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| Need Cash for College? You Could Get a Cal Grant. Cal Grants are one of the smartest ways to get cash for college. For starters, it's money you don't have to pay back. And secondly, it's guaranteed. If you're a graduating high school senior or recent graduate, meet academic, financial and eligibility requirements and submit two forms by March 2, you are guaranteed a Cal Grant! How Much Money Are We Talking About? With a Cal Grant you can get up to $9,700 a year to pay for college expenses at any qualifying California college, university or career or technical school in California. Depending on which Cal Grant you get, the money can be used for tuition, room and board, even books and pencils. The best part is, it's yours to keep and you don't have to pay it back. Here's How to Get It. All you have to do is submit the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) between January 1 and March 2 and submit a verified Cal Grant GPA anytime between November and the March 2 deadline. If you meet the income, eligibility, and GPA requirements, the cash is yours. The best part is, you can fill out the FAFSA online. To submit a verified Cal Grant GPA, first check with your school to see if they will do it for you. If not, you can go online and download a GPA Verification form, fill out the student section and take it to your school. Don’t let a little paperwork stand between you and a Cal Grant. This information was taken from the California Student Aid Commission |
| Other Types of Financial Aid Take a look at how simple financial aid can be and save your brain cells for things you really need ‘em for, like college calculus and finding a roommate who won't use all the hot water or play show tunes at 3 a.m. Federal Sources of Aid — Your Favorite Uncle The U.S. Government supplies nearly 70 percent of all student financial aid dollars. To get any kind of federal aid, you must complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for each year you are requesting aid. Grants. Think of a grant as the ultimate graduation gift, because you don't have to pay a penny of it back. Pell Grants are awarded to low-income students and Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (SEOG) are for low-income students with exceptional financial need. Work-Study. Work at a part-time job that may help you with a career, and use the earnings to help finance your education. Loans. Federal loans are low-interest loans that come in all shapes and sizes. Subsidized Stafford Loans are available to students who meet financial requirements and are attending school at least half-time. With this loan, the government pays the interest from when you get the loan money until up to six months after you leave school. An unsubsidized Stafford Loan is available to any student regardless of financial need, but the student pays the interest. PLUS Loans are available for the parents of students attending college. Perkins Loans are administered by the college and are for students with exceptional financial need. State Sources of Aid — Money From the Golden State While there are other sources of state financial aid for college, for California residents the major source is the Cal Grant. This free money is guaranteed to every high school senior who applies on time and meets income, eligibility and GPA requirements. This information was taken from the California Student Aid Commission. |
| Federal Pell Grant A Federal Pell Grant, unlike a loan, does not have to be repaid. Pell Grants are awarded usually only to undergraduate students who have not earned a bachelor's or a professional degree. (In some cases, however, a student enrolled in a post-baccalaureate teacher certification program might receive a Pell Grant.) Pell Grants are considered a foundation of federal financial aid, to which aid from other federal and nonfederal sources might be added. How much can I get? The maximum Pell Grant award for the 2007-08 award year (July 1, 2007 to June 30, 2008) is $4,310. The maximum award for the 2008-09 award year (July 1, 2008 to June 30, 2009) is $4,731. The maximum can change each award year and depends on program funding. The amount you get, though, will depend not only on your financial need, but also on your costs to attend school, your status as a full-time or part-time student, and your plans to attend school for a full academic year or less. If I am eligible, how will I get the Pell Grant money? Your school can apply Pell Grant funds to your school costs, pay you directly (usually by check), or combine these methods. The school must tell you in writing how much your award will be and how and when you'll be paid. Schools must disburse funds at least once per term (semester, trimester, or quarter). Schools that do not use semesters, trimesters, or quarters must disburse funds at least twice per academic year. This information was taken from Federal Student Aid, an office of the U.S. Department of Education |
| Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) The Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) program is for undergraduates with exceptional financial need. Pell Grant recipients with the lowest expected family contributions (EFCs) will be considered first for a FSEOG. Just like Pell Grants, the FSEOG does not have to be repaid. How much can I get? You can receive between $100 and $4,000 a year, depending on when you apply, your financial need, the funding at the school you're attending, and the policies of the financial aid office at your school. If I am eligible, how will I get the FSEOG money? If you're eligible, your school will credit your account, pay you directly (usually by check), or combine these methods. Your school must pay you at least once per term (semester, trimester, or quarter). Schools that do not use semesters, trimesters, or quarters must disburse funds at least twice per academic year. This information was taken from Federal Student Aid, an office of the U.S. Department of Education |
| TEACH GRANT PROGRAM Through the College Cost Reduction and Access Act of 2007, Congress created the Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant Program that provides grants of up to $4,000 per year to students who intend to teach in a public or private elementary or secondary school that serves students from low-income families. If, after reading all of the information on this fact sheet, you are interested in learning more about the TEACH Grant Program, you should contact the financial aid office at the college where you will be enrolled starting with the 2008-2009 school year. Effective Dates The first TEACH Grants will be awarded to eligible students for the 2008-2009 school year. Conditions In exchange for receiving a TEACH Grant, you must agree to serve as a full-time teacher in a high-need field in a public or private elementary or secondary school that serves low-income students (see below for more information on high-need fields and schools serving low- income students). As a recipient of a TEACH Grant, you must teach for at least four academic years within eight calendar years of completing the program of study for which you received a TEACH Grant. IMPORTANT: If you fail to complete this service obligation, all amounts of the TEACH Grants that you received will be converted to a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan. You must then repay this loan to the U.S. Department of Education. You will be charged interest from the date the grant(s) was disbursed. Student Eligibility Requirements To receive a TEACH Grant you must – Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), although you do not have to demonstrate financial need. Be a U.S. Citizen or eligible non-citizen. Be enrolled as an undergraduate, post-baccalaureate, or graduate student in a postsecondary educational institution that has chosen to participate in the TEACH Grant Program. Be enrolled in coursework that is necessary to begin a career in teaching or plan to complete such coursework. Such coursework may include subject area courses (e.g., math courses for a student who intends to be a math teacher). Meet certain academic achievement requirements (generally, scoring above the 75th percentile on a college admissions test or maintaining a cumulative GPA of at least 3.25). Sign a TEACH Grant Agreement to Serve (see below for more information on the TEACH Grant Agreement to Serve). High-Need Field High-need fields are the specific subject areas identified below – Bilingual Education and English Language Acquisition. Foreign Language. Mathematics. Reading Specialist. Science. Special Education. Other identified teacher shortage areas as of the time you begin teaching in that field. These are teacher subject shortage areas (not geographic areas) that are listed in the Department of Education’s Annual Teacher Shortage Area Nationwide Listing at http://www.ed. gov/about/offices/list/ope/pol/tsa.doc. Schools Serving Low-Income Students Schools serving low-income students include any elementary or secondary school that is listed in the Department of Education’s Annual Directory of Designated Low-Income Schools for Teacher Cancellation Benefits at https://www.tcli.ed. gov/CBSWebApp/tcli/TCLIPubSchoolSearch.jsp. Teach Grant Agreement to Serve Each year you receive a TEACH Grant, you must sign a TEACH Grant Agreement to Serve that will be available electronically on a Department of Education Web site. The TEACH Grant Agreement to Serve specifies the conditions under which the grant will be awarded, the teaching service requirements, and includes an acknowledgment by you that you understand that if you do not meet the teaching service requirements you must repay the grant as a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan, with interest accrued from the date the grant funds were disbursed. Specifically, the TEACH Grant Agreement to Serve will provide that – For each TEACH Grant-eligible program for which you received TEACH Grant funds, you must serve as a full- time teacher for a total of at least four academic years within eight calendar years after you completed or withdrew from the academic program for which you received the TEACH Grant. You must perform the teaching service as a highly- qualified teacher at a low-income school. The term highly- qualified teacher is defined in section 9101(23) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 or in section 602(10) of the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act. Your teaching service must be in a high-need field. You must comply with any other requirements that the Department of Education determines to be necessary. If you do not complete the required teaching service obligation, TEACH Grant funds you received will be converted to a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan that you must repay, with interest charged from the date of each TEACH Grant disbursement. Additional Guidance and Implementing Regulations The Department of Education will publish regulations to implement the TEACH Grant Program after providing an opportunity for public comment in accordance with legal requirements. IMPORTANT REMINDER If you receive a TEACH Grant but do not complete the required teaching service, as explained above, you will be required to repay the grants as a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan, with interest charged from the date of each TEACH Grant disbursement. Next Steps If you are interested in learning more about the TEACH Grant Program, you should contact the financial aid office at the college where you will be enrolled to find out if they will participate in the TEACH Grant Program for the 2008-2009 school year. Disclaimer This fact sheet provides a preliminary summary of the TEACH Grant Program based on the College Cost Reduction and Access Act of 2007. The information in this document is subject to change and is not binding on the Department of Education. This information was taken from Federal Student Aid, an office of the U.S. Department of Education |
| Academic Competitiveness Grant The Academic Competitiveness Grant was made available for the first time for the 2006-2007 school year for first year college students who graduated from high school after January 1, 2006, and for second year college students who graduated from high school after January 1, 2005. The Academic Competitiveness Grant award is in addition to the student's Pell Grant award. How Much Can A Student Receive? An Academic Competitiveness Grant will provide up to $750 for the first year of undergraduate study and up to $1,300 for the second year of undergraduate study to full-time students who are eligible for a Federal Pell Grant and who had successfully completed a rigorous high school program, as determined by the state or local education agency and recognized by the Secretary of Education. Second year students must maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.0. Additional information on Academic Competitiveness Grant TOP1. Eligible Students An eligible student may receive an Academic Competitiveness Grant (AC Grant) of up to $750 for the first academic year of study and up to $1,300 for the second academic year of study. To be eligible for each academic year, a student must: Be a U.S. citizen; Be a Federal Pell Grant recipient; Be enrolled full-time in a degree program; Be enrolled in the first or second academic year of his or her program of study at a two-year or four-year degree-granting institution; Have completed a rigorous secondary school program of study (after January 1, 2006, if a first-year student, and after January 1, 2005, if a second-year student); If a first-year student, not have been previously enrolled in an undergraduate program; and If a second-year student, have at least a cumulative 3.0 grade point average on a 4.0 scale for the first academic year. Note that the amount of the AC Grant, when combined with a Pell Grant, may not exceed the student's cost of attendance. In addition, if the number of eligible students is large enough that payment of the full grant amounts would exceed the program appropriation in any fiscal year, then the amount of the grant to each eligible student may be ratably reduced. 2. Recognized rigorous secondary school programs of study for Academic Competitiveness Grant program in 2007-08 In order to provide options to students, the following three programs will be recognized as evidence of rigor in a secondary school program of study. The State Scholars Initiative requirements. Students who participate in and complete the State Scholars program will be eligible. This program, currently offered in fourteen States and patterned after the recommendations of the National Commission on Excellence in Education, requires at least four years of English, three years of math (including Algebra I, Algebra II and Geometry), three years of basic lab science (biology, chemistry, physics), three-and-one-half years of social studies, and two years of the same foreign language other than English. A required set of courses similar to the State Scholars Initiative. This program of study includes four years of English, three years of Math (including Algebra I and a higher level course such as Algebra II, Geometry, or Data Analysis and Statistics), three years of science including one year each of at least two of the following courses: biology, chemistry or physics, three years of social studies, and one year of a language other than English. The program of study must be completed with passing grades. Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate courses and test scores. This program requires a minimum of two Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) courses in high school and a minimum passing score on the exams for those classes. Students must score 3 or higher on AP exams and 4 or higher on IB exams. This information was taken from Federal Student Aid, an office of the U.S. Department of Education |
| CALIFORNIA TRAINING BENEFITS PROGRAM The program that allows unemployed people to go back to school is called the California Training Benefits Program. I have pasted information from the EDD below, but the basics are that the program allows unemployed people to go to an approved school while continuing to receive unemployment benefits. You must contact the EDD after selecting a school and specific job goal and apply for the benefits. Please read the information below regarding this program. You should contact them right away because there is an eligibility time line. Their phone number is often busy and hard to get through to. If you are unable to get a hold of them on the phone I would go to a Career One Stop center and they can help you. They are going to want to know what school you are planning to attend, what job it will prepare you for, and when you will start school. This program is for vocational training not for going back to college, so remember that although the school may be called a college what you are looking into is a vocational training program. You should speak with a school representative before contacting the EDD. This is the web address where you can find an EDD office in your area. http://www.edd.ca.gov/direp/diloc.htm Some people are being told that funding has run out. If you have time you may want to wait until January to apply. You can also just go to the school and see what other options they can help you with in the mean time. CALIFORNIA TRAINING BENEFITS PROGRAM The California Training Benefits (CTB) Program allows eligible California Unemployment Insurance (UI) claimants who lack competitive job skills to receive their UI benefits while attending an approved training/retraining program. Claims for UI benefits are if led on-line or by telephone with the California Employment Development Department (EDD). Background Individuals in approved CTB training/retraining neednot: * Look for work. * Be available for work. * Accept suitable work. * Be disqualified for leaving work if working prevents them from completing training/retraining approved prior to leaving their most recent employment. Benefits Available * Under the CTB program, the traditional role of UI changes, from that of temporary financial support while the claimant looks for work, to one of assisting the claimant in training/retraining in a demand occupation to enable a return to full employment. * Training Extension (TE) claims provide additional UI benefits. An extension of CTB training benefits may be available beyond the regular UI claim while an individual is in approved training. To be eligible for extended training benefits, an individual must ask for information about CTB or apply for CTB training approval with EDD no later than receiving the 16th week of regular UI benefits. If the UI claim award is 16 weeks or less, the individual must ask for CTB training approval before receiving the last UI benefit check. * When in effect, federal extended benefits replace the training extension benefits for CTB participants. * The TE provides additional benefits up to a combined total amount of 52 weeks times the weekly benefit amount of the regular UI claim. The combined total amount includes the benefits received on the regular UI claim plus any benefits received on a federal or state extension, and any received on a new subsequent regular claim. If an individual qualifies for a subsequent new UI claim in California or another state while receiving TE benefits, the new UI claim must be filed and benefits must be paid from the new claim, even if the new claim has a lower weekly benefit amount. Eligibility Criteria To participate in the CTB program, an individual must be eligible for California UI benefits and be attending a training or retraining program approved by EDD. An individual is potentially eligible for the CTB program if that person is approved for training/retraining by one of the following: * Workforce Investment Act (WIA) federally funded programs * Employment Training Panel (ETP) state fundedp rograms * Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) federally funded programs * California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) training contracts Other Training Individuals who secure training on their own behalf or who are not approved for training by WIA, ETP, TAA, or CalWORKs must meet all of the following criteria to be potentially eligible for the CTB program: * Must be eligible for California UI benefits and be out of work for four or more continuous weeks, or be unlikely to return to their most recent work place due to a plant closure or substantial reduction in work force, or be unemployed due to a mental or physical disability preventing the use of existing job skills, or be unemployed due to technological changes in their occupations. AND * Must be unemployed due to a lack of sufficient current demand for the individuals' skills within the local labor market area or, the individuals' occupation is seasonal and the individuals have no other skills in current demand; AND * Attend training in an occupation that is in demand in the individual's local labor market or be willing to relocate within California; AND * Requires the training or retraining to be specific job related training for individuals who are journey level union members; AND * Complete a training course within one year, including scheduled breaks and vacation breaks; AND * Attend training full-time as defined by the school and EDD, but not primarily to obtain a degree. EDD considers full-time to be not less than 20 hours per week or 12 units per semester or quarter; AND * Must reasonably be expected to complete the training or retraining successfully; AND * Participate in the program only if there have been three years or more since the beginning date of prior CTB participation. Living Outside of California but Within the U.S. If you live in a state other than California and have a valid California UI claim, in order to be potentially eligible for the CTB program, the training/retraining must be approved by WIA or TAA. Tuition, Books, and Fees CTB participants are not reimbursed costs by EDD for tuition, books, or other training-related expenses. Approval Authority for CTB An EDD adjudication interviewer determines the applicant's eligibility for the CTB program and TE claims based upon legislation contained in Article 1.5 of the California Unemployment Insurance Code, Sections 1269 and 1271, respectively. For More Information For further information or to apply for the CTB program, please contact EDD at: * English..................................1-800-300-5616 * Spanish.................................1-800-326-8937 * Cantonese.............................1-800-547-3506 * Mandarin...............................1-866-303-0706 * Vietnamese...........................1-800-547-2058 * TTY (non-voice)....................1-800-815-9387 For more information on other EDD programs and services, visit our Web site at www.edd.ca.gov. |
| The National Science & Mathematics Access to Retain Talent Grant (National SMART Grant) The National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent Grant, also known as the National Smart Grant is available during the third and fourth years of undergraduate study to full-time students who are eligible for the Federal Pell Grant and who are majoring in physical, life, or computer sciences, mathematics, technology, or engineering or in a foreign language determined critical to national security. The student must also be enrolled in the courses necessary to complete the degree program and to fulfill the requirements of the intended eligible major in addition to maintaining a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.0 in coursework required for the major. The National SMART Grant award is in addition to the student's Pell Grant award. How Much Can A Student Receive? A National SMART Grant will provide up to $4,000 for each of the third and fourth years of undergraduate study to full-time students who are eligible for a Federal Pell Grant and who are majoring in physical, life, or computer sciences, mathematics, technology, or engineering or in a foreign language determined critical to national security. The amount of the SMART Grant, when combined with a Pell Grant, may not exceed the student's cost of attendance. In addition, if the number of eligible students is large enough that payment of the full grant amounts would exceed the program appropriation in any fiscal year, then the amount of the grant to each eligible student may be ratably reduced. Additional Information on National SMART Grant TOP1. Eligible Students An eligible student may receive a National SMART Grant of up to $4,000 for each of the third and fourth academic years of study. To be eligible for each academic year, a student must: Be a U.S. citizen; Be a Federal Pell Grant recipient; Be enrolled full-time in a degree program; Be enrolled in a four-year degree-granting institution; Major in physical, life or computer science, engineering, mathematics, technology, or a critical foreign language; and Have at least a cumulative 3.0 grade point average on a 4.0 scale (as set forth in regulations to be promulgated soon). Note - A student is eligible to receive a National SMART Grant if the student enrolls in the courses necessary to complete the degree program and to fulfill the requirements of the intended eligible major. That is, an otherwise eligible student can receive a National SMART Grant for a payment period only if the student is enrolled in at least one course that meets the specific requirements of the student's National SMART Grant-eligible major and it is not necessary that the course be offered by the academic department that confers the degree in the eligible major. For example, a student majoring in biology is eligible to receive a National SMART Grant during a semester in which he or she is enrolled in a physics course if the physics course is required for the major even if the student is not enrolled in any biology courses. A student who is taking general education courses or electives that satisfy general degree requirements for the student's National SMART Grant-eligible program, but who is not taking at least one course specific to and required for the National SMART Grant-eligible major, is not eligible for a National SMART Grant payment for that payment period. For example, the biology student described above may be taking courses during a semester in the humanities, the arts, and physical education in order to fulfill the general education requirements of the degree program or major. However, to be eligible for a National SMART Grant the student must also be enrolled in at least one course required for the student's National SMART Grant major. If the student were enrolled only in courses that satisfy the general education requirements of the National SMART Grant-eligible program, but not in any courses that are specific to the major, he or she would not be eligible for a National SMART Grant payment for the semester. This information was taken from Federal Student Aid, an office of the U.S. Department of Education |
