Rockwood Families: Beta Testing Available Now for 2026-2027 FAFSA Federal Student Aid Form

The U.S. Department of Education is beta testing the 2026–2027 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form before it goes live to the public by Oct. 1.

Through the month of September, any student can request to participate online. Students who are invited to participate will receive an email notification and can complete and submit the 2026–2027 FAFSA form. This is an excellent opportunity for students and families to complete their FAFSA form ahead of schedule and move one step closer to accessing federal student aid. 

Request access at StudentAid.gov/joinbeta.

For more information, check out the Frequently Asked Questions below or contact your school's college and career counselors:

• Eureka High
• Lafayette High
• Marquette High
• Rockwood Summit High

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the FAFSA form?
The FAFSA form is the free application students and families complete to apply for federal student aid for college or career and technical schools. This includes federal grants, loans and work-study funds, plus many states and colleges use it to award their own aid.

What is beta testing?
Beta testing means trying out a new version of something before it’s available to everyone. In this case, students who join the FAFSA beta get early access to the 2026–2027 FAFSA form so the U.S. Department of Education can make sure everything works smoothly.

How do students and families request to participate in the beta?
It’s simple, they can go to StudentAid.gov/joinbeta and request access. Participants will be admitted through September.

How will students and families learn if they have been selected to participate in the beta?
Students will receive an email upon their selection to the beta. Students can also visit the beta signup page (StudentAid.gov/joinbeta), where they will see their status. All students on the beta list will be invited to fill out the FAFSA form once the form becomes available to the general public.

Do students and families who participate in beta have any advantage over those who do not?
No. Students who don’t join beta will still have access to the FAFSA form when it goes live to everyone by Oct. 1. But if students submit during beta, their FAFSA form is real, so they don’t have to submit it again later.