HARRISBURG (KDKA) — The Pennsylvania Department of Education is partnering with the national nonprofit uAspire to launch a free help desk across the state to assist students and families with the application for Free Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Due to changes and other delays, the Pennsylvania Department of Education has indicated that the number of FAFSA completions nationwide is at “crisis low levels.”

“The best way to ensure access to affordable postsecondary education is to complete the FAFSA, and this new help desk will make the process easier for all applicants,” said Secretary of Education Dr. Khalid N. Mumin. “During the summer months, students can’t just walk into a counselor’s office after school to ask questions about the FAFSA — that’s where this help desk comes in. Pennsylvania is proud to offer this free service to current and prospective postsecondary students and their families so they can get the support they need at a time and place that’s convenient for them.”

According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, the main reason for launching this new tool is to help students who otherwise would not have access to a school counselor during the summer months.

In 2023, uAspire helped more than one million students in the United States with financial advice and provided training and technical assistance to teachers.

Pennsylvania is able to offer this service thanks to a grant from the FAFSA Student Support Strategy program, which is administered by the U.S. Department of Education.

Students and their families can find more information on the Pennsylvania Department of Education website at this link.