SACRAMENTO, Calif., May 27 /PRNewswire/ -- Breathing a sigh of relief, the California Student Aid Commission's chair expressed gratitude at the legislature's tentative approval of maintaining 2010-11 funding for Cal Grant student assistance.
According to Chair Barry Keene, a former legislator, "seemingly, both parties and the Governor are committed to keeping open pathways to higher education for capable students without the means to attend college on their own."
"This is a rare confluence, so far, of political forces normally at odds in these times. Why? Because everyone seems to agree that the economic future of California is dependent on skilled workers, creative talent, and informed citizens. Moreover, the struggling families of high school seniors are faced with a staggering 12.4% unemployment rate."
"Hopefully, student aid will not become a collateral victim of the painful budget choices yet to come."
The average Cal Grant recipient has a family income of $40,000 or less and a Grade Point Average of 3.0 or above.
The California Student Aid Commission is the principal state agency responsible for administering financial aid programs for students attending public and private universities, colleges, and vocational schools in California. The Commission will distribute over $1 billion to California's college students during the 2009-10 academic year through its Cal Grant, specialized and loan forgiveness programs. The Commission also administers financial aid awareness and outreach programs, such as Cal-SOAP and Cash for College, in collaboration with business, private industry and community-based organizations.
SOURCE California Student Aid Commission
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