Mayor Jackson kicks off Financial Aid Awareness Month

CLEVELAND - The U.S. Department of Education has selected Cleveland as one of six cities to receive specialized training to assist the Cleveland Metropolitan School District and area community organizations in getting better education out to families on completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Mayor Frank Jackson, CMSD CEO Eric Gordon and College Now CEO Lee Friedman spoke of the importance of Financial Aid Awareness Month at the first of several events in the Cleveland City Hall Rotunda on Wednesday.

"We know that higher education is the single-most important step that students of any age can take to prepare for a successful future," Jackson said.

In 2011, Jackson launched Cleveland's Higher Education Compact to better open the doors to Cleveland families so that FAFSA form can be completed and they can get help paying for college. Many families give up before it's finished. Since the FAFSA funds are dealt out a first-come, first-serve basis it is important to get the form in early.

The Higher Education Compact is a collaborative partnership among 40 community organizations, 15 Ohio colleges and universities, CMSD and the city of Cleveland.

There is calendar of events planned by the Compact from Jan. 9 through Feb. 15 to help Cleveland residents interested in getting aid for their children's future education.

For information families may search online at www.higherdeucationcompact.org , or www.ohiocollegegoalsunday.org for help.

Or, call 1-800-233-6734 to talk to the Ohio Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (OASFAA). You may also contact the City of Cleveland's College Now Greater Cleveland at 216-241-5587.