AskMatty

California Dream Act

The California Dream Act of 2011 became law through the passage of Assembly Bills 130 and 131. AB 130 and AB 131 allow AB 540 students to apply for state and institutional grants, and privately funded scholarships.

What are the AB 540 requirements?

• The student must have attended a public or private high school in California for three or more years
• The student must have graduated from a California high school or attained the equivalent (e.g., passed the GED test or California High School Proficiency Exam) prior to the start of the term
• If the student is without lawful immigration status, he or she must file an AB 540 California Nonresident Tuition Exemption Request stating that he or she has filed an application to legalize his or her immigration status, or will file an application as soon as he or she is eligible. The AB 540 California Nonresident Tuition Exemption Request must be submitted to Admissions and Records.
• Nonimmigrant students are not eligible. Nonimmigrant students, as defined by federal immigration law, may hold one of the following visas: A, B, C ,D, E, F, G, H, U, J, K ,L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S,TN,TD, V, TROV and NATO.

What assistance is available to AB 540 students?

Certain scholarships are currently available to qualifying AB 540 students and grants will soon be made available. As of Jan. 1, 2012, AB 130 allows students who qualify to apply for scholarships that are not state funded. For more information on scholarships available, visit the "On-Campus Scholarships" section under Scholarships.

Beginning Jan. 1, 2013, AB 131 will allow qualifying students to receive state-funded financial aid, such as the Cal Grant, Chafee Grant, institutional grants and community college fee waivers. Eligible AB 540 Northridge students who apply now and complete the California Dream Act Application will be considered for State University Grant (SUG) funding in spring 2013. The California Student Aid Commission will begin awarding Cal Grants for fall 2013 based on the 2013-2014 California Dream Act Application.

How do I apply?

To apply for the programs available under AB 131, you will need to complete the California Dream Act Application. The application will collect basic personal and income information to determine eligibility for funding. While the application and processing begins April 2012, eligible Dream applicants will not receive their funding until after Jan. 1, 2013, when the law becomes effective.

Students will need to complete the California Dream Act Application every year to determine eligibility for state and institutional aid. Students should complete and submit an AB 540 California Nonresident Tuition Exemption Request in order to begin a review of eligibility.

The deadline for spring 2013 priority consideration is May 10, 2012.

Now that I've applied, what happens next?

The Financial Aid & Scholarship Department will begin awarding new freshmen and transfer students in early to mid-June 2012 for the spring 2013 term. Continuing students will be awarded in late June 2012 for the spring 2013 term.

Scholarships

• Educators for Fair Consideration
  
  
• Latino College Dollars
  
  
• Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund (MALDEF)
  
  
• The New Partnership Foundation
  
  
• Center for Higher Education Policy Analysis (CHEPA) at the University of Southern California and the Salvadoran American Leadership and Educational Fund (SALEF)
  
  
• Equal Opportunity Program
  
  

Guides

• Educators for Fair Consideration: "Financial Aid Guide for College-Bound Undocumented Students"
  
  
• National Korean American Service and Education Consortium (NAKASEC): "Access to Public Education Guide: Unlocking the Key to America's Future"
  
  
• USC Center for Higher Education Policy Analysis: "The College and Financial Aid Guide for AB540 Undocumented Immigrant Students"