Dear County and District Superintendents and Charter School Administrators:

Free Application for Federal Student Aid Deadline Extended to April 2, 2025

The California Department of Education and I are fully dedicated to supporting the education of students—our future pioneers, leaders, and community leaders. Financial aid serves as a cornerstone in enabling countless individuals across our state to pursue higher education and realize their professional ambitions. Ensuring equitable access to these opportunities is paramount.

One vital step in accessing financial aid is the submission of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which opens doors to federal, state, and institutional assistance. Due to the delayed launch of the financial aid cycle, the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) has extended the deadline for all students in California to April 2, 2025, affording students additional time to submit their FAFSA. If students have not yet applied for financial aid for the 2025-26 academic year, it’s time to apply now.

CSAC is offering free webinars to help students and families complete the FAFSA or the California Dream Act Application (CADAA). These webinars are staffed by financial aid experts to answer questions. Attendees will learn about both applications and other important information about financial aid. Students and families should sign up for these no-cost webinars at https://csac.ca.gov/c4c.

Please encourage your students to submit their Free Application for Federal Student Aid on the California Student Aid Commission’s website at https://csac.ca.gov/apply by April 2, 2025.

Sincerely,

Tony Thurmond
State Superintendent of Public Instruction