69560.
The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
(a) Lack of information about postsecondary educational opportunities and financial aid are primary barriers to postsecondary education for pupils from schools that have low college eligibility and participation rates.
(b) Since its inception in 1978, the California Student Opportunity and Access Program (Cal-SOAP) has focused on increasing the availability of information and improving college access to postsecondary education for historically underserved student populations by creating a college-going culture, focusing
on financial aid application completion, and coordinating student outreach efforts.
(c) The intersegmental consortium nature of the program has proven to be a highly effective mechanism in coordinating existing services and in fostering the cooperation of the various education segments and partner organizations involved.
(d) An essential core of state funding for the program is required to maintain its intersegmental character, which has generated better communication, understanding, and teamwork resulting in a high-impact collective effort, while minimizing duplication of services in a geographic area.
(e) Research demonstrates that many students do not have the financial means to cover the increasing costs of postsecondary education
or access to adequate financial aid. Cal-SOAP projects assist pupils in becoming knowledgeable about education costs and financing options, including student financial aid, as they prepare to attain a postsecondary education.
(f) Cal-SOAP projects employ college students from historically underserved communities to serve as college success coaches. This is a cost-effective method to provide information and assistance regarding postsecondary education costs and financial aid opportunities to pupils from schools that have low postsecondary education eligibility and participation rates.
(g) Awareness of financial aid options has historically been a barrier for first-generation students and students from minority backgrounds trying to access a postsecondary education. Research shows that students are widely unaware of their financial aid options and have misconceptions of financial aid eligibility, leading many to not complete the financial aid process.
(h) The COVID-19 health pandemic has only exacerbated the challenges associated with declining rates of postsecondary education enrollment and financial aid application submissions for low-income and first-generation students. Students are in dire need of information and support to help them navigate the college-going process during these uncertain times.
(i) There is a critical need to modernize Cal-SOAP
to focus on providing financial aid information and assistance with completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the California Dream Act Application (CADAA) to promote college opportunities for low-income and underserved students. Additionally, project staff assist students and families with overall financial aid literacy to help them make the best possible decisions in financing their postsecondary education.
(Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 575, Sec. 2. (SB 737) Effective January 1, 2022.)