. The U.S. Department of Education (Department) announced a phased implementation approach to the FAFSA Simplification Act, with full implementation by July 1, 2024.
To give financial aid administrators, software vendors, and other vested stakeholders time to understand and prepare for these upcoming changes, we are pleased to introduce and provide an initial installment of the 2024–25 FAFSA Specifications Guide. Beginning with the 2024–25 processing cycle, we will consolidate all FAFSA-related processing information and guidance into this new, multi-volume resource. The new resource will replace the following stand-alone documents:
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Summary of Changes for the Application Processing System
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EDE Technical Reference
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Application Processing System Specifications for Software Developers
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The ISIR Guide
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SAR Comment Codes and Text
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CPS Test System User Guide
Attached to this announcement are early drafts of two sections of the 2024–25 FAFSA Specifications Guide.
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Draft Introduction – This section provides an overview of the information provided in the guide, including a cross-reference table to assist users with the transition from the previous stand-alone documents to the volumes of the new consolidated guide. There is also a schedule of the planned releases for all volumes of the guide.
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Draft Volume 4 – Record Layouts and Processing Codes – This volume provides record layouts for schools and organizations that need to design or use software systems to interface with FSA’s new FAFSA Processing System. This very early draft of the volume allows users to see the new organization of data on the 2024–25 Draft ISIR Layout, most of the new FAFSA data elements, and most of the processing fields and their codes. Please note that all data elements in the 2024–25 Draft ISIR Layout are tentative at this time.
EARLY DRAFTS WILL CHANGE
The attachments to this announcement are early drafts of the 2024–25 FAFSA Specifications Guide and will change between now and the published, final versions.
Of particular note, the 2024–25 Draft ISIR Layout will change as additional FAFSA Simplification requirements are determined.
We appreciate users’ understanding as we provide an early look.
The 2024–25 FAFSA Specifications Guide will be updated with information and changes as they become available. A “Change History Table” is included in each volume of the guide and will outline all changes made to a volume over time. Refer to the Planned Releases schedule in the Introduction for forthcoming publication timeframes.
Attachments
The Department of Education strives to make all content accessible to everyone. While these documents do not currently meet the standards of Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, Federal Student Aid is working to create accessible versions. If you need access to these documents before the accessible versions are available, please contact the Information Technology Accessibility Program Help Desk at ITAPSupport@ed.gov to help facilitate.