AB (Cedillo) 2011 Dream Act Implementation

Education Code Section (AB 540) Determination of AB540 Eligibility All colleges should already have procedures in place to determine eligibility of students meeting the AB540 requirements. Students meeting the following conditions are eligible for resident tuition/fees and for the student aid programs covered in AB131: – attended high school in California for three or more years, – graduated from a California high school or attained the equivalent thereof, – registered at or currently attend an accredited institution of higher education in California not earlier than the fall semester or quarter of the year, – and, if he or she is an alien without lawful immigration status, have filed a prescribed affidavit.

AB 130

AB 130 Dream Act I Starting January 1, 2012, a student attending the California Community Colleges who is exempt from paying nonresident tuition under the provision of Education Code Section would be eligible to receive a scholarship derived from non-state funds received for the purpose of scholarships.

AB 130 (cont) In Education Code Section the law states: Notwithstanding any other law, on and after January 1, 2012, a student attending the California State University, the California Community Colleges, or the University of California who is exempt from paying nonresident tuition under Section shall be eligible to receive a scholarship that is derived from non-state funds received, for the purpose of scholarships, by the segment at which he or she is a student. Question for College Foundations and their Legal Counsels: – Does the newly chaptered law (Ed Code ) override any existing donor designations that restrict scholarship awards to residents or otherwise documented students? – Does the newly chaptered law (Ed Code ) prohibit new donors from establishing designations that restrict scholarship awards to residents or otherwise documented students?

AB 130 (cont) CCCSE/Osher California Community College Scholarship Endowment (CCCSE)/Osher requires fee waiver eligibility not residency Fee Waivers requires residency until January Fee Waiver Eligibility is covered in AB 131 and is effective Jan 1, Eligibility for CCCSE/Osher would be for application/award cycles beginning on or after Jan 1, (Typically ) Questions to: Nicole Handal California Community Colleges Scholarship Endowment Foundation for California Community Colleges T: | Toll Free: , Ext. 144 |

AB 131

AB 131 The Dream Act II Effective January 1, 2013: Requires the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges to establish procedures and forms that enable students who are exempt from paying nonresident tuition under Education Code Section : – to apply for, and participate in, all student aid programs administered by the Community Colleges to the full extent permitted by federal law, except as provided. Requires California Community College districts to waive the fees of students who are exempt from nonresident tuition under the Education Code Section and who otherwise qualify for a waiver under this provision based on regulations and procedures adopted by the Board of Governors.

AB 131 The Dream Act II (cont) Requires the Student Aid Commission to establish procedures and forms that enable students who are exempt from paying nonresident tuition under Education Code Section – To apply for, and participate in, all student financial aid program administered by the State of California to the full extent permitted by federal law Prohibits students who are exempt from paying nonresident tuition under Education Code Section from being eligible for Competitive Cal Grant A and B Awards unless specified conditions are met.

AB 131 In Education Code Section (b) the law states: “The number of financial aid awards received by California resident students from financial aid programs administered by the segments shall not be diminished as a result of the application of subdivision (a)…”

Challenges Identifying and serving existing students (inreach) Identifying and serving potential students (outreach) – Communicating timelines and timeframes – Avoiding confusion and mis-information Disbursement methodology to Undocumented students – ability to open bank accounts, negotiate checks.

IMPLEMENTATION GUIDANCE & TIMEFRAMES

Timeframes January 2012, AB540 students eligible to apply for and receive non-state scholarships January 2013, AB540 students eligible to apply for and receive state funded segmentally administered FA Spring 2013 Eligible to apply for an receive Cal Grant Entitlement Grants for Spring 2013 Eligible to apply for and receive CCCSE/Osher Scholarships for

Maintain the current Fee Waiver application(s) (electronic/paper) and processes for existing students currently eligible. Develop a draft separate BOGFW application short form for the AB131 students for use after the start of Fall Term CSAC will have the CA Dream App functional In early April and our colleges are working with their software vendors to have the capacity to award fee waivers to AB students this fall in response to their Dream App application submitted to CSAC Incorporate the Cal Grant eligibility messaging in January 2013 to AB131/540 populations to communicate the availability, criteria and application requirements for the CG entitlement awards for

(cont) Work with ICANAFFORDCOLLEGE to develop and disseminate collateral materials for AB131/540 populations explaining timelines, rights and responsibilities for financial aid applications and awards. – Materials to include web resources, electronic (PDF) and Print materials and application documents. Finalize separate BOGFW application short form for the AB131 students along with all collateral materials and weblinks for release to identified students and inclusion in outreach presentation and events for prospective students, after start of Fall term, in order to: – Ensure there is no confusion for AB540 student on when the fee waiver is effective, which terms (fall vs. Terms starting on or after Jan 1, 2013). – Minimize potential for confusion and unpaid fees in the fall resulting in all classes being dropped due to non-payment of fees. – Provide targeted communication ( /Snail Mail/Posters/flyers etc) and assistance to AB540 students on the availability and process for applying for (in the fall) and receiving a fee waiver and other financial aid for terms starting on or after Jan, 2013

Integrate the Fee Waiver Application documents and the electronic fee waiver application documents into a single application and process for all students. Update outreach and collateral materials to reflect the integrated application and process and Cal Grant eligibility. Continue to target communications at new and existing AB131/540 students to increase awareness and maximize participation.

CSAC DREAM APP

CSAC Dream App CSAC, will rely upon existing institutional determinations of AB540 eligibility. Undocumented AB540 students cannot file a FAFSA because they do not have a SSN. CSAC is developing an on-line application that will mirror the FAFSA that undocumented students can complete in order to have their financial need determined. Although AB540 students will not be eligible to apply for Cal Grants until the academic year, CSAC is developing the application now so that it is available for use by the segments in time for awards to be made during

CSAC Dream App (cont) The “Dream App” is scheduled to be available to students by April 2, Students will be randomly assigned a pseudo SSN, with three leading zeros, in place of the SSN. CSAC will make available via WebGrants a “California ISIR” to all colleges the student lists on the Dream App. On February 3, 2012, CSAC sent the Cal ISIR record layouts to all colleges. CSAC has also contacted the financial aid management system providers and are encouraging them to adopt enhancements to their systems that will allow colleges to download, track and process the Cal ISIR.

CSAC Dream App (cont) Colleges will be expected to use the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) calculations resulting from Dream App applications for use in determining Part C eligibility for the BOG Fee Waiver for AB540/131 students. Colleges should begin immediately to plan for the implementation of these new forms of EFC’s into systems and processes.

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