Illustration: Justin Morrison

The rollout of the new Free Application for Federal Student Aid is more than just a policy challenge. It’s a human crisis for many students who see postsecondary education as a pathway out of economic hardship or a way to a dream career. 

In words, images, and videos, students across broad spectrums of income and identity provide firsthand accounts of how this year's trouble-plagued FAFSA suddenly put their future in jeopardy.

Almost nothing could deter Brianna Savko from teaching. Even generally modest pay, an all-time high annual attrition rate of 7.7 percent, and a statewide shortage of more than 2,000 teachers would not change her mind.

Gov. Josh Shapiro signed a $10 million student teacher stipend program last year to assist aspiring educators like Savko. Now that effort needs more financial support to meet high demand.

A new study from the Community College Research Center and the Public Policy Institute of California takes an in-depth look at how community colleges in six states used federal pandemic relief funding and identifies areas of concern now that the funding is no longer available.

According to the study, colleges spent nearly all the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund money they received, with institutions focused on keeping current students rather than trying to recruit new ones.