By Bill Cirone, Santa Barbara County Superintendent of Schools
Newspaper Column
The March 2 deadline is rapidly approaching for Cal Grant applications, so families should make sure to get their material completed. For a great many students in our state there has sadly been very little incentive to do well in school. Many of these students come from low and middle income families with no realistic capabilities of affording higher education. These students know from a young age that they will have to work to support themselves or contribute to the family as soon as they are able.
The March 2 deadline is rapidly approaching for Cal Grant applications, so families should make sure to get their material completed. For a great many students in our state there has sadly been very little incentive to do well in school. Many of these students come from low and middle income families with no realistic capabilities of affording higher education. These students know from a young age that they will have to work to support themselves or contribute to the family as soon as they are able.
Though some of these students still summon the inner
motivation to study hard and do well in school, many others are handicapped by
this motivation barrier. It’s easy to see why the typical stresses and
distractions of adolescents can loom larger for those who see no promise of any
academic advancement in the future.
More than 40 years ago the state of California set a
goal of providing access to higher education for low and middle income
students. That goal became a reality with the passage of funding for Cal
Grants. These are cash awards for college aid.
Again, The deadline for application this year is March
2.
Cal Grant A provides full tuition and fees at a
California State University or University of California campuses, or up to
$9,700 per year towards tuition at a private university. These funds are
provided to high school graduates with a 3.0 (B) or higher grade-point average
whose maximum income ranges from $29,400 for recipients who are independent to
$92,600 for students from a family of six or more.
Cal Grant B provides $1,551, enough money for fees,
books, and some living expenses at a community college, or tuition at a CSU
campus. Cal Grant B students must have a 2.0 (C) or higher grade-point average
with a maximum income of $42,100 for a family of four.
Cal Grant C awards help pay for tuition and training
costs at occupational or career colleges. This $576 award is for books, tools
and equipment. An additional $2,592 may also be awarded for tuition at a school
other than a California Community College. To qualify, students must enroll in
a vocational program that is at least four months long at a California
Community College, private college, or a vocational school. Funding is
available for up to two years, depending on the length of the program.
Cal Grant B Competitive Awards are for students with a
minimum 2.0 GPA who are from disadvantaged and low-income families. These
awards can be used for tuition, fees, and access costs at qualifying schools
whose programs are at least one year in length. A Cal Grant B Competitive Award
can only be used for access costs in the first year, including living expenses,
transportation, supplies and books. Beginning with the second year, the Cal
Grant B Competitive Award can be used to help pay tuition and fees at public or
private four-year colleges or other qualifying schools.
It’s clear that the availability of these grants has had
the potential to change lives. It provides students with the motivation to
focus even harder on their studies. If students do their part and earn good
grades, money will no longer be a barrier to higher education.
This has been a landmark accomplishment and it has
spurred many students to work hard in school and fulfill their family’s dreams
and their own potential.
With all these programs in place, the state has made a
strong commitment to higher education and accessibility for students. We will
all reap the benefits of an educated work force and an educated consumer base
that can attain the job skills to earn the money to afford the goods and
services produced by our economy. Truly these grants are a win-win situation
for all.
Information about the grants can also be found online
at: www.csac.ca.gov and www.calgrants.org.
