California’s moves to make college more accessible to undocumented students aren’t reaching most of them.

While California has taken steps to cut college tuition costs for students without legal immigration status, only a small percentage of students are benefiting, according to a new study.

A report released Wednesday found that only 14% of the state’s estimated undocumented college students received public financial assistance in the 2021-2022 academic year, putting them in serious financial trouble to achieve their educational goals and earn a degree.

“The call to expand and provide access to colleges and accessibility to unregistered academics in California is at a critical juncture,” Marlene Garcia, executive director of the California Student Aid Commission, which released a report titled “Renewing the Dream,” said in a statement. . CSAC is the government agency that administers financial aid programs and serves as a resource on the topic.

“As the state with the largest number of undocumented students in the nation, California is leading the way in inclusive education for immigrants through innovative policies and programs,” Garcia said. “Despite these important advances, California’s unregistered students still face significant challenges.”

Measures such as California Assembly Bill 540 or AB 540 and the California Dream Act give undocumented students access to in-state tuition and assistance because federal financial assistance does not apply to individuals without legal immigration status, most of whom are from poor families. income backgrounds.

The California Dream Act, or CADAA, is used to determine financial aid eligibility for undocumented students and is similar to the Free Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA.

CSAC found that 55% of CADAA applicants had an expected $0 family contribution based on family income – compared to 40% of those who apply for FAFSA in California for financial assistance.

However, more than half – 53% – of the 94,030 undocumented tertiary students did not complete the CADAA in 2021-2022.

The report states that undocumented students continue to face challenges when it comes to accessing information, navigating application processes, using campus resources and support, obtaining financial aid, and being able to afford college.

Leonardo Rodriguez, 21, a transfer student at UC Berkeley, had difficulty getting information about high school financial aid and said the application process was confusing.

“There were no other resources — most counselors didn’t even know where to find the information I requested or answers to questions I had,” said Rodriguez, who graduated from Kelseyville High School in 2019 and is a former CSAC student commissioner.

Rodriguez, who is also a recipient of the Obama-era Delayed Action for Children’s Arrivals, or DACA, said he first learned he needed to complete an AB 540 affidavit to access in-state tuition when he received a bill from his local college. for about $6,000 for the first semester – as if he were an international student or non-resident, not a state resident.

After he completed AB 540 affidavits, he became eligible for a grant from the College of California, which withdrew most of his tuition.

When Rodriguez later transferred to UC Berkeley, he said the school required him to fill out another 15 to 20 pages of information to complete AB 540, including voter registration, which does not apply to him because he is not a citizen. According to the report, the AB 540 test differs across higher education segments and campuses.

The number of applications for CADAA has decreased significantly – by 26% – for the 2022-23 academic year.

The report made various recommendations such as simplifying and streamlining CADAA by adding visual aids and changing the language to make it clearer and shorten applications.

Few sign up and get help

Among students without legal immigration status who complete the CADAA, only 30 percent end up in tertiary education and receive public financial assistance, according to CSAC data for 2021-2022.

According to the study, many undocumented students do not have a work permit, which deters them from gaining professional work experience in their intended field of study and discourages them from pursuing a college degree, which they may not see as a viable option, according to the study.

“Many people have to work two or three jobs because they have to help their families,” says Patricia Jimenez de Valdez, a financial aid specialist at American River College. “Parents, often – they have two or three jobs to support because it’s a low-paying job.”

The report recommends creating more work permit programs for students, as well as more college scholarships and apprenticeship opportunities.

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