RI Student Loan Authority Has New College Planning Tool to Help School Counselors Assist Families

RI Student Loan Authority Has New College Planning Tool to Help School Counselors Assist Families

The Rhode Island Student Loan Authority (RISLA) has launched a new online resource tool designed to promote greater completion of the FAFSA, which is the first step in applying for financial aid and scholarships.  

According to RISLA, this tool will "serve as a valuable resource for high school counselors who assist students preparing for college."

“This new tool provides step-by-step assistance on completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, popularly known as the FAFSA, lists scholarship opportunities and is a convenient way to book a free counseling session with the financial aid professionals at the RISLA College Planning Center,” said Charles Kelley, Executive Director of RISLA.

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Additionally, the new tool offers a portal developed specifically for school counselors and may be accessed by counselors here. 

 

New Support for School Professionals

“It is critically important for the RISLA College Planning Center to find new ways to make FAFSA completion easier to understand for students and families.  We are confident that these new tools on our website will do just that," said Stacy Crooks, Director of RISLA's College Planning Center

“Rhode Island has a good FAFSA completion rate when compared to other states, but, there is always room for improvement, particularly with students from disadvantaged and inner city communities," said Crooks. "These handy online tools should serve to further increase our state’s FAFSA completion rate and provide additional options for students and families. However, they are not intended to replace any of the existing services offered at the College Planning Center, including free one-on-one FAFSA completion appointments which are still available.”

Kelley noted that according to NCAN eligible students in Rhode Island left on the table more than 8 million dollars in Pell Grant during the 2020-2021 academic year, simply because they did not complete the FAFSA. Submitting a FAFSA is all that is needed for a student to determine their eligibility for up to $7395 in Pell grant for the upcoming academic year.

 

About RISLA’s College Planning Center

RISLA is a non-profit, quasi-state authority which has been providing affordable education solutions since 1981. 

The College Planning Center assists students with every step of their college journey – from walking students and parents through the college planning process, educating families on how to obtain financial aid, providing tools that help families make informed and responsible borrowing choices for college, to helping students with jump-starting their careers.

RISLA's services are free to Rhode Island students and parents preparing, planning, and paying for college.