Existing law requires a school district, county office of education, or charter school to ensure that a grade 12 pupil who has not opted out to complete and submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Alternatively, if the pupil is exempt from paying nonresident tuition under existing law, the pupil must complete and submit the California Dream Act form. Existing law requires the Student Aid Commission, on or before July 1, 2022, to adopt regulations that include, but are not limited to, model opt-out forms, and acceptable use policies to provide guidance on applicable state laws. Existing law requires the school district, county office of education, or charter school to exempt a pupil or the pupil’s parent or legal guardian from completing a form if the local educational agency determines the pupil is unable to complete the form. Existing law prohibits a pupil’s ability to graduate from being affected by a pupil’s failure to fill out a form.
This bill requires that on or before September 1, 2022, and every year after that, the commission and the State Department of Education facilitate the completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid and the California Dream Act form, by requiring the department to share the current school year’s roster of pupils with the Commission. The Commission is required to match data on pupil completion of financial aid forms.
(AB 469 amends Section 51225.7 of the Education Code.)
