California needs 
Cal Grant Reform

Cal Grant Reform will open the doors to higher education to more than 130,000 low-income Californians

About Us

The Cal Grant Reform Coalition is a diverse coalition comprised of student leadership, higher education advocacy, civil rights, social justice, business and workforce organizations, labor groups, and postsecondary systems who are seeking to equitably reform California’s largest financial aid program. Our mission is to implement and fund the Cal Grant Reform Act so that California colleges and universities can be accessible and affordable to all students – especially historically underserved student populations.  

What is Cal Grant Reform

The Cal Grant Reform Act was adopted by the Legislature and the Governor in 2022, but not funded for implementation pending a “funding trigger” decision in 2024. This Reform would streamline the state’s largest financial aid program, replacing the existing Cal Grant program with a new version of the program that is easier to understand. Additionally, it would remove key eligibility barriers which are leaving out older, returning, and “non-traditional” students while also growing the grant award amount for community college recipient’s overtime. See more details with the below documents.

CAL GRANT REFORM

would expand financial aid access to enough to fill:

2.5

Dodgers Stadiums

CAL GRANT REFORM

would expand financial aid access to enough to fill:

1.5

Rose Bowl Stadiums

CAL GRANT REFORM

would expand financial aid access to enough to fill:

1.5

Disneylands

CAL GRANT REFORM

would expand financial aid access to enough to fill:

72

Santa Monica Piers

CAL GRANT REFORM

would expand financial aid access to enough to fill:

43

San Diego Zoos

CAL GRANT REFORM

would expand financial aid access to enough to fill:

100

Golden Gate Bridges

KEY DATES

*MAY 14th

Deadline

Governor to release the May Budget Revision ("May Revise").

On or Before May 14th

*JUNE 15th

Deadline

Budget Bill must be passed.

By midnight

Coalition Statement and Letters

The Cal Grant Reform Coalition Statement on California Governor Gavin Newsom’s Proposed Budget for FY 2024-25

Together, California can fulfill the promise made to students for a better Cal Grant program.



With the release of Governor Newsom’s proposed 2024-25 Budget, policymakers, advocates, and students brace for a potentially challenging budgetary landscape which projects a $38 billion shortfall. While The Cal Grant Reform Coalition understands the fiscal situation California is currently facing –budgets are a value statement and students are struggling with the ever rising costs of attending college.

Read the Statement

OUR MOVEMENT

Mikala Hutchinson
Student at Mira Costa College

OUR STORIES

Cal-Grant reform is important to me as a non-traditional student, I returned to high school at twenty-two years old with two young children, and I had to graduate with my diploma before qualifying for any financial aid.

This was difficult to navigate as childcare costs were high. Upon graduating my adult high school program there was still a delay in receiving my Cal-Grant and I utilized Cal-Grant funds to cover the high costs of childcare.

Cal-Grant makes it possible for me to attend college as a student parent, and I would not be graduating or transferring to Cal State Chico without the support of financial aid.

We’re all in for Cal grant reform!

JOIN OUR MOVEMENT

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© Cal Grant Coalition 2024

The Cal Grant Reform Coalition is a diverse coalition comprised of student leadership, higher education advocacy, civil rights, social justice, business and workforce organizations, labor groups, and postsecondary systems who are seeking to implement the Cal Grant Reform Act, which was adopted by the Legislature and the Governor in 2022.