I am a student/family member, I do not see my school district listed as a participating school district. How do I participate in the Pilot and receive messages from Cali? The California Student Aid Commission is committed to supporting high school seniors like you on your educational journey. Among our innovative programs is Cali – a dynamic two-way SMS texting chatbot designed to assist students from participating school districts with FAFSA and CADAA completion.

While the Cali is an excellent tool, it is currently only accessible to students in participating school districts. If your district hasn’t opted in, you may not be able to utilize this specific service at this time. However, you may want to approach your school administrators or district representatives and let them know your interest in having your school join the Cali Pilot. 

Aside from Cali, the California Student Aid Commission offers a multitude of resources and programs designed to support all students in the state. We offer other educational resources: https://www.csac.ca.gov/all-in. We encourage you to explore these other opportunities with us to support your academic journey.

I am a school administrator/teacher/counselor, what are the steps to having my district sign up to participate in the Pilot? If you are a school district personnel interested in an opportunity to join the Pilot, you can contact aichatbot@csac.ca.gov for your questions or interests. 

The process for a school district to join the Cali Program includes a meeting with Mainstay, the service provider, who will provide a comprehensive overview and answer all of your questions.  Following the meeting, school districts will have an opportunity to review and sign a contract to officially join the Pilot. And then, move on to the onboarding process.