Simplification of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) entails significant changes to the FAFSA and the methodology for determining eligibility for federal financial aid for the 2024-25 academic year. The changes to the FAFSA form that were mandated by the Simplification Act delayed implementation and shifted the timeline for release of the 2024-25 FAFSA from October to December 2023. This shift has also led to delays in processing the FAFSA. Through a partnership with the National Association of State Student Grant and Aid Programs (NASSGAP), SHEEO initially convened 12 states from across the country (now expanded to 17 states) in 2022 to participate in a learning community. The learning community provided states with opportunities to examine the impact of FAFSA simplification on state financial aid programs and to take advantage of the open policy window to reconsider state financial aid policies and processes. Feedback from state members has confirmed that, despite the challenges and uncertainties around the rollout of the new FAFSA, states were as prepared as possible to implement the new FAFSA due in part to their participation in the learning community. As the first phase of the learning community concludes, SHEEO staff have conducted case-study interviews with state members of the learning community and the larger SHEEO membership. While all states have worked diligently to help students complete the new FAFSA, the four states selected -- Alabama, Illinois, Louisiana, and Minnesota -- were chosen to represent states that implemented successful strategies for taking advantage of the policy window (Minnesota), employing FAFSA completion initiatives (Alabama, Illinois, and Louisiana), and preparing for the new FAFSA (all states).