U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon joined Florida education officials, students, and families in Fort Lauderdale for a beta testing event of the 2026-27 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form. The event, which took place yesterday, was attended by nearly a thousand participants and marked the earliest successful test launch of the FAFSA form to date.
Secretary McMahon was accompanied by Florida Commissioner of Education Anastasios Kamoutsas and Broward County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Howard Hepburn. The group gathered as part of the largest-ever initial round of FAFSA testing, with the form scheduled to become available to the general public in the coming weeks.
“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.”
Florida Commissioner of Education Anastasios Kamoutsas emphasized the significance of this development: “This early FAFSA launch is a win for every student pursuing higher education,” he said. “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.”
Dr. Howard Hepburn highlighted how important completing the FAFSA is for students’ futures: “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,” he stated. “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 nationwide beta testing last week by granting early access to a limited group of students with support from school districts, colleges, and community organizations. This phase aims to identify technical issues, collect feedback, and improve performance before launching publicly this fall.
Later this month, current or prospective postsecondary students will have an opportunity to request early access through StudentAid.gov.
Students who complete their application during beta testing will not need to resubmit their forms when public applications open; corrections can be made later as usual.
The Department uses a controlled release approach during beta launches so real users can help find bugs and optimize performance before broader release.
Further details about beta testing for FAFSA can be found at FAFSA Central at fafsa.gov/fafsacentral.
