Dare to Dream Academy

presents:

California
Financial Aid
for College

California DREAM Act

Acta del Sueo de California

Act?
Qu es la Acta del Sueo de California?
Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors
Allows undocumented students to receive financial
aid
undocumented students are PROTECTED
information is not shared with federal databases
information is protected by security laws &
safeguards (like all other state financial aid
applicants)
can be used by UC or CSU to administer college
loans

AB 540 Qualifications
Requisito de AB 540
Assembly Bill 540: law signed into the California Education Code
Must attend a CA high school for 3 years
OR credits equivalent to 3 years + 3 years
at CA elementary or secondary school
Must graduate from a CA high school
OR pass CA High School Proficiency Exam (CHSPE)
OR get a General Equivalency Diploma (GED)
Enroll in accredited and qualified CA institutions
If applicable, fill out an affidavit to
legalize immigration status ASAP

AB 130 & 131

Ley de la Asamblea 130 & 131
Must qualify for AB 540
AB 130: students that meet in-state tuition requirements are able
to apply and receive scholarships from non-state funds
AB 131: students that meet in-state tuition requirements are able
to apply for state financial aid at CA public colleges/universities

CA Dream Act Facts

Hechos de CA Dream Act
CSAC (California Student Aid Commission) provides FREE services:
Helps complete and revise CA Dream Act Application
Advises and informs about every step of application process
Any aid received is ONLY eligible for California institutions
AB 540 students are not required to provide a Social Security
number
Eligible to apply for state financial aid:
UC and CSU Grants
Community College Board of Governors fee waivers
Cal Grants

How Is Aid Determined?

Cmo se determina la ayuda?
Expected Family
Contribution (EFC): indicator
of familys financial ability to
pay for education after high
school
Lower household income =
lower expected contribution

But what if I need more

financial aid?
Pero lo que si necesito ms ayuda
financiera?

No problem!
No problema!

Scholarships
Becas
funds used to pay for higher
education that do not have to
be repaid to the provider
may be awarded based on any
number of reasons
available from various
organizations
each scholarship has its own
requirements that must be met

Why should I apply?

Por qu debo aplicar?
Can be paired with
financial aid provided by
school
Covers the cost of:
Books and supplies
Room and board
Even entire
tuitions!

Scholarship Search
Criteria
Criterios de bsqueda de becas

 Grade level

Search for
scholarships
by:

Major
Athletics
Character

Minorities

Becas para las minoras

Emphasis on
academic diversity
and equal
opportunity!

Where to find?
Donde encontrar?
Online search (e.g. Fastweb, Collegeboard)
Student clubs and organizations
(e.g. CA Scholarship Federation)
High school Career Center
Community organizations
(e.g. church, Rotary Club)

Possible Materials
Posibles materiales
Transcripts
Test scores
Recommendation
letters
Resum
Essay

Grants
Subsidios

Types of Grants
Tipos de Subvencin

Federal Grants
Pell Grant - Funding for graduates
with unmet financial need (up to $4000)
State-sponsored grants
Cal Grant - Awarded to students in
attending
public and private California colleges.
College-sponsored grants
CPPG - Cal Poly Pomona Grant for
students
who demonstrate financial need
Career specific grants

What is a Cal grant?

Qu es el Cal grant?
Cal Grants are up to $12,240 of free money
annually for up to four years of college!
Can be used at all schools in California
Check for eligible schools at
www.csac.ca.gov.
A Cal Grant is guaranteed if all requirements
are met

Applying for Cal Grants

Aplicando para el Cal Grant
Submit a
Free Application for Federal Stud
ent Aid (FAFSA)
OR a
California Dream Act Application
Ensure that a certified GPA was
submitted to the California Student
Aid Commission
GPA must meet the requirement

Requirements
Requisitos
Be a California Resident or AB 540 eligible (DREAM Act)
Be a U.S. Citizen or eligible non-citizen or AB 540 eligible
Males must meet Selective Service requirements
Attend a Cal Grant eligible school
Not be in grant repayment or in default on a student loan
Not be incarcerated
Enroll at least half-time to receive payment
Maintain satisfactory academic progress

References
AB 540 www.ab540.com
CA Student Aid Commission website www.csac.ca.gov
Ca Dream Act https://dream.csac.ca.gov/
FastWeb http://www.fastweb.com/
College Board https://www.collegeboard.org/

Questions/Commen
ts?
Preguntas/Comentarios?