A groundbreaking new policy now requires that California’s high school seniors apply for financial aid starting in the 2022-23 academic year. This is an opportunity to expand access to financial aid for thousands of students as they make important decisions about their futures after graduation.

The California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) has launched the All In for FAFSA/CA Dream Act campaign to take advantage of the new initiative and work with the education community to increase high school seniors’ financial aid applications. This includes working with counselors and teachers to support students in accessing the many financial aid resources that are available to them.

The pandemic years saw fewer students applying for the Free Application for Federal Aid (FAFSA) and the California Dream Act Application (CADAA). California left over $561 million in unutilized dollars which could have helped countless students pursue college or career training.

“No student should be denied the opportunity to pursue a college education or career training because they thought they could not afford it and did not know about financial aid,” said Marlene Garcia, CSAC executive director. “We are here to support teachers and school site educators in working with their students to complete financial aid forms. This should not fall on the shoulders of just counselors and teachers – we are here to help you and your students.”

“Many do not know of the financial aid resources that are available to them. This is especially true for first-generation and low-income students.” – Catalina Cifuentes, California Student Aid Commission chair

“This is an unprecedented opportunity for California,” said Catalina Cifuentes, CSAC chair and Executive Director of College & Career Readiness at the Riverside County Office of Education. “I work with hundreds of kids every day, and many do not know of the financial aid resources that are available to them. This is especially true for first-generation and low-income students who are not always aware of the opportunities out there.”

Even if they are not sure they will attend college, all students should still be encouraged to apply for financial aid to keep their options open. In California, only 53 percent of high school seniors completed a FAFSA or a CADAA in the 2021-2022.

The completion of a financial aid application is imperative to the success of California’s students because of how significantly it can impact college enrollment: Seniors who complete the FAFSA are 84 percent more likely to immediately enroll in postsecondary education. And students and families learn within about 72 hours of submitting their FAFSA if they are eligible for financial aid, which can empower them to make a decision about whether to attend college.

College degrees and career technical training serve as gateways to upward mobility for thousands of students and families every year. This new initiative will increase students’ access to financial aid dollars that can help fund their postsecondary dreams that might otherwise be out of their reach.

Among other resources for districts, schools and educators, CSAC provides Cash for College virtual workshops for students and families, with CSAC financial aid experts, and offers “Train-the-Trainer” workshops for school-site officials to learn how to help students and families complete the FAFSA and CADAA. For more on the All-In campaign go to csac.ca.gov/all-in.