Do not hesitate to reach out to Dr. Jennifer Murphy (jmurphy@educationforwardarizona.org) if you have any questions!

Registration is Officially Open for the 2025 FAFSA and CCR Symposium

Be sure to secure your seat for the FAFSA and CCR Symposium - a day of empowerment and education tailored for high school counselors, CCR specialists, and college access professionals on Friday, September 12 at the Memorial Union on the ASU Tempe campus. Breakout sessions and roundtable discussions offer rich, targeted content that addresses a wide range of needs and interests related to effectively supporting Arizona students on their college and career readiness journey. Register today, as this event has already reached more than half capacity.

College Depot Educational Resource Expo

College Depot will be hosting an educational resource expo for students on Thursday, August 7 from 4:30-6:30 p.m. Students will have the opportunity to:

• Meet college, scholarship and apprenticeship representatives.
• Learn about GED and high school diploma options.
• Learn about college pathways, scholarships and apprenticeship opportunities.
• Meet and mingle with other students. 

Please encourage students to register for this informative event!

2025-2026 Virtual Lunch & Learn Series Kickoff

Join the Ask Benji team on Wednesday, August 13 from 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. for the first Lunch & Learn workshop of the new school year titled - What do Families Hear When We Say Financial Aid and FAFSA? Alessandra Cipriani-Detres from the National College Attainment Network (NCAN) will share current insights and research around effective FAFSA, financial aid, and postsecondary enrollment messaging for students and families.

Get ahead of the game and register for all the Fall 2025 Lunch & Learn webinars here on the Ask Benji website.

Register for a Fall 2025 Snack Pack Session

Join ABOR, ADE, and AzCAN staff for bite-sized professional development during the upcoming Fall 2025 semester. Tune in virtually to learn about impactful updates on the latest tools, resources, data, and more - all designed to support your CCR efforts! Register your school or district team below for the option that best works with your schedule:

Option 1: September 17, 11:30 am to 1:30 p.m.

Option 2: October 22, 11:30 am to 1:30 p.m.

Sign Up Now for the Arizona College-Going Initiatives!

The Arizona Board of Regents is excited to announce that sign-ups are now open for its college-going initiatives for the 2025-2026 school year. These initiatives include:

• Arizona College Application Campaign
• Arizona FAFSA Challenge
• Arizona Decision Day

Schools that register will receive a FREE toolkit (stickers, swag, and digital resources) for all three programs. The toolkits are first-come, first-served and will be mailed directly to schools starting August 4. 

Mark Your Calendars - The Southwest Middle Grades Summit

The Arizona Association for Middle Level Education in partnership with the Mary Lou Fulton College for Teaching and Learning Innovation is hosting the Southwest Middle Grades Summit on Saturday, September 20, 8:00 am to 4:00 p.m. Learn more and register here.

Arizona Selected to Participate is FSA Beta Testing

The Arizona FAFSA Coalition was selected by Federal Student Aid as one of 2 entities in Arizona to participate in beta testing for the 2026-2027 FAFSA cycle. Representatives from Federal Student Aid will be joining staff from ABOR, ADE, EFA, and various community partners to help students at Corona del Sol complete their FAFSA on Thursday, August 7. Participation in beta testing affords real-time trouble-shooting and early access of the 2026-2027 FAFSA form set to open nationally by October 1.

Interested in becoming an Ask Benji partner school?

Partnering with Ask Benji, Arizona’s AI-powered FAFSA chatbot, allows your high school seniors to receive timely, personalized text messages focused on postsecondary pathways, financial aid, and FAFSA support. Your school can also create customized nudges aligned with your community’s post-high school planning efforts and FAFSA completion events - enhancing support and engagement every step of the way.

Learn more here or reach out to Graciela Nobles (gnobles@educationforwardarizona.org).

Reconciliation Bill: What You Need to Know

After a long and sometimes heated debate, Congress has finally passed the budget reconciliation bill and it was signed into law by the President on July 4. Read more about the impact on Pell Grant and student loans here.

Investing in Arizona's Future: What the FY2026 State Budget Means for Education

Education Forward Arizona’s mission is to advocate for and act on education improvements that advance the quality of life for all Arizonans. A thriving education ecosystem is a cornerstone of a successful state economy, healthy communities and an individual’s ability to support themselves and their families. Learn more about Education Forward Arizona’s advocacy priorities and the Arizona budget for FY2026.