Undocumented Students Reminded of Approaching California Dream Act Financial Aid Deadline

SACRAMENTO — California Dream Act students are urged to apply before Friday, March 2, 2018.

The California Department of Education officials have announced that applications are down drastically from last year’s applications with only about half the amount of applicants. The California Dream Act, which is a state-funded grant is in no way related to the federal Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. The California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) will protect the California Dream Act information provided by applicants and will be used solely to determined eligibility for state financial aid. The information provided will not be shared with any other government agency. “Eligible students should not hesitate to apply. Time is critical and their dreams of college and 21st century careers await,” Tom Torlakson, the State Superintendent of Public Instruction said. “Fear or confusion should not keep students from applying for the financial aid they earned and deserve.”

In addition, the California Department of Education officials said that no matter what happens on a federal level, aid for Dreamers remains legal in the State of California. “A Dreamer student does not need to be DACA-certified to be eligible for a public education or state financial aid,” Department of Education officials said. “Losing DACA status will not affect state financial aid eligibility.”

For questions, contact CSAC at 916-464-8271 or the California Department of Education, College Preparation and Postsecondary Programs Office, Career and College Transition Division at 916-323-6398.

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