Fund My Future

Graphic for Fund My Future

With the $3.8 billion of state aid provided by the American Rescue Plan Act, the Governor and Colorado legislature have allocated approximately $200 million towards workforce development and education. Through HB21-1330 the Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative (COSI) received $1.5 million to assist local education providers in implementing strategies to increase the number of students who complete a student aid application (FAFSA/CASFA) before graduating high school.

Student aid applications determine a student’s eligibility to receive financial aid in higher education, because of this, it is a critical tool to help students pay for college. However, Colorado ranks 47th in the nation for FAFSA completion amongst high school seniors with completion during 2020-2021 at 46%, six percentage points below prior-year rates for the state, and six percentage points below the national average of 52.3%. The low participation rate means that our students leave more than $30 million in federal grant dollars “on the table” annually. To support addressing this issue the Colorado legislature allocated $1.5 million to the Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative to aid local education providers in implementing strategies to increase the number of students who complete a student aid application (FAFSA/CASFA) before graduating high school.

Awards

COSI awarded the 6 proposals as follows:

  • Adams 14 School District - $400,000
  • Animas Charter High School - $75,000
  • Colorado High School Charter Globeville Elyria Swansea (GES) - $300,000
  • Colorado High School Charter Osage - $300,000
  • Harrisson School District 2 - $300,000 
  • Westminster Public Schools - $600,000
 
Resources

COSI has several resources to help grantees with FAFSA/CASFA Completion, Pre-Collegiate Programing and grant administration. 

FAFSA/CASFA:

Pre-Collegiate Programing:

Grant Administration:

Monthly Reporting

Grantees will be required to submit monthly reporting. The first submission of this form will be expected on May 5, 2023, with reference to April 2023 data.

An Information session will be held on Friday, April 28 at 1 pm to support the new monthly reporting requirements. 

Annual Reporting

Grantee must submit a performance report to CDHE following COSI’s reporting schedule as outlined here:

  • August 1, 2023 - to include all terms between summer 2022 to spring 2023
  • August 1, 2024 - to include all terms between summer 2023 to spring 2024
  • August 1, 2025 - to include all terms between summer 2024 to spring 2025
  • August 1, 2026 - to include all terms between summer 2025 to spring 2026

 

The COSI Reporting Portal opens for 2023 reporting on May 1, 2023. You can find instructions on our reporting resources folder in the google drive. 

Fund My Future Reporting Resources

Reporting Support Session: Date & Time Details
Tuesday, July 11th, 2023: 2 p.m. Zoom Link
Thursday, July 27th, 2023: 3 p.m. Zoom Link

 

COSI Point of Contact
Photo of Mariana DelMonte-Gladstone

Mariana Delmonte-Gladstone

Program Manager

mariana.delmonte@dhe.state.co.us

Schedule a virtual meeting