Principles for Redesigning State Financial Aid

Posted by Education Commission of the States on May 11, 2015

States award more than $11 billion in financial aid annually, and redesigning state aid programs could better address changing student demographics, emerging educational delivery models, and shifting expectations for higher education attainment, according to a new report from the Education Commission of the States released last week. Could your state aid program work better for the students you serve? If so, read on.

The report summarized four principles for financial aid programs:

• Student centered;
• Goal driven and data informed;
• Timely and flexible; and
• Broadly inclusive of all students’ educational pathways.

The report was the first step in a two-year project, supported by USA Funds, to encourage states to adapt their aid programs to better meet the needs of their students and economies. In May, ECS will launch a 50-state policy scan of the largest 100 state-funded aid programs, which is intended to inform discussions about current program design and innovative models and assist states in identifying peer programs. Finally, ECS will provide technical assistance in five to seven states to help them explore legislative changes to their aid programs.

http://statefinancialaidredesign.org/