People need access to data to make decisions about post-high school experiences, including postsecondary education. Policymakers need to better understand how financial circumstances relate to college enrollment and completion. And students and their families need information about how much financial aid they may have access to for financing their education. States are best positioned to provide, contextualize, and interpret federal student aid (FSA) data for many different audiences, but need support from federal leaders who currently govern access to this data.
This resource unpacks how clear guidance from federal leaders about sharing FSA data with statewide longitudinal data systems (SLDSs) can ensure that states are connecting this information and providing people with access to FSA data for decisionmaking.
