Changes to FAFSA That Students & Guardians Need to Know

Changes to FAFSA That Students & Guardians Need to Know

There are a few changes happening to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA. These changes will take effect over the course of 2016. Here we will briefly overview the FAFSA changes so that parents and students will know how changes may effect them going forward.

  1. Previous year’s tax data will now be accepted – Starting in October 2016, students will be able to file their FAFSA before the new year, using the tax data from that year, instead of estimating new tax data after January. This means colleges will be able to send out financial aid packages earlier. Furthermore, students and their parents will be less likely to make mistakes while estimating their tax information.
  2. Asset protection cut in half – Previously, the guardian’s savings and investment funds were not counted against a student’s financial aid awards, as long as assets were less than $30,300. Now, that number has been cut in half, setting the bar for protected assets at $18,700. As a result, students may receive less financial aid if assets exceed that amount.
  3.  Schools can no longer see the other schools that a student has listed – Schools will now objectively issue financial aid packages, without knowing which other schools a student may be considering. In the past, schools could see how a student listed prospective colleges on the FAFSA, the first school usually being the most preferred, but now schools will not see such information. As a result, the college/university cannot use it as an advantage to decipher the likelihood of a student attending their school. However, state agencies can still see such information, so FAFSA filers may want to list a state college first to increase the chances of the student receiving state aid.

 

Source: U.S. News

 

ICE League is Adding a Girls League!

ICE League is Adding a Girls League!

ICE LEAGUE EXPANDING TO INCLUDE GIRLS NEXT SEASON

An innovative sports league that leverages students’ love of sports while promoting stellar academics, is expanding in its second season to include middle school girls.

The Inner City Educational (ICE) League is operated by Project Leadership with the Ball Brothers Foundation as the League’s founding partner. The League completed its first basketball
season in March 2015 and is designed to motivate participants to be strong student athletes as they move toward high school and post-secondary educations. The League is composed of 7th- and 8th graders who are drafted to one of four core ICE League
member organizations: the Boys & Girls Club of Muncie, Buley Center, Ross Center, and the YMCA.

In the inaugural season, the League had 69 7th– and 8th-grade boys participate, as well as 11 coaches. For the next season, which begins in February 2016 and runs through Tournament Day in early April 2016, a combined 7th– and 8th-grade girls team will be added at each of the four community centers.

“Since day one, we have hoped to expand the ICE League. We are excited to provide the same opportunity to
participate in the ICE basketball league for 7th and 8th grade girls in Muncie Community Schools,” said Kaye Harrell, Project Leadership Community Recruiter.

A school-wide initiative will promote the ICE League standards of a minimum GPA of “2.5 to drive 4.0 to thrive” at Muncie Central, Southside Middle School, and Northside Middle School. The initiative emphasizing GPAs strives to enhance the culture of high expectations by providing resources to every adult in Muncie Community Schools’
secondary school and identifying and celebrating an ICE Student of the Week.

The ICE League sets the grade point average bar at 2.5 and higher for students who wish to fully participate in the League. A partnership with the Muncie school system and permission by students’ parents allowed the League to monitor student GPA eligibility before the February draft and progress during the playing season. In 2016, the League will be expanded from 6 to 9 weeks.ICE Press

The impact of the ICE League extends beyond the first season. In the first year of the ICE League, 50% of players increased their quarter play eligibility because of improved GPAs. ICE League Commissioner Tom Lyon said a
returning ICE League 8th grade student told him recently, “Coach, last year I could only play two quarters, but want to play all four quarters this year! I am keeping my grades up now!”

Project Leadership is seeking new partners to support the expansion of the ICE League. A Golf Outing is planned on Sunday, September 27, 2015 at the Crestview Golf Course to raise money to expand the ICE League in 2016.

For more information about the ICE League or the upcoming golf outing, contact Kaye Harrell at (765) 896-8616 or
kharrell@projectleadership.org.

Let’s Talk Homework Help and Tutoring

Let’s Talk Homework Help and Tutoring

It’s a Sunday evening and you have an Algebra assignment that you need to complete before school on Monday. The only problem is, you don’t remember exactly how your teacher explained two-step linear equations and you left your notes in your locker. Or maybe you are a mentor or parent and your student asks you for homework help but you can’t remember back to your high school chemistry class. What are the options for people stuck in these situations?

The Indiana Youth Institute KIDS COUNT Radio Show covered two different services that could be a major help in the case that a student needs homework help or tutoring. At Project Leadership, we have summarized the information on both the KhanAcademy and the Rose-Hulman Homework Hotline that mentors, mentees, and parents need to know about these great (and FREE) resources.

The Khan Academy is utilized by approximately 13 million users each month. The service is free for everyone with no subscriptions, no fees, and no advertisements.

  • Online 24/7, computer-based help with instructional videos, practice exercises, and personalized learning dashboard
  • Subjects: Math, science, economics and finance, arts and humanities, computing, & official SAT test prep
  • Students K-12th grade & beyond
  • Compliments modern teaching strategies happening in classrooms today
  • Average video is 3-8 minutes long

The Rose-Hulman Homework Hotline is based in Indiana and is founded on Indiana Academic Standards to provide free homework help to thousands of children around the state.

  • Toll-free phone service at 1-877-ASK-ROSE: open 7-10 PM, Sunday-Thursday, September-May
  • Offers online resources: Study guides, test prep, and study skills
  • Subjects: Math and science
  • Students 6-12th grade
  • Tutors are student peers that are carefully selected for proficiency in math, science, and communication
  • Trained to help walk students through solving and understanding problems on their own
  • Average phone call lasts 12 minutes

Don’t be afraid to take advantage of these great resources. Spread the word so that students can get the help that they need!