Undocumented kids will get to apply for financial aid / ImageCourtesy: aecf.org

September 3rd is the deadline for applying to the FAFSA or California Dream Act Application (CADAA) for financial aid for the coming academic year. California Community College students can secure the financial resources needed to continue their education. Experts are at hand to help students apply. It is a gateway to opportunities that can transform lives, said the panelist at the Ethnic Media Services briefing. 

Ethnic Media Services and California Black Media, in partnership with the California Student Aid Commission, offered information and guidance to students on the application process. Dr. Daisy Gonzales, Executive Director, of the California Student Aid Commission, Ivan Hernandez, President, of the Student Senate for California Community College, and Nancy Jodaitis, Director of Higher Education, Immigrants Rising Higher Education spelled out the steps they should follow to ensure a successful future.

California Community Colleges serve over 1.9 million students, making it the largest system of higher education in the nation. More than 70 percent of these students come from diverse ethnic backgrounds, with 48 percent identifying as Hispanic. Many students are from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, with 65 percent classified as Perkins Economically Disadvantaged. 

Despite the availability of financial aid through the California Dream Act, the number of undocumented students applying for these aid programs remains low. 

Undocumented youth should apply for financial aid

More than 12 percent of all students in California's public K through 12 schools are estimated to be from a family where one or more parents do not have a social security number.  “The California Student Aid Commission wants you to know that college is possible, that your information is safe with us,” said Dr. Daisy Gonzales, Executive Director, California Student Aid Commission. 

Californian students, regardless of their documentation status, or the status of their family members can attend one of California's 116 community colleges by applying for financial aid. Most importantly the deadline to apply for aid is September 3rd, stressed Gonzales.
 
The California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) is the principal State agency responsible for administering financial aid programs. Its vision and mission for California students attending public and private universities and colleges, including vocational schools is to make postsecondary education affordable for all Californians by promoting educational equity. The California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) is a state agency that manages financial aid programs for California students 

Gonzales highlighted the transformative power of financial aid and the opportunities it can unlock by sharing her own story. “ I have walked the path of many of our students in California and I understand the  power of financial aid.”

Her journey began as a foster youth in Los Angeles, California. As a recipient of the Cal Grant and Chafee Youth Grant, she stepped into the lecture halls of Los Angeles Valley College at the age of 15. Later she went to Mills College and then to the University of California, to earn a master's and a PhD. 

“Stories like mine do not happen by accident, nor do they happen by luck,’ said Gonzales. “Here in California, students like me have access to apply and qualify for financial aid.”

What do California's families and students need to know

383 million dollars in financial aid is available to support California Community College students. More than fifty percent of students qualify to earn free tuition at a California community college. Financial aid includes grants, scholarships, and work-study, which is a federal program, and also provides work experience opportunities for undocumented students. The institutions themselves have their scholarships and grants. Student loans become a part of that ecosystem.

California’s community colleges have the largest majority of California Dream Act students (fifty-five percent). California's community colleges serve the largest percentage of students who qualify as low-income students (54 percent). Their annual income is below $40,000. The September 3rd deadline is critical for this cohort.

With financial aid the student can qualify to have tuition covered, and get help to cover costs like rent, food, transportation, and books There's even additional aid to help cover childcare.

A new federal application process which has resulted in some challenges for some students, especially families can be surmounted. California Student Aid Commission CSAC will help California students and their families fill out the FAFSA application form.

“We have the resources dedicated to helping you complete the California Dream Act Application. The call center is ready to answer any questions. A special toolkit just to help families includes webinars to help walk through some of the challenges and resources from incredible partner organizations like Immigrants Rising who are also connecting the dots to make sure that all students can access higher education.”

“I want you to know that your dreams are not only worthy, but they are possible.”

Ivan Hernandez, President of, the Student Senate for California Community College added, “ I do wanna say that this year it has been extremely frustrating and challenging for individuals from mixed families such as myself… This year I recently submitted my FAFSA like last week, and it was months and months and months of just stress.” Hernandez, whose family lives in Mexico, is studying in the US. He was looking at student loans to pay for college as he did not want to give up on his studies.

“I acknowledge that I am very lucky to have a relationship with Dr. Gonzales due to her being the previous Deputy Chancellor for the California systems. I sent her an email, and she connected me with the CSAC which really helped me out with this process. It only took two hours  for the process to get accomplished.”

“Not knowing where to start, how to reach out, I constantly reach out to my institution,” he said