EAST PROVIDENCE, RI - With financial aid deadlines looming for college-bound students, U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) today joined seniors at East Providence High School to demonstrate the new, streamlined 2010-2011 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Senator Reed wrote the law simplifying the FAFSA and making it easier for students and their families to complete the often unwieldy form.

The FAFSA determines how much federal financial aid, such as Pell Grants and Stafford loans, a student is eligible to receive. Students need to submit a FAFSA every year they are in college to receive federal student aid.

In past years, many families found the FAFSA paperwork so difficult they ended up paying private companies to fill it out for them and some just gave up. As a result, an estimated 1.5 million students who may be eligible for federal aid don't even apply.

"Students like you who have the drive, talent, and determination to go to college should be able to afford it. You're studying hard, and I'm working hard to help make sure financial aid is available and accessible to more Rhode Islanders," said Reed, a member of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee. "I will continue working to make college more affordable. The new FAFSA form will take down one of the main barriers to aid and help more students access critical federal loans and grants."

The U.S. Department of Education has begun implementing Reed's initiative to streamline the online application and now allows applicants to skip several questions that don't apply to them. Thanks to Senator Reed's law, students and their families filling out the FAFSA online now have:

Fewer questions: Enhanced technology like "skip logic" which allows students to skip questions that don't apply to them.

Friendlier navigation: Students and parents are guided through a well marked and color-coded web form, and screens include an easy-to-follow "help and hints" section.

Instant grant estimator: Some students may be eligible to get instant estimates of Pell Grant and loan eligibility.

And later this year, families applying for aid will be able to import tax data from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), allowing them to skip up to 18 additional questions.

Senator Reed is a member of the Senate committee that oversees federal education policy. He hosts an annual financial aid workshop to help make certain Rhode Island students and their families are aware of the financial aid options available at the federal and state levels.

Reed reminded Rhode Island students and their parents to complete the FAFSA as early as possible (students may file now for the 2010-11 academic year) so they don't miss out on financial aid for college. Many colleges set their priority financial aid deadlines between February 1st and mid-March.

The new FAFSA form can be found online at: www.fafsa.ed.gov