Embedded Files
California Dream Act Application (CADAA)
California Dream Act Application (CADAA)
Completion of the CADAA is required to determine financial aid for California AB540 eligible students. The application will be processed by the California Student Aid Commission. The application, like the FAFSA, opens on October 1 and students are encouraged to apply early. See http://www.csac.ca.gov/dream.act.asp.
Note: The videos show a CADAA application from a couple years ago - Seniors - class of 2024- be sure to complete the 2024-2025 CADAA!
Click on the link above to start your CADAA
California Dream Act Application (CADAA)
California Dream Act Application (CADAA)
Students who are not U.S. Citizens, National or Permanent residents or do not fulfill the FAFSA requirements and who are *AB 540 Eligible (see AB540 below) will apply for financial aid using the CADAA.
The 2024-20225 CADAA is slated to open in December 2023 - Submit by March 2, 2024
The DREAM Act Application is unique to California and allows students interested in attending college in California to apply for state financial aid, regardless of immigration status and/or documentation.
In addition, the California Dream Act, allows eligible students to pay in-state tuition at any public college in California.
Male Students must complete the Selective Service Form
You can print the form (link above) or get a copy at your local post office
AB540 Requirements
AB540 Requirements
California Nonresident Tuition Exemption Education Code commonly known as AB 540 allows certain students from paying nonresident tuition (higher than resident tuition) and allows them to apply for different types of California Dream Act financial aid.
Students Must Have
Satisfaction of either of the following:
High School attendance in California for three or more years.
Attained credits earned in California from a California high school equivalent to three (3) or more years of fulltime high school course work and attended a combination of elementary, middle and/or high schools in California for a total of three (3) or more years, or a combination of those schools. or
Attained credits earned at a California adult school, or
Attained credits at a California Community College, or
A combination of the schools listed above.
Graduated or will graduate from a California high school, or
Attained a General Education Development (GED), High School Equivalency Test (HiSET), Test Assessing Secondary Completion (TASC), or
Attained an associate degree from a California Community College, or
Fulfilled the minimum transfer requirements to transfer from a California Community College to a University of California or California State University, and
Will register or enroll in an accredited and qualifying California college or university, and
If applicable, complete the affidavit stating that you will legalize your immigration status as soon as you are eligible, and
Do not hold a valid non-immigrant visa (A, B, C, D, E, F, J, H, L, etc.) *
**If you have Temporary Protected Status or hold a U Visa you are eligible
AB 1899 allows U and T visa holders to also apply for state financial aid. (T visa holders should file a FAFSA, U visa holders should file a CA Dream Act Application)
If you meet the requirements above, you should complete the CA Dream Act Application for financial aid. (A certified GPA is also necessary for Cal Grant consideration.)
Your college is responsible for verifying your AB 540 eligibility. Check with your Admissions Office early in the summer before the Fall Term starts.
What are the non-resident exemption requirements under AB 540?
What are the non-resident exemption requirements under AB 540?
Students must meet all four (4) requirements to be eligible:
High school attendance in California for three or more years, OR
Attainment of credits earned in California from a California high school equivalent to three or more years of full-time high school coursework and a total of three or more years of attendance in California elementary schools, California secondary schools, or a combination of those schools.
Graduation from a California high school or the equivalent (GED, HiSET, TASC)
Register or enroll in an accredited and qualifying California college or university
Submit a signed “Non-Resident Exemption” Request
Materials Needed to Complete the 2024-2025 CA Dream Act Application
Materials Needed to Complete the 2024-2025 CA Dream Act Application
Student
If you had a job in 2022, you will need your W-2 forms
Access to bank account statement information
List of colleges you are interested in attending
Parent or Legal Guardian
Parent’s 2022 income tax returns
Parent’s marital status and date of marriage, separation, divorce or widowed (month/year)
Parents’ date of birth (month/day/year)
Any records of untaxed income such as welfare benefits, social security benefits, or child support payments
Who’s The Parent When Filling Out CADAA?
Who’s The Parent When Filling Out CADAA?
If you are considered a dependent student for CADAA purposes, you will need to provide information about your legal parent(s) on the application.
A legal parent is your biological or adoptive parent, or your legal parent as determined by the state.
If your parents are divorced or separated and don’t live together, answer the questions about the parent with whom you lived with more during the past 12 months.
If you have a stepparent currently married to your legal parent, you generally also must provide information about him or her.
What if I live with someone other than my parents?
It doesn’t matter if you don’t live with your parent or parents; you still must report information about them. The following people are not your parents unless they have legally adopted you: grandparents, foster parents, legal guardians, older brothers or sisters, uncles or aunts, and widowed stepparents.
https://studentaid.gov/sites/default/files/who-is-my-parent.png
CADAA TIPS
CADAA TIPS
Use full legal name on financial aid application and college application, make sure matches high school student information system (Aeries).
Selective Service: If you are a male, aged 18 to 26, you must register with Selective Service. Failure to register will make you ineligible for state student aid.
After the CADAA: What Happens Next?
After the CADAA: What Happens Next?
Make Sure Your CADAA Form Was Processed
Make Sure Your CADAA Form Was Processed
After receiving your completed application, CSAC will analyze your CA Dream Act Application information and, using a formula established by Congress, calculate an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) for you. The results of your application will be sent to the schools you list on your application.
You can check your application status by going to www.caldreamact.org. If you filed a paper CA Dream Act Application, you can check the status 28 days from the date you mail the application. Another way to check the status of your application is by calling CSAC.
Please Note: If you need to make changes to your application information, go to www.caldreamact.org. You will then be given the option to make any necessary changes or corrections. However, you must not make any changes to income or asset information if that information was correct at the time you submitted your original application. Such information represents a “snapshot” of your family’s financial strength and should not be updated.
Questions? Contact CSAC Student Support - 1- 888-224-7268
Resources
Resources
Nicole Cancilla - PHS College & Career Counselor - ncancillakopf@srcs.k12.ca.us
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