The team discussed last year's challenges which impacted FAFSA completion, including the late release of the form and barriers that prevented students from applying. This year, families are still receiving confusing financial aid information, making some still feel distrustful of the government. Still, there has been greater completion in FAFSA forms this year, and most families are continuing to file their taxes. College counselors and school staff discussed strategies to support students who may not be responding to email or attending workshops or events. 1:1 connections and using passes for students to come into the career center have been working well, but have required additional follow up, making it time intensive. In addition, some students are opting out of filling out FAFSA forms, and there is interest from the group to track that data and possibly display it on a dashboard. Pulling CSAC reports has been helpful, along with collaboration with CBOs to reach students. 10,000 Degrees has played a critical role in increasing participation through in-person support, and diversifying support networks through involving more organizations and sharing resources like CalKids, which has been effective. The team also identified areas for improvement, including the need for additional 1:1 support in Tomales, training for more providers to assist with financial aid, and more consistent support for C&C Specialists. | 
