2025-26 FAFSA Beta Testing Phase 1

Forms and Documents

Document Name	Status
2025-26 FAFSA Beta Testing Phase 1 Form and Instruction	New
FAFSA Beta 1 _ Interest Form Emergency Memo 8.26 FSA Rev 453p (1).docx Supplementary Document	2024-08-27
1845-NEW FAFSA Beta 1 Supporting Statement 2024 rev final.docx Supporting Statement A	2024-08-27

IC Document Collections

IC ID	Document Title	Status
270419	2025-26 FAFSA Beta Testing Phase 1 Form and Instruction	New

ICR Details

OMB Control No: 1845-0185	ICR Reference No: 202408-1845-003
Status: Active	Previous ICR Reference No:
Agency/Subagency: ED/FSA	Agency Tracking No:
Title: 2025-26 FAFSA Beta Testing Phase 1
Type of Information Collection: New collection (Request for a new OMB Control Number)	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Emergency	Approval Requested By: 08/27/2024
OIRA Conclusion Action: Approved without change	Conclusion Date: 08/27/2024
	Date Received in OIRA: 08/27/2024
Terms of Clearance:

	Inventory as of this Action	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	01/31/2025	6 Months From Approved
Responses	100	0	0
Time Burden (Hours)	33	0	0
Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0

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Abstract: The U.S. Department of Education (the Department) is requesting an emergency clearance for this new information collection. Federal Student Aid (FSA), an office of the Department of Education, developed an application process to collect and process the data necessary to determine a students eligibility to receive Title IV, HEA program assistance. The regular application process involves an applicants submission of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). After submission and processing of the FAFSA form, an applicant receives a FAFSA Submission Summary, providing a summary of the processed data they submitted on the FAFSA form. The applicant reviews the summary, and, if necessary, will make corrections or updates to their submitted FAFSA data. Institutions of higher education listed by the applicant on the FAFSA form also receive a summary of processed data submitted on the FAFSA form, which is called the Institutional Student Information Record (ISIR). The appropriate state higher education agency will also receive the ISIR data to coordinate eligible state funds to be provided to the applicant via the institution of higher education. The Department will conduct a beta testing program for the 2025-26 FAFSA (2025-26 FAFSA) beginning on October 1, 2024. The implementation of the 2025-26 FAFSA process is being conducted through a phased process to ensure a stable and reliable platform for submission of required information for all filers, contributors, and other financial aid community users such as high schools, institutions of higher education, state agencies and community-based organizations (CBOs) who assist college bound students.

Emergency Justfication: The standard application process involves an applicant’s submission of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). With the priority to have confidence in the FAFSA application system, the Department seeks to test it from end to end using a phased approach. This approach will allow for an initial small number (2-6) of community-based organizations (CBOs), FAFSA filers and contributors to stress test the system and the application. Following the initial testing phase, the universe of FAFSA filers and contributors along with CBOs and other interested parties will be increased to again stress test the system for continuing improvements. In addition, to better serve students and contributors who will submit FAFSAs, the Department seeks to work with organizations that can receive and process the Institutional Student Information Records (ISIRs) that are generated by the system. If the Department were required to put the collection through the normal clearance process, we would be unable to conduct this critical testing by the launch of the 2025-26 FAFSA form, which could result in significant delays for students to apply and receive their aid eligibility for the 2025-26 award year. Any delay in getting access to the FAFSA form would increase the potential for public harm through delayed access to student financial aid and the possibility of decreasing the likelihood of postsecondary enrollment.

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Authorizing Statute(s): None

Citations for New Statutory Requirements: None

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Associated Rulemaking Information
RIN:	Stage of Rulemaking:	Federal Register Citation:	Date:
	Not associated with rulemaking

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Federal Register Notices & Comments

Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? No

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Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR: 1

IC Title	Form No.	Form Name
2025-26 FAFSA Beta Testing Phase 1	N/A	FAFSA Beta 1 Interest Form

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ICR Summary of Burden

	Total Approved	Previously Approved	Change Due to New Statute	Change Due to Agency Discretion	Change Due to Adjustment in Estimate	Change Due to Potential Violation of the PRA
Annual Number of Responses	100	0	0	100	0	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	33	0	0	33	0	0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0	0	0	0

Burden increases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: Yes

Burden Increase Due to: Miscellaneous Actions

Burden decreases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: No

Burden Reduction Due to:

Short Statement: This is a new collection. The anticipated 33 burden hours is based on 100 responses from 100 respondents.

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Annual Cost to Federal Government: $0

Does this IC contain surveys, censuses, or employ statistical methods? No

Does this ICR request any personally identifiable information (see OMB Circular No. A-130 for an explanation of this term)? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     No

Does this ICR include a form that requires a Privacy Act Statement (see 5 U.S.C. §552a(e)(3))? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     No

Is this ICR related to the Affordable Care Act [Pub. L. 111-148 & 111-152]? No

Is this ICR related to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, [Pub. L. 111-203]? No

Is this ICR related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)? No

Is this ICR related to the Pandemic Response? No

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Common Form ICR:  No

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On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).

The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:

(a) It is necessary for the proper performance of agency functions;

(b) It avoids unnecessary duplication;

(c) It reduces burden on small entities;

(d) It uses plain, coherent, and unambiguous language that is understandable to respondents;

(e) Its implementation will be consistent and compatible with current reporting and recordkeeping practices;

(f) It indicates the retention periods for recordkeeping requirements;

(g) It informs respondents of the information called for under 5 CFR 1320.8 (b)(3) about:

(i) Why the information is being collected;

(ii) Use of information;

(iii) Burden estimate;

(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);

(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and

(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;

(h) It was developed by an office that has planned and allocated resources for the efficient and effective management and use of the information to be collected.

(i) It uses effective and efficient statistical survey methodology (if applicable); and

(j) It makes appropriate use of information technology.

If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.

Certification Date: 08/27/2024

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