FSA has announced that COD School Testing for the 2026-27 award year runs from Jan. 12, 2026, through Dec. 11, 2026. The testing provides schools, third-party servicers, and software vendors a structured opportunity to test their systems and processes before live data submission begins.
What’s COD School Testing?
COD School Testing lets institutions and partners test key Title-IV processes (like Pell Grants, Direct Loans, and TEACH Grants) with the Common Origination and Disbursement (COD) System before real production data is transmitted. Testing helps identify and fix issues in a controlled environment, reducing the risk of problems when the award year goes live.
Who Should Participate?
Any school that will participate in the Pell Grant, TEACH Grant, or Direct Loan program for the first time in the 2026–27 award year must complete school testing with the COD System before sending data into production. The only exception to this requirement is schools using EDExpress or software from software providers or third-party servicers.
While other schools are not required to test with the COD System, all schools, software providers, and third-party servicers may participate in testing. We encourage schools using a solution developed in-house (mainframe system, server, software, or other) to send and receive the COD Extensible Mark Up Language (XML) Common Record to test with the COD System.
Software providers and third-party servicers may perform their own product testing on behalf of their customers. Schools should contact their software provider or third-party servicer to discuss testing plans and concerns. The U.S. Department of Education will test the EDExpress software before releasing it to schools.
How to Participate?
All organizations that wish to participate in COD school testing must complete the “COD School Testing 2026–27 Sign-Up Document” posted on the COD website’s home page under the “COD Resources” link.
Complete testing information will be available in the School Testing Guide (Volume 5 of the 2026–27 COD Technical Reference) that FSA plans to post on the Knowledge Center by late January 2026.
SOURCE: (COD-26-02) COD School Testing for the 2026–27 Award Year