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PREP-KC is launching a pilot project to increase the percentage of urban high school students completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA must be completed to qualify for financial aid for post-secondary education, yet urban students and their families often report that completing the FAFSA is a difficult process. High school educators report that it often creates a signifant barrier to college enrollment. This pilot project is designed to remove the barrier.
Partners in the project include:
- Kansas CIty, Kansas Public Schools - Wyandotte and Harmon High Schools
- Kansas City, Missouri School District (KCMSD) - East and Northeast High Schools
- University of Kansas - Education Talent Search
- Donnelly College
- Kansas City Kansas Community College
- Metropolitan Community College - Penn Valley
- KC C.A.S.H. (Creating Assets, Saving & Hope)
- University of Missouri-Kansas City
PREP-KC works in partnership with high schools and post-secondary institutions to make college-going a reality for a growing number of Kansas City's urban students. Pictured above is a KCMSD college fair supported by PREP-KC.
Students and families from the four pilot high schools will receive no-cost tax preparation and FAFSA completion services.
This project is designed to:
- Increase post-secondary enrollment - A 2009 report released by the National Bureau of Economic Research finds that providing students with support in completing the FAFSA significantly increases the percentage of students who receive aid, the amount of aid received, and college enrollment.
- Increase financial literacy and college-preparation knowledge in students, teachers, and families - This project will provide multiple opportunities for students, families, and teachers to develop important financial literacy and college-preparation skills.
- Coordinate efforts among Kansas City organizations that are already supporting college access for urban students - By strengthening these partnerships and aligning efforts, strategies can be developed to more effectively reach all seniors in participating schools.
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