Sacramento, CA (2018) – The California Student Aid Commission (Commission) and the California Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators are hosting High School Counselor Workshops for high school counselors and educational advocates throughout the state. These free workshops, which run through October, provide information and updates on state funded financial aid programs administered by the Commission such as:

• Cal Grant programs – for students pursuing an undergraduate degree or vocational or career training. These grants do not need to be repaid by the students who qualify for and receive them.
• Cal Grant Transfer Entitlement Awards – for low- to middle income students planning to transfer directly from a California Community College to a four-year university and who meet the general Cal Grant eligibility requirements.
• Chafee Grant for Foster Youth – available to youth between the ages of 16 and 18 who are or were in foster care. These grants may be used at any eligible California college, university, or career or technical school, as well as some institutions in other states.
• Middle Class Scholarship – provides eligible undergraduate students with a scholarship to attend a University of California or California State University institution. These awards are available for up four years.

In addition, the workshops will also provide a comprehensive overview of the financial aid application process, which requires completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the California Dream Act Application CADAA). Counselors are trained on how to assist students throughout the application season, which begins October 1, 2018 and ends on March 2, 2019.

The first workshop will be held at CSU Fullerton on August 31, 2018, followed by presentations in Fresno, Tulare and Bakersfield the first week in September. The workshops conclude in Los Angeles October 19, 2018.

Click here for a complete calendar of events and registration for https://www.csac.ca.gov/high-school-counselor-workshops