Arizona educators unite around FAFSA completion and college access at 2026 College Ready AZ Conference

Hundreds of high school counselors, educators and college access professionals gathered Wednesday at Arizona State University's Memorial Union for the fourth annual College Ready AZ Conference: FAFSA, Promise and Access. Hosted by the Arizona Board of Regents, the conference serves as the kickoff event for the upcoming Free Application for Federal Student Aid cycle, equipping attendees with tools, resources and strategies to help students and families navigate financial aid and plan for education after high school.

Arizona enters the new FAFSA cycle with significant momentum. The state surpassed its 48% FAFSA completion goal for the Class of 2026 and ranked fourth nationally in year-over-year improvement, with nearly 5,900 more students completing the form compared with the previous year. 

Building on that progress, Arizona has set a statewide FAFSA completion goal of 50% for the Class of 2027. With the 2027-28 FAFSA expected to open to high school seniors by Oct. 1, more than 400 attendees gathered to learn about enhancements to the application and share strategies for engaging students and families, particularly those in rural and underserved communities.

Emceed by award-winning Arizona broadcaster Lin Sue Flood, the conference opened with video remarks from Gov. Katie Hobbs and Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne. Both highlighted the importance of preparing more Arizona students for success after high school. Regent Jim McCain recognized the call to service of the conference attendees who work directly with students and families, noting that many of the most important moments in a student's journey occur during conversations about opportunity, financial aid and future planning.

"Arizona’s counselors and educators are on the frontlines creating the college-going culture where a student grows up believing that education after high school is simply part of their future,” McCain said. “The students they support today will become tomorrow’s teachers, nurses, engineers, entrepreneurs, public servants and leaders."

The recognition continued with a video produced by the College Ready AZ team featuring messages of appreciation for Arizona’s counselors and educators whose work has made a profound impact on students across the state.

The conference offered 22 breakout sessions focused on FAFSA strategy, college access and supporting students facing barriers to enrollment, including those in foster care and experiencing homelessness. Attendees also earned continuing education units and connected with peers from across the state.

Breanna Lietz, director of public enterprise strategic initiatives in ASU's Office of the Chief Operating Officer, shared her journey from Arizona's foster care system to earning three ASU degrees, underscoring the life-changing impact of educational opportunity and support.

“Throughout my entire life, teachers and counselors have had an immeasurable impact on my entire life,” said Lietz. “Counselors have one of the most important jobs in the world. Each day, they are working with young adults and young kids from different backgrounds and have the power and the chance and influence to change a person’s life.” 

Attendees also received updates from Julie Sainz, ABOR's director of FAFSA and college access initiatives and leader of Arizona's FAFSA Coalition, which brings together schools, colleges, community organizations and state leaders to increase FAFSA completion statewide. Enrollment specialists Jennifer Velez of ASU, Kyla Timmons of Northern Arizona University and Julia Eischeid of the University of Arizona briefed attendees on campus-level enrollment efforts, financial aid initiatives and Arizona Promise Program updates. The conference also highlighted the continued partnership between College Ready AZ and the Valley Suns, which helped more than 1,100 Arizona seniors earn game tickets last season by completing the FAFSA.

While FAFSA completion remained a central focus, participants also explored broader issues affecting college access across Arizona. Speakers repeatedly connected FAFSA completion to educational attainment, workforce readiness and Arizona's long-term economic competitiveness.

A featured panel discussion examined the relationship between FAFSA completion, educational attainment and Arizona's workforce needs. Panelists included Caleb McKay of SchoolHouse Connection, Peter Granville of The Century Foundation, Dr. Andi Fourlis of NAU’s Institute of Education and the Economy and Luis Cordova of Rounds Consulting Group. The discussion focused on barriers facing students, strategies to increase completion rates and the broader economic impact of educational attainment.

The conference also celebrated the educators driving progress across Arizona during an award ceremony. Maggie Fountain of Tempe Union High School District received the Innovation in FAFSA Access Award for integrating FAFSA support throughout the student experience across the district's six high schools. Lauren Harrell of Phoenix Union High School District received the FAFSA Champion of the Year Award, while Caleb Thrall of Higley Unified School District received the System Builder Award after helping implement a strategy that more than doubled the district's FAFSA completion rate in a single year.

Flood, a former 12News anchor and director of community engagement at Hospice of the Valley, reflected on her experience growing up in a single-parent household and receiving guidance from a school counselor who encouraged her to pursue higher education. She connected that experience to the work of the attendees in the room.

"The counselor who changed my life is exactly like all of you sitting here today. Every day, you provide the guidance, encouragement and practical support that help students see possibilities they aren't able to visualize for themselves,” said Flood. “Whether you're helping a student complete the FAFSA, exploring career paths or simply reminding them that they are capable of achieving great things, your work creates opportunities that truly do change the course of a young person's life."

As Arizona works toward its statewide FAFSA completion goal, conference leaders emphasized that continued progress will depend on collaboration among schools, higher education institutions, community organizations and state leaders. For the attendees gathered in Tempe, the shared mission remains helping more students understand that education after high school is attainable and ensuring they have the support needed to pursue it.

To learn more about the board’s FAFSA and college access initiatives, please visit CollegeReadyAZ.com.

To view and download pictures from the conference, click here.