Cal Grants and the Cal Grants and the California Dream Act California Dream Act

of 2011of 2011Presented by thePresented by the

California Student Aid CommissionCalifornia Student Aid Commission

First…..First…..An Overview of the An Overview of the California Dream Act of California Dream Act of 2011 which was made 2011 which was made law by the passage of 2 law by the passage of 2 billsbills

AB 130 Dream Act, Part I Signed into law on July 25, 2011 Becomes effective January 1, 2012 Allows students who meet AB 540 criteria to apply for & receive non state-funded scholarships at the public colleges and universities, including scholarships funded through private donors, alumni contributions, or individual departmental efforts For information about how and when to apply, AB 540 students must contact their financial aid offices

AB 131 Dream Act, Part II Signed into law on October 8, 2011 Becomes effective January 1, 2013 Allows students who meet AB 540 criteria to

Apply for & receive institutional grants like UC Grant, State University Grant, Educational Opportunity Program and Educational Opportunity Program & Services fee waivers

Apply for & receive Board of Governors fee waivers at the California Community Colleges

Apply for & receive state financial aid, including Cal Grants and Chafee Foster Youth Grant for use at eligible institutions

AB 131 Dream Act Cal Grant online application (Dream App) will

be activated January 1, 2013 to gather financial & other information

Dream Act Cal Grants may be first used in the 2013-2014 school year

Dream applicants must meet all other Cal Grant requirements

For information about how and when to apply for institutional grants and fee waivers, AB 540 students must contact their financial aid offices

Next…..Next…..A Look at Those Cal A Look at Those Cal Grant Eligibility Grant Eligibility RequirementsRequirements

Types of Cal Grants for which Types of Cal Grants for which Dream Act Students May Dream Act Students May Now QualifyNow Qualify

Cal Grant ACal Grant A• High School EntitlementHigh School Entitlement• CCC Transfer CCC Transfer

Entitlement Entitlement

Cal Grant BCal Grant B• High School EntitlementHigh School Entitlement• CCC Transfer CCC Transfer

EntitlementEntitlement

Cal Grant CCal Grant C

General Cal Grant Eligibility General Cal Grant Eligibility RequirementsRequirements

Be a California Be a California resident*resident*

Be a U.S. citizen or Be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen*eligible non-citizen*

Meet Selective Meet Selective Service requirementsService requirements

Attend an eligible Attend an eligible California SchoolCalifornia School

Not be in default on a Not be in default on a Federal student loan Federal student loan

Not have earned a BA/BS Not have earned a BA/BS degreedegree

Maintain Satisfactory Maintain Satisfactory Academic ProgressAcademic Progress

Not be incarceratedNot be incarcerated Be enrolled at least half-Be enrolled at least half-

timetime

These are required of all Cal Grant participants whether they are Dream Act or non-Dream Act students.

*The California Dream Act of 2011 essentially substitutes the AB 540 provisions for these requirements.

Cal Grant ACal Grant A Low to middle income students Low to middle income students (Average family income (Average family income

of new Cal Grant A recipients is $44,100)of new Cal Grant A recipients is $44,100) Associate and Bachelor degree programs onlyAssociate and Bachelor degree programs only Maximum annual award amountsMaximum annual award amounts

Can be used for tuition and fees onlyCan be used for tuition and fees only CCC - Not paid, but held in reserveCCC - Not paid, but held in reserve CSU - up to $5,472CSU - up to $5,472 UC - up to $12,192UC - up to $12,192 Independent, private for-profit - up to $9,708Independent, private for-profit - up to $9,708 (Current policy provides that Cal Grant awards are (Current policy provides that Cal Grant awards are

increased to meet fee increases at the public increased to meet fee increases at the public universities)universities)

Types of Cal Grant A Types of Cal Grant A AwardsAwards

High School Entitlement Cal AHigh School Entitlement Cal A Students applying in their senior year of HS or in the year after Students applying in their senior year of HS or in the year after

they graduate orthey graduate or Students applying within one year of passing the GEDStudents applying within one year of passing the GED Uses HS GPA only (minimum 3.00)Uses HS GPA only (minimum 3.00)

CCC Transfer Entitlement Cal ACCC Transfer Entitlement Cal A Students transferring from a CCC into a bachelor’s degree Students transferring from a CCC into a bachelor’s degree

programprogram Must have graduated from a CA high school after 7/1/00 Must have graduated from a CA high school after 7/1/00

and not yet be age 28and not yet be age 28 Uses CCC GPA only (minimum 2.40)Uses CCC GPA only (minimum 2.40)

Potentially, an unlimited # of awardsPotentially, an unlimited # of awards

Cal Grant BCal Grant B Very low income students Very low income students (Average family income of new (Average family income of new

Cal Grant B recipients is $17,200)Cal Grant B recipients is $17,200) AA, BA and Certificate programs of at least 1 yearAA, BA and Certificate programs of at least 1 year Can be used for any school expenses including Can be used for any school expenses including

tuition and fees*tuition and fees* All students at all schools get a $1,551 “Access” payment All students at all schools get a $1,551 “Access” payment

each academic yeareach academic year Students beyond their first year also get a tuition benefit Students beyond their first year also get a tuition benefit

equal to the Cal Grant A tuition and fee amount if equal to the Cal Grant A tuition and fee amount if attending a school other than a community collegeattending a school other than a community college

*first time freshman are not eligible for tuition & fee component of award

Types of Cal Grant B Types of Cal Grant B AwardsAwards

High School Entitlement Cal BHigh School Entitlement Cal B Students applying in their senior year of HS or in the year after Students applying in their senior year of HS or in the year after

they graduate orthey graduate or Students applying within one year of passing the GEDStudents applying within one year of passing the GED Uses HS GPA only (minimum 2.00)Uses HS GPA only (minimum 2.00)

CCC Transfer Entitlement Cal BCCC Transfer Entitlement Cal B Students transferring from a CCC into a bachelor’s degree Students transferring from a CCC into a bachelor’s degree

programprogram Must have graduated from a CA High school after 7/1/00 Must have graduated from a CA High school after 7/1/00

and not yet be age 28and not yet be age 28 Uses CCC GPA only (minimum 2.40)Uses CCC GPA only (minimum 2.40)

Potentially, an unlimited # of awardsPotentially, an unlimited # of awards

Cal Grant CCal Grant C Low income students Low income students (Average family income of new Cal (Average family income of new Cal

Grant C recipients is $18,700)Grant C recipients is $18,700) Can be used for tuition & fees and books & suppliesCan be used for tuition & fees and books & supplies AA and certificate career technical programs onlyAA and certificate career technical programs only Maximum annual award amountsMaximum annual award amounts

Tuition and Fees - $2,592Tuition and Fees - $2,592 At private vocational schoolsAt private vocational schools

Books and Supplies - $576Books and Supplies - $576 At private vocational schools andAt private vocational schools and Community collegesCommunity colleges

Scored based on occupational factors and educational Scored based on occupational factors and educational historyhistory

Only 7,761 awards per yearOnly 7,761 awards per year

The ApplicationsThe Applications FAFSA or CA Dream App (FAFSA or CA Dream App (establishes financial need)establishes financial need) FAFSA submitted online at fafsa.gov or by mail FAFSA submitted online at fafsa.gov or by mail CA Dream App submitted online at calgrants.org (starting Jan 1, CA Dream App submitted online at calgrants.org (starting Jan 1,

2013)2013) GPA Verification (establishes merit)GPA Verification (establishes merit) Submitted by school to CSAC electronically or Submitted by school to CSAC electronically or Submitted by student via mail (Cal Grant Verification Form to be Submitted by student via mail (Cal Grant Verification Form to be

available through the Dream App)available through the Dream App) Transfer Entitlement Verification FormTransfer Entitlement Verification Form CSAC will send this to all students who meet Transfer CSAC will send this to all students who meet Transfer

Entitlement requirementsEntitlement requirements Cal Grant C Supplemental FormCal Grant C Supplemental Form CSAC will send this to all students who meet Cal Grant C CSAC will send this to all students who meet Cal Grant C

requirementsrequirements

For 2011 -12, CSAC has successfully For 2011 -12, CSAC has successfully implemented a pilot program for the implemented a pilot program for the submission of Cal Grant GPAs without SSNssubmission of Cal Grant GPAs without SSNs

Matching of GPAs to FAFSAs can now be Matching of GPAs to FAFSAs can now be done using other application elements for done using other application elements for high schools that don’t collect SSNshigh schools that don’t collect SSNs

This will also prove beneficial when we begin This will also prove beneficial when we begin collecting Dream Apps without SSNscollecting Dream Apps without SSNs

Non-SSN GPA Pilot Non-SSN GPA Pilot ProgramProgram

Now…..Now…..Let’s talk about Let’s talk about designing the CA designing the CA Dream App and Dream App and OutreachOutreach

Consultation CSAC staff has begun meeting withCSAC staff has begun meeting with

Current AB 540 studentsCurrent AB 540 students Immigrant advocacy groupsImmigrant advocacy groups High school counselors, college counselors, and High school counselors, college counselors, and

college financial aid officerscollege financial aid officers Representatives from higher education segmental Representatives from higher education segmental

officesoffices Outreach is beginning now through our Cash for Outreach is beginning now through our Cash for

College workshops College workshops

For more information For more information about the Cal Grant and about the Cal Grant and

Dream Act, please Dream Act, please contactcontact

Student Support Services at theCalifornia Student Aid Commission

1-888-224-7268

Or visit www.calgrants.org