The U.S. Department of Education launched the 2026-27 FAFSA form on schedule, marking the earliest release ever to streamline access to federal student aid. Enhancements include an improved contributor invitation process and faster account verification. This timely release follows previous years’ delayed rollouts, which disrupted college admissions timelines and financial aid processing. Congressional mandates enforce future timeliness, reflecting concerted efforts to stabilize student financial aid processes.