CSAC to Present Free Interactive California Dream Act Day Video Event, Friday, April 20

High School Counselors, High School Seniors, College Students, College Campuses, Community Members & Parents Invited to Participate

RANCHO CORDOVA, Calif., April 18, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The California Student Aid Commission, California Cash for College, and statewide student and community organizations will host a statewide, interactive CollegeWeek Live virtual event, California Dream Act Day, Friday, April 20, 2012, from 9 A.M. to 6 P.M.  California Dream Act Day will assist high schools, college campuses, students, parents, and community members in applying for 2012-13 California Dream Act financial aid.

To participate in the CA Dream Act Day on 4/20 register at www.collegeweeklive.com/cacfc.  Students who register and attend the virtual event on 4/20 could receive one of two $500 Dream in Action scholarships.

"We are pleased to announce for the first time, California resident students can apply for institutional financial aid regardless of their immigration status," said Diana Fuentes-Michel, Commission Executive Director. "Students, parents, high schools, college campuses and communities are invited to participate in Friday's California Dream Act Day."

The California Dream Act of 2011 provides state financial aid to California students who meet the requirements for instate tuition under Assembly Bill 540. The Dream Act Application for 2012-13 was released by the California Student Aid Commission Monday, April 2, 2012.  More than 2,000 applications have been submitted since the application was released. 

California Dream Act Day this Friday, April 20, will provide live, interactive morning training sessions beginning at 9 A.M. for high school counselors, college campus staff and community members to learn about the new application. Beginning at noon, students will have a variety ways to participate in line by line sessions to apply for Dream Act Institutional Aid. Parents can also join these sessions which run until 6 p.m. Students or parents can participate in online chat sessions to have their questions answered.

Event partners include the California Dream Network, Office of Assemblyman Gil Cedillo, Coalition for Humane Rights of Los Angeles (CHIRLA), CollegeWeek Live, The Consulate General of Mexico in Sacramento, Educators for Fair Consideration, League of United Latin American Citizens, and the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce.

Organizers have created viewing events at campuses to participate in the CA Dream Act Day. Community College campuses include East Los Angeles, Fullerton, Glendale, City College of San Francisco, San Joaquin Delta, Santa Barbara City, and University of CA, Santa Barbara and Santa Cruz. High Schools include: Valley High in Sacramento, Franklin High in Los Angeles and many more.

Join the Facebook CA Dream Act Event page –  http://tiny.cc/CADreamActDay

Visit the California Student Aid Commission Dream Act Page at www.csac.ca.gov, or www.caldreamact.org

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 distributed over $1.3 billion to California's college students during the 2010-11 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