Next Level
Helping students reach their educational goals.
Changes to the FAFSA unlock aid for thousands of students. Here’s how.
Changes to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) mean greater access for students to get free money for college while making it less confusing and faster to complete the form. These changes also mean thousands of additional students will now be eligible to receive up to $7,395 in federal grant money that does not have to repaid.
Among other things, the FAFSA has fewer questions and allows for a higher share of responses to be pulled directly from a federal income tax return. In addition, the changes expand the Federal Pell Grant to more students and link eligibility to family size and the federal poverty level. These changes are expected to boost the number of Pell Grant recipients by an estimated 500,000.
Here are a few other pertinent points about the changes:
More in-language resources and support. Resources for completing the FAFSA form will be expanded to the 11 most common languages spoken in the U.S.
Added flexibility. Students who face unexpected circumstances such as a loss of household income, a change in their housing situation or inability to provide parental financial information can contact their local college financial aid office, where staff will now have more flexibility in adjusting a student’s eligibility based on those factors.
Keep an eye out for the opening of the 2024-25 FAFSA in December 2023 and encourage all students to complete the form, even if they do not think they will qualify. In fact, Assembly Bill 469 requires high schools in California to verify that all seniors have completed a financial aid application or an opt-out form.
Students should submit their FAFSA early to be eligible for the most aid possible, as deadlines for federal, state and college-based aid vary. For more information about financial aid and a step-by-step guide for completing the FAFSA, visit ICanGoToCollege.com. The website is available in English, Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese and Korean.
I CAN Campaign Launches a Student Speakers Bureau
The I Can Go To College Campaign (I CAN) is launching a student speakers bureau with a multiethnic group of current and former students sharing about how their experience at a California community college changed their life.
Student speakers can offer high school students of all ages a relatable way to get immediate answers to their questions about the application process, financial aid and scholarships, dual enrollment, student support services and more. We know peer-to-peer information is important, which is why we invite you to reach out to arrange for one of our students to lead a presentation and discussion on your campus.
Please contact Project Manager Mark Perry at markjperry75@outlook.com today for further information and to schedule one of our student speakers to visit your school.
Support For All Students at California’s Community Colleges
When students step onto a California community college campus, they have access to a web of support that includes campus pantries with free groceries for those who don’t have enough to eat; the NextUp program for current and former foster youth; the CalWORKS public assistance program; undocumented student resource centers; immigration legal services; Extended Opportunities Programs and Services (EOPS); the Umoja and Puente communities to empower Black and Brown students; Disabled Student Services and Programs; mental health counseling and crisis intervention and more.
Additionally, dozens of California community colleges are being awarded grants to build affordable, on-campus student housing to provide options for those in need. Currently, there are 14 college districts that offer rapid emergency rehousing programs for students who are sleeping in their car or on the street, or are in imminent danger of becoming homeless.
The impact has been profound. Just listen to one formerly unhoused San Diego City College student whose life changed through the Welcome Home City program:
“The Welcome Home City program put me in touch with resources to help – they helped me find a job, a place to stay and helped with my first and last month’s rent. They got me back on my feet. Now I have a place to stay, I’m still in school, I’m working toward my associate degree and they still keep in touch with me.”
We encourage you and your students to visit the ICanGoToCollege.com website for a list of colleges that offer on-campus housing. Students and their families are also encouraged to reach out to their local college’s basic needs coordinator to find out what emergency housing funding and other resources are available.
If you have questions about the information shared in this newsletter or need help with an order of materials, please contact Project Manager Amanda Davis at amandajdavis10@gmail.com.
December 2023 Newsletter
Read and share this important information with your high school students, their families, and your colleagues. Stay up to date on upcoming deadlines and new opportunities, academic and support programs, and much more.
It’s Not Too Late for High School Students to Take Dual Enrollment Classes this Spring
There is still time for high school students to take advantage of the dual enrollment classes offered at their local community college this spring. Interested high school students should visit the ICanGoToCollege.com website to get connected with the community college of their choice where they can then select the college website and search listings of available classes.
Dual enrollment offers high school students the opportunity to take classes to earn credit toward their college degree or certificate. In many cases, credit for dual enrollment courses can also count toward a student’s high school diploma. This can save students hundreds, if not thousands of dollars in higher education costs and significantly reduce the time it takes to earn a college degree. In addition, dual enrollment courses offer students the opportunity to explore majors, even some they may not have considered before, and help them become better prepared for college. The popularity of dual enrollment has grown substantially through the College and Career Access Pathways program, where most high school students as early as their freshman year and at least 14 years or older can take free community college courses.
Community college short-term and late-start classes begin at different times throughout the semester and offer the same number of credits in a more condensed timeframe. These classes are ideal for students looking for flexibility in their schedules and who want to get a jump start on earning their college degree or certificate while saving time and money.
Studies show students who have completed dual enrollment courses are more likely to enroll in college at higher rates upon completing high school. Many students are eligible for tuition-free dual enrollment courses at their local community college, so please encourage them to check out what’s available and consider enrolling now for the spring.
For additional information and for a list of colleges searchable by ZIP code, please visit the dual enrollment webpage on ICanGoToCollege.com or use the college locator tool.
Check out our dual enrollment video below and please share it with your students and parents.
Black Student Success Week Returning in April
Black Student Success Week returns to California community college campuses in April with daily systemwide webinars and on-campus discussions featuring critical information about campus-based resources.
The annual effort contributes to growing enrollment among Black and African American students on community college campuses. In fact, Black student enrollment was up by 5.3% in the fall of 2022 compared to the previous fall, with growth continuing through the spring of 2023 when Black and African American enrollment increased by 10% compared to the previous spring.
California’s community colleges offer transfer pathways with guaranteed admission to more than 30 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), allowing students myriad opportunities to complete their undergraduate degree journey.
Stay tuned for more information on Black Student Success Week in upcoming newsletters so you can share the information with your students!
Free I CAN Informational Materials Coming Soon
The I CAN campaign is excited to offer new informational materials to high schools free of charge beginning in December. High school counselors are encouraged to order and share these new materials with students and their parents.
The materials cover a variety of topics, including:
Enrollment Timeframes and Access to the Systemwide Application
Student Support Services
Guaranteed Transfer to Participating Four-Year Universities
Dual Enrollment
Dual Admission
Financial Aid
Career Education Training Programs
Community College Bachelor’s Degree Programs
Sample materials will be mailed to all public and private high schools in California along with instructions on how to order additional quantities that will be shipped free of charge.
In addition to hardcopies, all informational materials are available in a digital format that can be co-branded with your school’s logo, name and/or URL.
We are also pleased to offer a limited quantity of promotional items, such as pens, notebooks, folders, T-shirts and water bottles, you can use for student giveaways at rallies, college and career fairs and other special events.
Visit ICanGoToCollege.com for a full listing of campaign resources and be on the lookout this month for your mailing of sample materials and instructions on how to set-up your account.
December 2023 Newsletter
Read and share this important information with your high school students, their families, and your colleagues. Stay up to date on upcoming deadlines and new opportunities, academic and support programs, and much more.
Changes to the FAFSA unlock aid for thousands of students. Here’s how.
Changes to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) mean greater access for students to get free money for college while making it less confusing and faster to complete the form. These changes also mean thousands of additional students will now be eligible to receive up to $7,395 in federal grant money that does not have to repaid.
Among other things, the FAFSA has fewer questions and allows for a higher share of responses to be pulled directly from a federal income tax return. In addition, the changes expand the Federal Pell Grant to more students and link eligibility to family size and the federal poverty level. These changes are expected to boost the number of Pell Grant recipients by an estimated 500,000.
Here are a few other pertinent points about the changes:
More in-language resources and support. Resources for completing the FAFSA form will be expanded to the 11 most common languages spoken in the U.S.
Added flexibility. Students who face unexpected circumstances such as a loss of household income, a change in their housing situation or inability to provide parental financial information can contact their local college financial aid office, where staff will now have more flexibility in adjusting a student’s eligibility based on those factors.
Keep an eye out for the opening of the 2024-25 FAFSA in December 2023 and encourage all students to complete the form, even if they do not think they will qualify. In fact, Assembly Bill 469 requires high schools in California to verify that all seniors have completed a financial aid application or an opt-out form.
Students should submit their FAFSA early to be eligible for the most aid possible, as deadlines for federal, state and college-based aid vary. For more information about financial aid and a step-by-step guide for completing the FAFSA, visit ICanGoToCollege.com. The website is available in English, Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese and Korean.
It’s Not Too Late for High School Students to Take Dual Enrollment Classes this Spring
There is still time for high school students to take advantage of the dual enrollment classes offered at their local community college this spring. Interested high school students should visit the ICanGoToCollege.com website to get connected with the community college of their choice where they can then select the college website and search listings of available classes.
Dual enrollment offers high school students the opportunity to take classes to earn credit toward their college degree or certificate. In many cases, credit for dual enrollment courses can also count toward a student’s high school diploma. This can save students hundreds, if not thousands of dollars in higher education costs and significantly reduce the time it takes to earn a college degree. In addition, dual enrollment courses offer students the opportunity to explore majors, even some they may not have considered before, and help them become better prepared for college. The popularity of dual enrollment has grown substantially through the College and Career Access Pathways program, where most high school students as early as their freshman year and at least 14 years or older can take free community college courses.
Community college short-term and late-start classes begin at different times throughout the semester and offer the same number of credits in a more condensed timeframe. These classes are ideal for students looking for flexibility in their schedules and who want to get a jump start on earning their college degree or certificate while saving time and money.
Studies show students who have completed dual enrollment courses are more likely to enroll in college at higher rates upon completing high school. Many students are eligible for tuition-free dual enrollment courses at their local community college, so please encourage them to check out what’s available and consider enrolling now for the spring.
For additional information and for a list of colleges searchable by ZIP code, please visit the dual enrollment webpage on ICanGoToCollege.com or use the college locator tool.
Check out our dual enrollment video below and please share it with your students and parents.
I CAN Campaign Launches a Student Speakers Bureau
The I Can Go To College Campaign (I CAN) is launching a student speakers bureau with a multiethnic group of current and former students sharing about how their experience at a California community college changed their life.
Student speakers can offer high school students of all ages a relatable way to get immediate answers to their questions about the application process, financial aid and scholarships, dual enrollment, student support services and more. We know peer-to-peer information is important, which is why we invite you to reach out to arrange for one of our students to lead a presentation and discussion on your campus.
Please contact Project Manager Mark Perry at markjperry75@outlook.com today for further information and to schedule one of our student speakers to visit your school.
Black Student Success Week Returning in April
Black Student Success Week returns to California community college campuses in April with daily systemwide webinars and on-campus discussions featuring critical information about campus-based resources.
The annual effort contributes to growing enrollment among Black and African American students on community college campuses. In fact, Black student enrollment was up by 5.3% in the fall of 2022 compared to the previous fall, with growth continuing through the spring of 2023 when Black and African American enrollment increased by 10% compared to the previous spring.
California’s community colleges offer transfer pathways with guaranteed admission to more than 30 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), allowing students myriad opportunities to complete their undergraduate degree journey.
Stay tuned for more information on Black Student Success Week in upcoming newsletters so you can share the information with your students!
Support For All Students at California’s Community Colleges
When students step onto a California community college campus, they have access to a web of support that includes campus pantries with free groceries for those who don’t have enough to eat; the NextUp program for current and former foster youth; the CalWORKS public assistance program; undocumented student resource centers; immigration legal services; Extended Opportunities Programs and Services (EOPS); the Umoja and Puente communities to empower Black and Brown students; Disabled Student Services and Programs; mental health counseling and crisis intervention and more.
Additionally, dozens of California community colleges are being awarded grants to build affordable, on-campus student housing to provide options for those in need. Currently, there are 14 college districts that offer rapid emergency rehousing programs for students who are sleeping in their car or on the street, or are in imminent danger of becoming homeless.
The impact has been profound. Just listen to one formerly unhoused San Diego City College student whose life changed through the Welcome Home City program:
“The Welcome Home City program put me in touch with resources to help – they helped me find a job, a place to stay and helped with my first and last month’s rent. They got me back on my feet. Now I have a place to stay, I’m still in school, I’m working toward my associate degree and they still keep in touch with me.”
We encourage you and your students to visit the ICanGoToCollege.com website for a list of colleges that offer on-campus housing. Students and their families are also encouraged to reach out to their local college’s basic needs coordinator to find out what emergency housing funding and other resources are available.
Free I CAN Informational Materials Coming Soon
The I CAN campaign is excited to offer new informational materials to high schools free of charge beginning in December. High school counselors are encouraged to order and share these new materials with students and their parents.
The materials cover a variety of topics, including:
Enrollment Timeframes and Access to the Systemwide Application
Student Support Services
Guaranteed Transfer to Participating Four-Year Universities
Dual Enrollment
Dual Admission
Financial Aid
Career Education Training Programs
Community College Bachelor’s Degree Programs
Sample materials will be mailed to all public and private high schools in California along with instructions on how to order additional quantities that will be shipped free of charge.
In addition to hardcopies, all informational materials are available in a digital format that can be co-branded with your school’s logo, name and/or URL.
We are also pleased to offer a limited quantity of promotional items, such as pens, notebooks, folders, T-shirts and water bottles, you can use for student giveaways at rallies, college and career fairs and other special events.
Visit ICanGoToCollege.com for a full listing of campaign resources and be on the lookout this month for your mailing of sample materials and instructions on how to set-up your account.
If you have questions about the information shared in this newsletter or need help with an order of materials, please contact Project Manager Amanda Davis at amandajdavis10@gmail.com.