The state has extended the filing deadline for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA. The change comes as the state reports a drop in the percent of Hoosiers filing and K-12 school buildings remain closed.
There is not a new official filing deadline; instead, financial awards will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis.
Charlee Beasor is the spokesperson for the Indiana Commission For Higher Education. She says the deadline extension was prompted in part by concerns that fewer students have adequate access to online resources and filing help while school buildings are shut.
"That can be challenging, especially for the lower-income students. So this is just another way for us to make sure that we are really reaching the populations that need to file the FAFSA."
Beasor says data collected on who files the FAFSA shows low-income students file at a lower rate. The commission reports a 2.5 percent decrease in the number of filers this year compared to last.
Students and families who need FAFSA filing help can find additional resources on the commission's website.
