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2026-27 State Programs and Procedures Manual Now Available

The Office of Higher Education is pleased to announce the release of the 2026-27 State Programs and Procedures Manual – Overview of Operations for Financial Aid Professionals.

We strongly encourage all financial aid professionals to thoroughly review the manual for updates and clarifications to policies for Academic Year 2026-27. To ensure you are referencing the most up-to-date version, please access the manual at: https://www.michigan.gov/mistudentaid/aid-administrators/resources.

As you review the manual, look for three key call-outs that highlight important updates: new, clarified, and important information.

Key Updates in the 2026-27 Manual Include

• FAFSA Status (page 12): FAFSA Reject Codes 74 and 75 and ineligibility to participate in State financial aid programs.
• Fostering Futures Scholarship Application (page 12 and 27): Beginning Academic Year 2026-27, students are only required to submit a one-time special application.
• Fostering Futures Scholarship Allowable in Summer (page 28): Effective Academic Year 2026-27, students who have not reached their maximum annual limit, may be eligible for a summer award.
• Acceptable and Unacceptable Proof of High School Completion (page 14): Clarifies acceptable and unacceptable proof of high school completion documents.
• Reconnect Applicant Residency (page 16 and 67): Provides policy guidance for dependent students.
• Enrollment Requirements (page 18, 19, and 101): Provides clarification on clock-hour program equivalency. Clarifies audited courses are not covered by State financial aid.
• Guest Students (page 22): Clarification on Guest Student Policy and updated Guest Student Designation Form.
• MI Future Educator Fellowship (page 19, 33, 34, 36, and 37): Updated policies on Educator Preparation Program eligibility, Commitment to Teach in Michigan Agreement, and Leave of Absence guidance.
• MI Future Educator Stipend (page 38 and 40): Updated policies on Educator Preparation Program eligibility and student teaching placements (nonpublic school expansion).
• MI GEAR UP Scholarship (page 42): Updated award amounts for Class of 2026 cohort only.
• Michigan Achievement Scholarship/Community College Guarantee/Michigan Achievement Skills Scholarship (page 43 – 45, 49, 51, 54 and 56): Removal of Michigan from high school graduation requirement. Allows Michigan Achievement Scholarship and Michigan Achievement Skills Scholarship to be used in the same academic year (not the same term).
• Michigan Achievement Scholarship/Community College Guarantee (page 48 and 53): Clarification on packaging order and Promise Zones.
• Michigan Achievement Scholarship/Community College Guarantee (page 47 and 57): Information on Special 4^th Quarter Processing Instructions.
• Michigan Achievement Skills Scholarship (page 54): Updated policy on proof of high school completion.
• Michigan Achievement Skills Scholarship (page 56): Attendance requirements and certification of awards.
• Michigan Achievement Skills Scholarship 15-Month Requirement (page 55 and 57-58): Adds 15-month initiation requirement to Michigan Achievement Skills Scholarship.
• Michigan Achievement Skills Scholarship Reporting Date Credential Earned (page 58 and 59): Career training providers are required to report by September 30.
• Michigan Indian Tuition Waiver (page 64): Updates to application process and institution’s access in MiSSG. *Note: additional communication will be shared regarding full launch of MITW in MiSSG soon!
• Michigan Reconnect Now Allows 21+ (page 66): Updates to policy expanding Reconnect to age 21.
• Nonpublic Dual Enrollment (page 75 and 76): Updates to billing process and role of MiLEAP – Office of Higher Education. *Note: additional communication will be shared regarding changes to Nonpublic Dual Enrollment billing process and MiSSG updates!
• Tuition Incentive Program (page 79 and 82): Provides extra time for high school graduates who received special education services to access TIP.
• Payment Schedule (page 95 and 96): Provides updates to payment schedule; including changes to MI Future Educator Fellowship, MI Future Educator Stipend, and Nonpublic Dual Enrollment.

Please ensure your teams are informed and familiar with these changes ahead of the upcoming academic year. Should you have questions or need further clarification, please contact the Office of Higher Education at MiStudentAid@Michigan.gov or 888-447-2687.

The Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential is not affiliated with National Merit Scholarship Corporation or its registered trademarks National Achievement®, Achievement Scholarship®, or Achievement Scholar®.