Automatic College Applications for Seniors

Section 2. Outlines database requirements and an "opt out" clause.

Section 3. Requires data publication on efficacy of program.

Section 4. Requires steps to inform schools and the general public of the program.

Section 5. Establishes a rulemaking authority to regulate the program.

Justification

Issue: While many families see higher education as the natural next step after high school, this sentiment is not always the case. This is particularly true for low income students underrepresented minorities and families where no one has previously attended college. For many students even graduating high school is a challenge.

Research has shown that numerous families especially those described above, struggle to plan for and apply to college. The reason are numerous: less access to information and the Internet, misunderstanding of the financial aid available, social and language barriers, lower educational expectations and inexperience with the range of higher education institutions. The result is that our country's education gap increased despite the greater demand for an uneducated workforce.

Solution: First, the legislation makes every New York school an institution where students are expected to go to college. Because all students would receive a college application through the database, students and parents will internalize the importance and viability of higher education. This will lead to students recognizing the significance of academics and developing a drive to work hard to get to college while still in the classroom. Many teachers we talked to about this process believed that the prospect of already having a partially completed college application would be an empowering and motivational tool for their students.

Second, the legislation would help to overcome many of the aforementioned obstacles that stop students from applying to schools. It is certainly true that CUNY and SUNY applications are relatively simple when compared to other institutions. However, each additional step to reach college loses families along the way. This program would allow students to submit their information to colleges through a matter of clicks, mitigating the barriers that traditionally make it harder to apply to schools.

Making it easier to apply to college will motivate more people to apply and attend college. Behavioral research proposes that the way on designs choices has a great effect on people's decisions. Governments have used this concept, known as "nudge", to increase voter registration, reduce litter, boost revenue and help low income students attend college; all without use of coercion or legal force. Each nudge policy makes it easier for citizens to make good choices. Shortening the application process makes it more likely that students will complete the application process.

While other states have not implemented a program like this similar initiatives have proven to help get students to college. FAFSA offers the most apt parallel to our proposed automatic application program. Minimal streamlining of the FAFSA process increased application submissions by 186 percent and lead to a seven percentage point increase in college attendance. We will apply this same proven streamlining concept to the college application itself. In addition, colleges already use prefilled applications to boost applications (although they are mostly used to increase revenue rather than enrollment). By using this strategy, Northeastern University was able to garner almost 50,000 applications for its 2,800 spots in 2014. It is unfortunate that schools use this practice for predatory purposes, but it is hard to ignore the results. Clearly, students are more likely to apply to colleges when the process is easier.

Third, our bill would better inform students of the cost of college. After students have completed filling in their information the application would supply students with an estimate of the financial aid they would receive. With this more accurate knowledge of how such their education will cost, students can make better financial decisions about their college attendance and what it takes to graduate. In our talks with students, they cited this as the most helpful improvement to the college application.

How it works: School districts already have much of the necessary data to complete a college application. We propose that New York State fund the creation of a centralized database containing students' academic and demographic information onto a password protected college application.

The database will be cost effective. The task of centralizing the information to an account would be inexpensive and has already been done in New York City. Students would still pay the application fee. This has the potential to raise revenue for State and City colleges due to increased applications.

The database and application process retains students' privacy. All student information is contained in a password protected account known only to the student, his or family, and the New York State Education Department. No information would be submitted without permission from the student or guardian. Students may opt out of the program any time. Their information would be deleted according to federal regulations.

The applications would use the information to provide students with a financial aid estimate. Once a student finished filling in their information, the application would provide the student with an estimate of the financial aid they could expect from the institution prior to submitting the application.

The database would optimize education data use. Many families move to different school districts throughout their children's P-12 career. The centralized database would facilitate the sharing and updating of student's academic record as they move to different schools, saving districts time and money. The database would also provide institutions with a powerful research tool. Creating a P-16 database would assist researchers as they study the efficacy of academic programs and work to improve our educational system

Legislative history

2015-16 A.9157 FISCAL IMPLICATIONS :

TBD.

Effective date

This act shall take effect on the first of August next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law.