TxCAN Launches New FAFSA Dashboard We are exited to launch our 2nd FAFSA Completion dashboard. Hopefully you are already familiar with our FAFSA Dashboard that shows high level trends in completion over time. We have added a more detailed dashboard to allow you to dig deeper into the data. Both dashboards can be found here. With the impending FAFSA graduation requirement, we encourage you all to use this data to create strategies on increasing your completion to 100%.
HB3 : FAFSA Graduation Requirement
The HB3 in 30 FAFSA Application Graduation requirement video is live. Watch the video here. The video contains information on timeline, implementation, accountability and more.
To support communications on House Bill 3, TEA staff will be releasing a video web series that seeks to provide more information on HB3. These presentations will be posted every Thursday. Visit the series page to view them here.
Don't miss your chance to win a Generation Texas prize bundle! Winning is simple! All you have to do to enter is complete the GenTX Event Survey by November 30, 2019! Already submitted your survey? No worries, you have automatically been registered for the giveaway. GenTX announced that there are 10 Generation Texas prize bundles to be given away! Winners will be chosen and announced December 4, 2019.
Signing up for GenTX Month and GenTX Day also gets you FREE #IApplied stickers for your school or organization. REGISTER TODAY!
In the News
Looking for a quick and easy way to update your knowledge of FAFSA and TASFA application changes, including the new state law requiring FAFSA/TASFA completion for graduation? Texas OnCourse hosts webinars and has many training tools for you. For information about future webinars, subscribe to the Texas OnCourse Educator Playbook email or visit there website for access to modules designed for students, teachers, counselors, administrators and more. https://texasoncourse.org/.
#TheUniverseAwaits and #BestFuture Contest October 15 – November 27
Texas OnCourse wants to reward you for supporting your middle and high school students! Have you heard that you can enter to win up to $50 for earning professional development badges in the Texas OnCourse Academy?
These opportunities to win are just in time for the endorsement exploration and college application seasons. Whether you’re a middle school or high school educator, you can find details on learning and earning through the Texas OnCourse Academy at https://txoc.link/DualBadgeContest.
NCAN Webinar Curious About Student-Led Advocacy? There's A Guide for That! Wedn., December 4 | 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM Eastern
Register here
Student-led advocacy campaigns are powerful. Policymakers appreciate hearing from those directly affected by their decisions, so students can have a great impact on higher education policy discussions. The Scholarship Foundation of St. Louis’s Education Policy Internship is well into its sixth year of operation and its third year of involvement in the Active Advocacy Coalition. During their time with the foundation, policy interns engage in a nine-month program that serves as the brain trust of a coalition that reaches over 100 students. The primary goal of this internship program is to build power among students and solidify their lived experience as expertise.
2019 Avid National Conference December 12-14, 2019 - Dallas, TX.
Learn more about how educators are systemically raising academic rigor while cultivating engaging learning environments for our underrepresented students. More than 70 concurrent sessions will focus on impacting student learning, transformational leadership, equity for all and teaching and learning for the future. Learn More
Drop- Out Recovery Grant Opportunity
Greater Texas Foundation, GTF, is partnering with JFF to release a request for proposals for schools and programs serving off-track and out-of-school youth to build out on-ramps to postsecondary education so that more youth graduate and transition to postsecondary education/training and persist to a credential. Selected grantees will receive sub grants of up to $100,000 and participate in technical assistance from JFF.
Proposals are due to Lili Allen (lallen@jff.org) at JFF by December 2, 2019. Notification of awards will be made by December 20, 2019. The project period is from January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020.
Kendra's Corner
TxCAN Deputy Director shares her best college access tips and resources It’s the most emotional time of year! FAFSA and TASFA completion, early action, early decision and for some decisions are already on the way. Students and parents are very vulnerable and stressed during these times. It can also be very stressful for the professionals on the frontline of helping students and families. Self-care is so important, so take sometime for you and decompress, destress and rest. Acknowledge the wins! The American Counseling Association has a blog on stress relief , read more here.
We must never forget about taking care of ourselves and our students! There is a lot of uncertainly for students and families in the coming months. So, I encourage you to take a moment with students and families to acknowledge the pressure and emotions. Don't ignore it, acknowledge it and talk through it thoughtfully and practically. College Raptor has a great blog that you can share with students about managing stress here.
Many students and families thrive in smaller non-threating environments, so try to offer 1-1 meeting opportunities in addition to the big FAFSA and application completion events, if you have the capacity. I have also found it helpful to start my meeting with a "Face your Fear" moment. This allows a moment to acknowledge how stressful and emotional this time of year it lets the group/individual take a deep breath and if they are willing, I allow them to express any feelings or fears they might be experiencing. Then we talk about them. I find this allows them then to lay down all the things that could hinder a successful meeting.
Reassurance and comfort during this season can go a long way. So, take care of yourself and don’t forget about the lives behind the paperwork! Happy Thanksgiving!
