After Bungling Financial Aid Process, Ed Dept. Begins Testing New FAFSA

The Education Department will open the new federal financial aid application for a beta testing period on Tuesday, as the Biden administration tries to avoid another disastrous rollout of the form. This year’s launch of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, will be closely watched on Capitol Hill, where lawmakers have been critical of the department’s handling of the revamped form. Congress had mandated the department streamline the application to deliver more money to college students, but technical glitches and bureaucratic delays prevented many students from completing the FAFSA and receiving timely aid offers this year.