As part of the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act of 1965 the Congress has examined concerns that the process of applying for aid under the Act's Title IV has become increasingly complex and may itself be creating barriers to an equitable student aid delivery system. Under the current system students are required to provide financial information to be used in formulas for determining the amount that the family can reasonably be expected to contribute to the cost of attendance at a postsecondary institution. The reauthorization bill requires the Department of Education to develop a common financial reporting form for students to use in applying for aid; it also mandates the use of a simplified need analysis to make it easier for students from the families with the lowest incomes to apply. During reauthorization a number of need analysis simplification proposals have been considered including promotion of a common, free federal application form or improvements in the processing of student information in other ways, changes to the eligibility criteria and procedures for using a "simplified" need analysis, and the integration of the two separate need analysis formulas currently in the statute. Twelve notes are included. (JB)