U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon visited Fort Lauderdale to participate in a beta testing event for the 2026-27 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The event, which took place yesterday, included Florida Commissioner of Education Anastasios Kamoutsas, Broward County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Howard Hepburn, and nearly a thousand students and families.
The gathering marked the earliest successful test launch of the FAFSA form in history and was the largest first round of testing to date. The new FAFSA form is expected to 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.”
Florida Commissioner of Education Anastasios Kamoutsas highlighted Florida’s role in shaping this new process: “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 noted how completing the FAFSA can impact 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 said. “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 giving early access to a limited group of students supported by school districts, colleges, and community organizations. This phase allows identification of technical issues before full public release later this fall at StudentAid.gov.
Students who submit during beta will have their actual applications processed without needing resubmission; they can also make corrections as usual after processing.
A beta launch allows controlled real-world testing with a limited user group so bugs can be found before official rollout.
More information about FAFSA beta testing is available at https://fafsa.gov/fafsacentral.
