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Board adopts FAFSA completion requirement for Class of 2027 with exemptions
Summary
The Benzie County Central Board of Education voted unanimously to add a FAFSA completion requirement to graduation policy beginning with the class of 2027, with specified exemptions for parental waiver, privacy concerns, or documented good‑faith assistance efforts.
The Benzie County Central Board of Education on March 9 voted unanimously to adopt a policy requiring students in the Class of 2027 to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as a graduation requirement unless they meet specified exemptions. The motion (25‑26‑079) was moved by Trustee Sue Campana and supported by Mr. Egeler and passed 6–0.
Superintendent Erfourth presented the committee's draft language and emphasized that exemptions are built into the policy. The policy text states: "Beginning with the class of 2027, all students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to graduate unless the student qualifies for an exemption as described in this Policy." Exemptions include a parental waiver, inability to complete the FAFSA for privacy reasons, or documented situations where a counselor's good‑faith efforts to assist were unsuccessful and the student opts out but remains on track for graduation.
The board also directed that the new requirement be added to Policy 5409 (Graduation Requirements) and clarified administrative processes for counselors to provide waivers and assistance. Trustees framed the change as a tool to increase student access to federal and state scholarships and loans; no fiscal impacts to the general fund were reported in the meeting discussion.
The policy was adopted as presented and will be incorporated into the district policy manual; implementation details (counselor guidance, waiver forms) were described as next steps.
