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, was attended by Florida Commissioner of Education Anastasios Kamoutsas, Broward County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Howard Hepburn, and nearly a thousand students and families.
This gathering marked the earliest successful test launch of the FAFSA form to date. Organizers described it as the largest first round of testing for the application, with plans to make the form available to the public in the coming weeks ahead of federal deadlines.
“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 commented on the significance of this early rollout: “This early FAFSA launch is a win for every student pursuing higher education. 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.”
Broward County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Howard Hepburn also addressed attendees: “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. 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 of Education began its nationwide beta testing phase last week by providing early access to a limited group of students through partnerships with school districts, colleges, and community organizations. This process aims to identify technical issues, collect feedback, and improve user experience before making the application broadly available later this fall.
Students who complete their applications during this beta phase will have submitted an official FAFSA form; they will not need to reapply when public access begins. Corrections can be made after processing as usual.
A beta launch involves releasing a product—in this case, the FAFSA form—to a controlled group so real-world use can highlight bugs or performance issues before general release.
More information about beta testing for FAFSA is available at https://fafsa.gov/fafsacentral.
