California Responds to FAFSA Crisis with Deadline Extension

The state moves to give students an extra month for financial aid applications amidst federal processing errors.

California extends the deadline for state financial aid applications from April 2 to May 2, aiming to mitigate the impact of federal FAFSA processing errors.
The FAFSA issues, including a recent miscalculation affecting financial need information, have resulted in significant delays and inaccuracies in student aid eligibility.
Legislation to extend the deadline passed unanimously in both the state Assembly and Senate, reflecting a swift bipartisan response to the crisis.
The federal issues have disproportionately affected students with complicated family situations, such as those without a parent's Social Security number.
California's decision does not resolve federal-level problems but provides students with additional time to navigate the state financial aid process.