14 Aug Ed Fund, Richmond Promise & WCCUSD Receive $72,000 Grant
Changes to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid caused problems, but local organizations are providing support to boost completion rates. (“FAFSA” by Alpha Photo / CC BY-NC 2.0 license / Flickr)
By Michael J. Fitzgerald
The West Contra Costa Public Education Fund, Richmond Promise, and the West Contra Costa Unified School District recently were awarded a $72,000 grant from the Education Credit Management Corporation Foundation to support efforts to boost financial aid completion rates throughout West Contra Costa.
The grant is part of an ECMC strategy to use federal funds to address lower completion rates nationwide of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Ed Fund will oversee administration of the grant while Richmond Promise and WCCUSD will provide program support and data sharing.
Changes to the student financial aid process in the 2024-25 application cycle created additional barriers for families to apply, officials said. These included a new application form and criteria, new requirements for parents, and a shorter application timeline.
ECMC launched its FAFSA Student Support Strategy to provide funds to organizations with experience in providing financial aid completion services.
WCCUSD and Ed Fund said that 63% of 1,837 enrolled graduating seniors in the district had completed a financial aid application as of June 6. Through Aug. 2, the estimated completion rate is still in the 60-64% range, according to data provided by StudentAid.gov. The goal is to raise that number to 73% by the end of the summer.
Staff members from each organization offer additional support for West Contra Costa students. Office hours are being conducted weekly by WCCUSD college counselors and Richmond Promise via Zoom and in person.
“When our community works together, we can create real possibilities for our kids,” said Ed Fund Executive Director Robert Bunce. “We are thrilled to bring together the school district, Richmond Promise, and the Ed Fund to make college affordability a reality for more families this summer.”
Richmond Promise also voiced enthusiasm for the project.
“Richmond Promise has always believed that financial aid completion rates are a key indicator of a student’s intent to pursue postsecondary education, so a large part of our college access work in local schools focuses on helping students and families navigate this process,” said Richmond Promise Executive Director Christopher Whitmore. “We have seen firsthand the additional obstacles created by changes at the federal level this year, and we are excited to come together with two great partners of ours, Ed Fund and WCCUSD, as we continue our work on behalf of Richmond students.”
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WCCUSD also voiced its support.
“As a member of the College and Career Department at WCCUSD, we believe that collaborating with community partners is a crucial part in providing support to our students,” said Karina Soriano-Ponce, district lead counselor for the WCCUSD. “This partnership will focus on providing comprehensive financial aid application support to students and their families that will empower them in navigating the financial aid process with confidence, ensuring that every student has the opportunity to pursue higher education without the burden of financial uncertainty.”
Families and students interested in these services can reach out to Maddie Orenstein at Maddie@edfundwest.org, Karina Soriano-Ponce at kponce@wccusd.net, or Miguel Molina at mmolina@richmondpromise.org.
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