2025-2026 Nonparticipation Form FAQs

For students who choose not to file an application, a Financial Aid Application Nonparticipation Form may be signed by a parent or guardian. If the student is at least 18 years old, the student can complete the form themselves. The 2025-26 Nonparticipation Form (used to opt-out of the 2026-27 FAFSA) can be submitted online on ISAC’s Student Portal. See the Financial Aid Application Nonparticipation Form Instructions for details on how to complete the electronic form.

Students who are NOT 18 years old will need their parent or guardian to sign a Financial Aid Application Nonparticipation Form on their behalf if they choose to opt-out of completing a Financial Aid Application as part of the graduation requirement. See the Financial Aid Application Nonparticipation Form Instructions for details on how to complete the electronic form.

Students who are at least 18 years old can complete a Financial Aid Application Nonparticipation Form themselves if they choose to opt-out of completing a Financial Aid Application as part of the graduation requirement. See the Financial Aid Application Nonparticipation Form Instructions for details on how to complete the electronic form.

For students who are under 18 years old, a legal guardian can sign the Financial Aid Application Nonparticipation Form on the student’s behalf. See the Financial Aid Application Nonparticipation Form Instructions for details on how to complete the electronic form.

Students who will graduate early in December 2025 can complete the paper version of the 2024-25 Nonparticipation Form (used to opt-out of the 2025-26 FAFSA). The paper 2024-25 Nonparticipation Form can be requested by emailing [email protected]. The student must submit the paper form to their school. High school administration should note that the school will be required to login to GAP Access to check off the box under the ‘paper waiver’ column for that student for reporting purposes and keep the form in their files for compliance and auditing purposes.

Under these circumstances, where a student has already graduated in December 2025, but the counselor is not able to get in contact with them to complete the 2025-26 Nonparticipation Form, the high school principal can complete the Admin Waiver that is available in ISAC GAP Access.

Students who are emancipated minors will need to complete the paper Nonparticipation Form, which can be requested by emailing [email protected]. The student must submit the paper form to their school. High school administration should note that the school must login to GAP Access to check off the “paper waiver completed” box for reporting purposes and keep the form in their files for compliance and auditing purposes.

For students who are under 18 years old and are considered an unaccompanied youth, the principal or administrator can complete the Principal Good Faith Effort Attestation on ISAC GAP Access on behalf of the student.

For students who are under 18 years old and are under the guardianship of the Department of Child and Family Services (DCFS), a case worker can complete the Financial Aid Application Nonparticipation Form on their behalf. See the Financial Aid Application Nonparticipation Form Instructions for details on how to complete the electronic form.

Students who are in a special education program and will be continuing their education services the following year(s), do not have to complete a financial aid application nor a Nonparticipation Form to meet the graduation requirement. Instead, the school administrator should mark the student as ‘Not Receiving a HS Diploma’ in GAP Access.

Students who will not be completing a financial aid application to fulfill the graduation requirement can complete a Nonparticipation Form. The electronic Nonparticipation Form can be accessed and completed on ISAC’s Student Portal under the ‘Program Applications & Status Checks’ tab. The electronic forms will be collected and retained on ISAC GAP Access. If you currently do not have a GAP Access account, please reference the User Guide for High School Programs or reach out to ISAC Partner Services via [email protected] to create an account. GAP Access will enable schools to download a report to show which students completed a Nonparticipation form, submitted a Financial Aid Application, or if there is a Principal’s Good Faith Effort Attestation.

We highly encourage counselors and administrators to have students who wish to opt-out of completing a financial aid application as part of the graduation requirement to complete the electronic Financial Aid Application Nonparticipation Form unless the student is an emancipated minor. In that case, the student must request the form themselves from ISBE by emailing [email protected]. If they submit a paper form to a counselor/administrator, the counselor/administrator must log into ISAC GAP Access to check off the “paper waiver completed” box for reporting purposes and keep the form in their files for compliance and auditing purposes.

If you feel your district needs a paper Nonparticipation Form, you can request and submit the completed District Nonparticipation Form Request from ISBE by emailing [email protected].

Go into GAP Access and check off the box under the ‘paper waiver’ column to show compliance. GAP Access is the platform schools should use to track Nonparticipation Forms, Admin Waivers, and whether their students met the FAFSA completion graduation requirement.

To account for a student who is not graduating, please log into GAP Access and check the box under the ‘Not Receiving a HS Diploma’ column since the student is still considered part of the current senior graduating class. If they graduate a semester late in December 2026, they will need to complete the 2026-2027 FAFSA to receive financial aid for the spring 2027 semester.

For students who are in a special education program and will receive a certificate of completion instead of a high school diploma, please log into GAP Access and check the box under the ‘Not Receiving a HS Diploma’ column.