Cal Grants Overview

1. High School Counselors’ Workshop 2012-2013 Year Cal Grants Overview Presented by the California Student Aid Commission

2. Agenda • FAFSA Bridge • Basic Cal Grant Eligibility - Cal Grants A, B and C • High School Entitlement Awards • Cal Grant Renewal Eligibility • AB 131 Dream Act • Student Notifications • WebGrants • GPA Calculation and Best Practices (File Early) • Non-SSN GPA Upload • WebGrants for Students • Cash For College Program

3. FAFSA Bridge Linking federal & state financial assistance • Selecting the optional feature after submitting the FAFSA • Provide additional information that can affect state assistance delivery including • Releasing Cal Grant GPA (participating high schools); applying for Chafee Grant, • Receiving program information—APLE, National Guard

4. FAFSA Bridge Allows students to transfer information from the FAFSA to a state application Note: Option is only offered on the confirmation page

5. FAFSA Bridge Questions • Which college will you most likely attend in Fall 2012? Cal Grant • Are you, or were you, in a foster care placement, under court dependency/wardship at any time, between the ages of 16-18? Chafee Grant • Do you have or plan to obtain a K-12 teaching credential? APLE • Do you intend to teach or to supervise in a licensed children’s center? Child Development • Are you an active member of the California National Guard? National Guard Educational Assistance Program

6. Phase II FAFSA Bridge- GPA Release Do you authorize your school to release your high school GPA? • Student consents to GPA release • CSAC collects a GPA release for participating high schools; sends list of students to each school • School downloads list and uploads GPA to WebGrants

7. Basic Cal Grant Eligibility Not have earned a BA/BS degree Dependent students whose parents are in registered domestic partnerships should go to http://www.csac.ca.gov/pubs/forms/grnt_frm/G-37.pdf

8. WWW.CSAC.CA.GOV

9. Cal Grant A • Additional Eligibility Criteria: • Meet income & asset ceiling (demonstrate financial need) • 3.00 minimum high school GPA • Pursuing AA and BA programs only • Annual award amounts may be: • Used for tuition and/or fees only • Held in reserve while attending community college

10. Cal Grant B • Very low income students who: • Meet the income and asset ceilings • 2.00 GPA minimum • AA, BA/BS and Certificate programs • Annual Awards • $1551 stipend first year • Fees/Tuition plus $1551 • Available as Entitlement & Competitive Awards

11. Cal Grant Income and Asset Ceilings For New Applicants – For Renewal Ceilings go to: http://www.csac.ca.gov/doc.asp?id=1122

12. Cal Grant C • Low and Middle income students who: • Enroll in vocational courses of study • AA and Certificate programs only • Can be used for any school expenses including tuition and fees • Eligibility determined only after application is given Cal Grant A and B consideration

13. High School Entitlement Awards • Recent high school graduates or equivalent (GED, CHSPE) • 2012/13 AY: graduated on or after July 1, 2010 • High school GPA required • Meet minimum GPA and eligibility requirements • Potentially unlimited number of awards

14. Make sure graduating seniors include their high school on the FAFSA CSAC can then match between GPA and FAFSA information CSAC will be able to report to schools on missing GPAs and missing FAFSAs High School Entitlement Awards

15. Cal Grant High School Entitlement Requires High School Graduation • Students can confirm on-line using WebGrants for Students • Schools can assist to provide post-graduation confirmation of HS graduation • Students needing to mail use the High School Graduation Confirmation form, HS transcripts or other authoritative documents

16. Cal Grant Renewal Eligibility SB 70 – Renewal eligibility changes • Previously, to renew a Cal Grant, students had to only show financial need • Now, students need to demonstrate the same financial need as new participants andmeet income and asset ceilings. Resulted in 14,000 fewer renewals

17. AB 131 Dream Act Allows students who meet AB 540 criteria to receive Cal Grants • Signed into law in October, 2011 • Cal Grants for the 2013-2014 school year • For entitlement candidates only • Must meet all other Cal Grant requirements • On-line application will be opened January 2013 to gather FAFSA like information

18. Student Notification Awardees who submit a FAFSA & GPA will receive a California Aid Report (CAR) via email • E-CAR Indicates Cal Grant eligibility • Sent as early as January • Letter sent if no e-mail address is available • Applicants should access WebGrants for Students • www.webgrants4students.org Counselor Tip: Download “School of Origin” report for a list of awarded students from your school E-mail to students from CSAC will come from these addresses: calgrantoffice@csac.ca.gov studentsupport@csac.ca.gov Mark these addresses as Safe

19. Student Notifications • E-mail delivery: • Provides grant type and estimated amount for up to 3 CA schools listed on the FAFSA • Communication with CSAC is emphasized

20. WebGrants for Schools • Contact: • CSAC Technology Help Desk • (888) 294-0148 or csachelpdesk@csac.ca.gov • Download WebGrants access request forms at • www.csac.ca.gov Look for “High Schools” on the “Schools” tab • WebGrants Home Page • https://webgrants.csac.ca.gov • WebGrants for Students • www.webgrants4students.org

21. WebGrants for Schools • https://webgrants.csac.ca.gov • Upload GPA by batch or individual records More secure than US Mail – Results shown in real time • Built-in edits to catch errors (e.g. SSN typos) • Confirmation of receipt of records • Report Access: • GPA Summary Report • School of Origin Report • HS Graduation Confirmation Report • FAFSA, No GPA Report

22. Cal Grant GPA Calculation • High School GPA calculation is the same as prior years – sophomore and junior grades only for seniors. Remember to exclude P.E and R.O.T.C • To calculate a GPA, go to “Schools” tab, “High School” or http://www.csac.ca.gov/doc.asp?id=1032 and look for “Cal Grant GPA Calculation Information” • Call School Support Line (888) 294-0153 • Look for webinars in Nov., Dec., Jan. and Feb. • Webinar link is on the “Schools” tab, “High School” or • http://www.csac.ca.gov/doc.asp?id=988

23. Academic Qualifiers & Submissions Academic Qualifier Types: • High school GPA • Test Scores • SAT Reasoning Test, ACT or GED* *Test score can be used if the student does not have a GPA, has coursework that cannot be converted to a 4.00 GPA, or attended a non-accredited high school

24. Submitting GPAs • Schools: • Use WebGrants • Upload by batch file (.txt) • Submit one-by-one (Add GPAs screen) • Student Initiated GPA Submission: • On-line GPA Release with FAFSA Bridge • Use GPA Verification form • Download, complete demographic information, print. • Give to high school

25. Questions? Electronic GPA Upload Questions? Tabitha Frost (916) 464-2113 School Support Branch (888) 294 -0153 schoolsupport@csac.ca.gov Academic Qualifiers & Submissions

26. GPA-Best Practices Don’t Wait! Establish a school WebGrants account. • Read the WebGrants User Guides on the Help Screen • Add GPAs individually (by student) or by batch using a GPA data file in .txt format • Use WebGrants reports to see the status of your submitted GPA records Upload GPAs now!

27. Non-SSN GPA File Upload • Successful Pilot with LA Unified • Districts and schools may use this method • Allows upload of GPA data without the student’s SSN. • GPA matched to FAFSA using other data • Must be submitted by batch process only • Contact School Support Branch for file layout • Adrian Felix (916) 464-3464 or, • (888) 294 -0153 schoolsupport@csac.ca.gov

28. WebGrants for Students (WGS) Provides students online access to California assistance and more— • Secure, 24/7, student-friendly access to their Cal Grant and Chafee Grant award status; • Links to other related financial aid sites. www.webgrants4students.org

29. WebGrants for Students (WGS) www.webgrants4students.org • Access available after the FAFSA is filed • Check application and award status • Verify and update e-mail and mailing address • View payment history • Simulate Cal Grant status at eligible California schools • Request a leave of absence • Self-certify high school graduation • Select links to other financial aid information sites

30. Cash for College

31. Cash for College Workshop Network • FAFSA Completion Workshops • Held January through March 2 • Program partners: CSAC, high schools, campuses, college access and community groups • Offered in 51 counties • 600 workshops were held in 2011 • More than 30,000 students • 500 $1,000 incentive scholarships for high school seniors

32. Cash for College Workshops • Held January through the March 2nd Cal Grant deadline • Open to all students: focus on low-income and first-generation seniors • Involve parents/guardians through individual assistance • Provide line-by-line help on the FAFSA, learn about Cal Grants, AB 540, AB 130 and other sources of financial aid • Offer multi-lingual materials • Assistance & training offered to use computer-based tools like the new FAFSA bridge • Site support funds offered to help offset costs of workshop

33. Cash for College • $1,000 private incentive scholarships will be provided at qualifying workshops for a seventh year. • For the second year, funding will be provided through CSAC’s partnership with ECMC. • Organizers help notify scholarship recipients in late May and early June • For more information and to register workshops, visit: www.californiacashforcollege.org

34. 2011 Cash for College Results • 9 out of 10 students attending a CFC workshop submitted a FAFSA by March 2nd • 8 out of 10 applied for a Cal Grant by March 2nd • More than 30,000 students qualified for $137 million in Cal Grants and Pell Grants • Students at a computer-based workshop were more likely to complete the FAFSA by March 2nd

35. FAFSA Completion Rates

36. Cash for College Online Wrapper • Sites are strongly encouraged to offer workshops in computer labs • Guides students to theFAFSA, Chafee, or AB 540 depending on student needs • Exit Survey is online. • Easy access for viewing submitted surveys at workshops

37. Cash for College • To register and order materials for your workshop, visit the Cash for College pages at www.calgrants.org • Statewide Cash for College office e-mail is: cashforcollege@csac.ca.gov • Find your regional Cash for College coordinating organization under the Cash for College “Contact Us” page at: www.calgrants.org

38. Questions? School Support (888) 294-0153