LANSING — State Rep. Darrin Camilleri (D-Brownstown Township) introduced House Bill 4614 to encourage public school students to fill out a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form before they graduate. The legislation would require students without extenuating circumstances to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid as a requirement to graduate to make accessing affordable post-high school education an option for students across the state.

“For thousands of young people across Michigan, the only factor holding them back from pursuing higher education is the rising cost of college,” Rep. Camilleri said. “While completing the FAFSA provides access to incredible financial support for post-high school education, too often students are not taking advantage of this opportunity. By including FAFSA completion as a prerequisite to graduation, we can open doors for students who would have never considered higher education due to financial constraints.”

Postsecondary students received more than $123 billion in scholarships and grants in 2014-15, with 37 percent of that funding coming from the federal government through FAFSA.

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