U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon joined Florida Commissioner of Education Anastasios Kamoutsas, Broward County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Howard Hepburn, and nearly a thousand students and families in Fort Lauderdale for the beta testing of the 2026-27 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form. The event marked the earliest successful test launch of the FAFSA form to date and was described as the largest-ever first round of testing. The new FAFSA form will be available to the general public in the coming weeks, ahead of its congressionally mandated deadline.
“I was honored to join Florida education leaders, families, and students to test the 2026-27 FAFSA form,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon. “Just two short years ago, students across the country were unable to access the form and schools could not process aid on time. Today, nearly a thousand students and families were able to successfully complete the form in minutes. Under President Trump’s leadership, our team has prioritized efficiency and simplicity to better serve American families – and we are delivering.”
“This early FAFSA launch is a win for every student pursuing higher education,” said Florida Commissioner of Education Anastasios Kamoutsas. “We are proud that Florida students and their families are among the first in the nation to test and shape this new, streamlined process. I thank U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon for selecting Florida to help lead this effort.”
“Completing the FAFSA is one of the most critical steps our students can take toward securing their future. It opens doors to scholarships, grants, and financial aid that many families may not realize are available,” said Broward County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Howard Hepburn. “We are proud to be selected once again to participate in the 2026–27 FAFSA Beta. U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon and Florida Education Commissioner Anastasios Kamoutsas’s presence today underscores the national and state-level commitment to expanding college access and ensuring that every student has the opportunity to succeed.”
The Department began a nationwide beta testing phase last week by providing early access to a limited group of students with support from school districts, colleges, and community organizations. These participants are helping identify technical issues before full public release later this fall at StudentAid.gov.
Students who submit their applications during this beta period do not need to resubmit later; once processed, they can make corrections just like during regular application cycles.
A beta launch allows real-world user feedback so that technical bugs can be addressed before wider rollout.
More information about this beta phase is available at https://fafsa.gov/fafsacentral.
