• Last year, AB 469 was passed requiring Local Educational Agencies (LEAs) to confirm that high school seniors complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), California Dream Act Application (CADAA), or “opt-out” of submitting one of these applications prior to the end of their senior year.  We are requesting your assistance with compliance of the new state law by the application priority filing deadline of April 2, 2024. 

    Financial Aid FAQ

    Financial Aid Opt-Out form

     

    Financial Aid!

    YouTube Videos with FAFSA Information

    Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA): https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa

    Create your FSA ID today! 

    Completing and submitting the FAFSA form is free and quick, it gives you access to the largest source of financial aid to pay for college or career school.

    Many states and colleges use your FAFSA data to determine your eligibility for state and school aid, and some private financial aid providers may use your FAFSA information to determine whether you qualify for their aid.

     

    Who can apply?

    US citizens and some eligible Non-Citizens. (If you are not eligible, please check out the California Dream Act application below!)

    • Eligibible Noncitizen

    A U.S. national (includes natives of American Samoa or Swains Island), a U.S. permanent resident (who has an I-151, I-551 OR I-551C [Permanent Resident Card]), or an individual who has an Arrival-Departure Record (I-94) from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) showing one of the following designations:

      • "Refugee"
      • "Asylum Granted"
      • "Cuban-Haitian Entrant (Status Pending)
      • "Conditional Entrant" (Valid only if issued before April 1, 1980)
      • Victims of human trafficking, T-vis (T-2, T-3, or T-4, etc.) holder
      • "Parolee" (You must be paroled into the United States for at least one year and you must be able to provide evidence from the USCIS that you are in the United States for other than a temporary purpose and that you intend to become a U.S. Citizen or permanent resident).

    What can I get?

    • Grants (money you do NOT have to pay back)
    • Student Loans (money you DO have to pay back)
    • Work Study (money you can earn with a part-time job)
    • Aid for Military Families (There are special aid programs or additional aid eligibility for serving in the military or for being the spouse or child of a veteran)
    • Aid for International Study (Federal student aid may be available for studying at a school outside the United States, whether you’re studying abroad or getting your degree from an international school)

    How does financial aid work?

    Walk through the process HERE!

    What do I need to apply?

    • Your social security number (if you do not have an SSN, please look below at the CA Dream Act application)
    • Your full legal name (as written on your social security number)
    • Your address (as written on your Aeries account)
    • Your parent's information (If you live with a guardian, please let us know, so we can better assist you with the required information)
    • Your parent's taxes from last year (If your parents did not do taxes last year, that's okay! Please let us know.)
    • Class of 2024 = Parent's 2022 taxes
    • Your parent's full legal name (as written on their taxes)
    • Your parent's social security numbers (If they have one) (If they do not have an SSN, please ONLY input ZEROS: 000000000)
    • Your parent's phone number and email address
    • Your parent's date of marriage, if applicable (MM/DD/YYYY)

    FAFSA Application opens in December 2023 and must be submitted no later than April 2nd, 2024 to be considered for the Cal Grant. Don't leave it for the last minute- the website tends to crash!  

    California Dream Act: https://dream.csac.ca.gov/register

    Completion of the California Dream Act Application is required to determine financial aid for California AB540 eligible students. Your application will be processed by the California Student Aid Commission.

    The following questions will determine whether this is the best financial aid application for you or whether you should fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

    CDAA: Accessing the Application: 

    Who can apply?

    • Undocumented students who have attended school in California for at least 3 years (these years do NOT have to be back-to-back/consecutive years)
    • Students who live in California and meet the eligibility requirements for a non-resident exemption, as well as students who have a U Visa or TPS status.

    What can I get?

    • Grants (money you do NOT have to pay back)
    • Student Loans (money you DO have to pay back)

    What do I need to apply?

    • Your full legal name 
    • Your address (as written on your Aeries account)
    • Your parent's information (If you live with a guardian, please let us know, so we can better assist you with the required information)
    • Your parent's taxes from last year (If your parents did not do taxes last year, that's okay! Please let us know.)
    • Class of 2024 = Parent's 2022 taxes
    • Your parent's full legal name (as written on their taxes)
    • Your parent's social security numbers (If they have one) (If they do not have an SSN, please ONLY input ZEROS: 000000000)
    • Your parent's phone number and email address
    • Your parent's date of marriage, if applicable (MM/DD/YYYY)

    FAQs: https://www.csac.ca.gov/sites/main/files/file-attachments/california_dream_act_faq.pdf?1638916041

     Dream Act Application opens in December 2023 and must be submitted no later than April 2nd, 2024 to be considered for the Cal Grant. Don't leave it for the last minute- the website tends to crash!