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Cal Grants Overview

2013 CASFAA/CSAC High School Counselor Workshops Presented by the California Student Aid Commission

AgendaBasic Cal Grant Eligibility

Cal Grants A, B, and C

High School Entitlement Awards and Graduation Verification

Student Notifications

WebGrants for Schools

GPA and Academic Qualifier Submission

Tools for Schools

WebGrants for Students

Middle Class Scholarship (MCS) Program

Commission Communications, Web Training, and Social Media 

Cash For College Program2

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Basic Cal Grant Eligibility

Basic Cal Grant Eligibility

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Federal Requirements Additional Cal Grant Requirements

*U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen *California Resident

Meet Selective Service requirements

Attend an eligible California school

*Have a Social Security number Be enrolled at least half-time

Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress

High School GPA required (Entitlement)

Not owe a grant repayment or be in default on a student loan

Not be incarceratedNot have earned a BA/BS degree

* These requirements are supplanted by other eligibility criteria for AB 540 students

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Cal Grant Income & Asset Ceilings

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Eligible and Ineligible Cal Grant School Lists

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Cal Grants A, B, and C

Cal Grant A

Low to middle income students who:

• Meet the income and asset ceilings

• Have financial need

3.00 High School GPA minimum 

Associates or Bachelors programs only

Maximum annual award amounts

• Used for tuition and/or fees only

• Held in reserve while attending community college

CSU UC Independent For Profit

$ 5,472/yr $ 12,192/yr $ 9,084/yr $9,084/yr

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Cal Grant B

Low income students who:

• Meet the income and asset ceilings

2.00 GPA minimum

Associates, Bachelors, and Certificate programs

Annual Awards

• $1,473 stipend first year

• Fees/Tuition plus $1,473 in 2nd, 3rd, 4th yr

• Available as Entitlement & Competitive Awards9

Cal Grant C

Low and middle income 

students who:

• Enroll in vocational courses of study

• Associates and Certificate programs only

• Can be used for any school expenses including tuition and fees

• Eligibility determined only after full Cal Grant A and B consideration

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Cal Grant C Priority given based on Occupational Goal

Meeting 2 of the 3: high employment need,  high employment growth, and high wage

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Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics

Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses

Carpenters Medical SecretariesComputer Specialists, All Other Paralegals and Legal AssistantsComputer Support Specialists Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers

Cooks, Restaurant Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education

Fire Fighters Registered NursesFitness Trainers and Aerobics Instructors

High School Entitlement Awardsand Graduation Verification

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High School Entitlement Awards

Cal Grant A and B

Recent high school graduates or equivalent (GED, CHSPE)

• 2014/15 AY: graduated on or after July 1, 2012

High school GPA required

Meet minimum GPA and income/need requirements 

Potentially unlimited number of awards

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CSAC reports missing GPAs and FAFSA/DREAM Act Applications to schools via WebGrants

CSAC can then match between GPA and FAFSA/DREAM Act Application information

Make sure graduating seniors include their high school on the FAFSA/DREAM Act Application

High School Entitlement Awards

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Cal Grant High School Entitlement

Students needing to mail may use the High School Graduation Confirmation form, HS transcripts or other authoritative documents

Schools & school districts can assist to provide post‐graduation confirmation of HS graduation

Students can confirm online using WebGrants for Students 

High School Graduation Confirmation *Required*

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High School Graduation Verification

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High School Graduation Verification

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High School Graduation Verification

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High School Graduation Verification

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High School Graduation Verification

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Student Notifications

Student Notifications

Awarded applicants that submit a FAFSA/DREAM Act Application & GPA will receive a California Aid Report (CAR) via email

E‐CAR indicates Cal Grant eligibility

• Sent as early as February• Letter notification will be sent if no email address

Mark these addresses as not junk:

• calgrantoffice@csac.ca.gov• studentsupport@csac.ca.gov

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Student Notifications (CAR)

• Email Delivery

• Provides grant type and estimated amounts for up to 3 CA schools listed on the FAFSA

• Communication with CSAC is emphasized

WebGrants for Schools

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WebGrants for Schools

• WebGrants Home Page https://webgrants.csac.ca.gov

• www.csac.ca.gov Look for “WebGrants” in the “High Schools” tab

• Download WebGrants Access Request forms 

• CSAC Technology Help Desk (888) 294‐0148 or csachelpdesk@csac.ca.gov

• WebGrants for Students www.webgrants4students.org 

Contact: Contact: 

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WebGrants for Schools

Upload GPA by batch or key individual GPA

More secure than US Mail – results shown in real time

Built‐in edits to catch errors (e.g. Social Security typos)

Confirmation of receipt of records

Support Your Students with Follow‐Up Report Access 

• GPA Summary and School of Origin Reports

• HS graduation confirmation reports

• FAFSA, No GPA Report26

https://webgrants.csac.ca.gov

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GPA and Academic Qualifier Submission

Academic Qualifiers & Submissions

• High school GPA

• Test Scores – SAT, ACT, GED, allowed if:

• student does not have a GPA

• has coursework that cannot

• be converted to a 4.00 maximum GPA

• attended a non‐accredited high school

• SAT Reasoning Test

Academic Qualifier Types:

Academic Qualifier Types:

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Cal Grant GPA CalculationCurrent High School Seniors

High School GPA calculation is the same as prior years –sophomore and junior grades only!

*Remember to exclude P.E, R.O.T.C, and Remedial

To calculate a High School GPA, go to http://www.csac.ca.gov/doc.asp?id=983 and look for                       “Cal Grant GPA Calculation Information””

Call School Support Line (888) 294‐0153

Look for webinars in Nov., Dec., Jan., and Feb..

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Cal Grant GPA Calculation Last Year’s High School Graduates

High School GPA calculation for students that graduated high school the prior academic year is – sophomore, junior, and senior grades 

*Remember to exclude P.E, R.O.T.C, and Remedial

Consider sending GPA information for students that graduated the prior year as part of the normal GPA submission process

Be sure to send the correct high school graduation date if sending current seniors and students that graduated the prior year in same data file (ex. current seniors 06/2014, students that graduated last year 06/2013)

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Statewide Student Identifier

CSAC is now asking for the Statewide Student Identifier (SSID) with the GPA submission

The GPA Data File specifications for electronic uploads and the paper GPA Verification form have been modified to include this identifier

The SSID will be used to help match the student’s GPA record to the FAFSA or Dream Act application and later match HS graduation information.

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School Initiated GPA Submission:

• By batch upload using WebGrants

• With SSNs

• Without SSNs

Individually using WebGrants (Add GPAs screen)

Questions?

• Electronic GPA Upload Questions?

• School Support Branch (888) 294‐0153

• schoolsupport@csac.ca.gov

Ways to Submit GPAs

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Ways to Submit GPAs:Non-SSN GPA File Upload

Allows upload of GPA data without the student’s SSN.

• Districts  and/or Individual schools

GPA matched to FAFSA/DA application using other data 

Can be submitted by batch individually or by batch

File layout & User Guide available under “Help” in WebGrants

(888) 294‐0153 or schoolsupport@csac.ca.gov

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Ways to Submit GPAs

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Student Initiated GPA Submission:

• Use paper GPA Verification form

• Download, print, complete demographic information

• Give to high school for GPA certification

• Student keeps a copy of the form

• Student mails GPA form and purchases proof of mailing

• Paper GPA Verification form is located online at: www.csac.ca.gov; www.calgrants.org;www.webgrants4Students.org 

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How to retrieve GPA Reports

How to retrieve GPA Reports

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Non-SSN GPA Status Report

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Student Summary ReportNew Comprehensive Report

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GPA-Best Practices

Don’t Wait! Establish a WebGrants account 

• (GPAs can be uploaded right now)

Read the WebGrants User Guides on the Help Screen.

Use the “Add GPAs” screen for small batches of 100 or less GPA records 

Upload a GPA data file in .txt format for batches of 100 or more GPA records 

Use WebGrants reports to see the status of submitted GPA records

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Tools for Schools

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California Success Dashboard

Coming soon in 2014, the Commission will publish aggregate totals of student FAFSA & CA Dream Act & Cal Grant application submissions, completions & awards – by school, district and county

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What Your Students Need to Know

Once the application is filed; Create and maintain aWebGrants 4 Students account

If awarded, confirm HS Grad Date in June

Once the college of attendance is decided ensure that WebGrants 4 Students has the correct school on file

Contact the Financial Aid Office at the college of attendance to see what needs to be done in order to receive Cal Grant payment(s)

Keep track of Cal Grant payments using the Payment History screen on WebGrants 4 Students 

If a School Change or Leave of Absence is necessary, submit to the Commission directly using WebGrants 4 Students 

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Cal Grant Payment Eligibility

Cal Grants pay up to 4 years or until undergraduate degree is achieved, whichever comes first

12 units per term is considered full‐time for financial aid purposes

Graduation in four years would require more than 12 units per term

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Cal Grant Renewal Eligibility

Renewal participants must meet income and 

asset ceilings.

Students must meet satisfactory academic progress standard of school

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WebGrants for Students (WGS)

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WebGrants for Students (WGS)

WGS is a CSAC web‐based 

application for students that 

provides:

• Secure, 24/7, student‐friendly access to manage their Cal Grant and Chafee Grant award

• Links to other related financial aid sites

• Empowers students with critical financial aid information to ensure successful processing of grant application & maintenance of their award status

• The WGS URL is: www.webgrants4students.org

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WebGrants4Students.org

Keep your demographic information up‐to‐date

Check application and award status and view payment history 

Confirm high school graduation ‐‐ required to receive payment

Print out California Aid Report (CAR)

Request a school change and/or leave of absence online

Send students to:  www.webgrants4students.org

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WebGrants4Students.org

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WebGrants4Students.org High School Graduation Confirmation

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WebGrants4Students.orgCalifornia Aid Report (CAR)

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A New Grant ProgramMiddle Class Scholarship (MCS) Program

Middle Class Scholarship  (MCS) Program:

• Available for undergraduate students

• Family incomes up to $150,000  

• Attend a University of California (UC) or California State University (CSU) campus

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A New Grant Program

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Middle Class Scholarship  (MCS) Program:

• MCS Applicants must file a FAFSA or Dream Act Application

• Must Meet the March 2 Deadline

• GPA not required, but recommended for all

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A New Grant Program

Commission Communications, Web Training, and Social Media

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Commission Communications

Special Alerts and Operations Memos provide guidance for counselors, sign up by contacting School Support at schoolsupport@csac.ca.gov

Watch important Commission events at   www.csac.ca.gov

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Commission Communications

Order various publications in several languages online at www.publications.csac.ca.gov

Cash for College materials ordered online through your account at www.calgrants.org/organizers

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Commission Web Training

Training sessions held online via             WebEx online training tool                          check out www.csac.ca.gov

Training topics include all types of  Electronic GPA Submission Training                  (Traditional and non‐SSN)

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Commission Social Media

Interact with the Commission and its activities through many social media options, check out www.csac.ca.gov

Facebook.com/CSAC.StudentAidCommission

Follow us: @CaStudentAid

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Cash for College

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Cash for College – California’sFAFSA/Dream Act Platform

From Jan – Mar 2. Open to all students and parents . Focus on low‐income and first‐gens

Incentive Scholarship is offered for 2014 workshops! Seniors apply for a Cal Grant by the deadline to enter.

Provides line‐by‐line help on the FAFSA, CA Dream Act & Chafee Applications. Workshops offer computers for on the spot processing

Offers multi‐lingual materials, training, tools, site support funding.

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Cash For CollegePartnering for FAFSA & Cal Grant Completion

Statewide Cash for College office e‐mail is:

cashforcollege@csac.ca.gov

Facebook:  CashforCollegeCalifornia 

Twitter: @cash4collegeca

NEW WEBSITE + REGISTRATION to launch in 

LATE SEPTEMBER www.calgrants.org

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Questions??