Cal Grants help lower and middle income families

For many, 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 sending their children on to higher education because of financial circumstances. 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 can 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 advancement in the future.

Forty years ago the state of California set a goal of providing access to higher education for low and middle income students. That goal became closer to reality in the year 2000 with the passage of funding for Cal Grants — cash awards for college aid.

Cal Grant A provides full tuition and fees at a California State University or University of California campuses, or up op $8,300 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 $26,500 for recipients who are independent to $83,600 for students from a family of six or more.

Cal Grant B provides up to $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 $38,000 for a family of four, or $26,500 for recipients who are independent.

Cal Grant C awards help pay for tuition and training costs at occupational or career colleges. The $576 award is for books, tools, and equipment. An additional $2,592 can be used 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.

It’s clear that the availability of these grants has had the potential to change lives. The hope is thatthese grants will continue to provide students with the motivation to focus even harder on their studies. If students do their part and earn good grades, money should no longer be a barrier to higher education. This was a landmark accomplishment enabling many students who work hard in school to fulfill their family’s dreams and their own potential.

Application materials for most of these programs became available Jan. 1 and will be accepted through March 2. They are complicated to complete, so the earlier they are tackled, the better.