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California To Expand Alternative Financial Aid Application To Students From Mixed-Status Families
Since the new FAFSA launched on Dec. 30, 2023, the form has only been available for short periods of time. That changed this week. On Tuesday, the U.S. Education Department said applicants will now have 24-hour access.
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Screenshot by NPR
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Topline:
The California Student Aid Commission announced Tuesday that they will offer an alternative financial aid application option for students who are U.S. citizens but have at least one parent without a Social Security number.
Why it matters: These students will use the California Dream Act Application to apply for financial aid to attend a University of California, California State University or California Community Colleges campus.
The backstory: In recent months, the new online Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, has been plagued with delays and problems. U.S. citizens from mixed-status families have faced logistical challenges with the new application. Although the U.S. Department of Education said these issues had been fixed for students from mixed-status families, some have continued to face problems.
What's next: All students have until May 2 to complete a Dream Act application or FAFSA to meet California’s priority deadline.
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