(a) The California Student Opportunity and Access Program is administered by the commission. (b) (1) The commission may apportion funds on a progress payment schedule for the support of projects designed to increase the accessibility of postsecondary educational opportunities and financial aid for pupils from underserved communities who meet one or more of the following criteria: (A) Pupils who are from low-income families. (B) Pupils who would be the first in their families to attend a postsecondary educational institution. (C) Pupils who are from schools or geographic regions with documented low postsecondary education eligibility or participation rates. (D) Pupils who are homeless youth and former homeless youth, as defined in subdivision (b) of Section 66025.9, or who are at risk of becoming homeless. (E) Pupils who are from mixed immigration status households or who themselves are immigrants. (F) Pupils who are current or former foster youth. As used in this paragraph, âcurrent or former foster youthâ means a person whose dependency was established or continued by the court on or after the date on which the person reached 13 years of age. (G) Pupils who identify as being LGBTQ+. (H) Pupils who have a disability. (I) Pupils who are part of a historically underserved minority group. (2) The commission shall allocate up to 2 percent of funding appropriated for this program for program administration, data collection, and evaluation. Any funds allocated for these purposes are not subject to the match funding requirements of this article. (c) These projects shall primarily do all of the following: (1) Increase the availability of information for these pupils on the existence of postsecondary education, the total cost of attending a postsecondary educational institution, and financing options, including grants, scholarships, student loans, and work opportunities. (2) Increase the number of pupils submitting completed financial aid applications, including the FAFSA or the CADAA, and assist pupils as needed with the financial aid verification process. (3) Hire undergraduate or graduate students to serve as college success coaches to actively mentor pupils, encourage a college-going culture, help pupils plan for their postsecondary education, and help pupils complete a FAFSA or a CADAA for financial aid consideration. Projects should aim to hire college success coaches with similar backgrounds as pupils described in paragraph (1) of subdivision (b). (d) Projects may assist community college students in transferring to four-year postsecondary educational institutions, and students in their first year at four-year postsecondary educational institutions, to the extent that project resources are available. (e) Projects may provide assistance to middle school pupils described in paragraph (1) of subdivision (b) and their parents or guardians by implementing outreach efforts designed to inform them of the future availability of and access to postsecondary education financial assistance as a means of motivating pupils to stay in school and complete college preparatory courses. (f) Projects shall provide assistance to high school pupils described in paragraph (1) of subdivision (b) and their parents or guardians by providing information on college preparation and on understanding the total cost of attending a postsecondary educational institution, and by assisting with completion of financial aid applications. Projects are encouraged to leverage commission outreach efforts, such as Cash for College workshops, to assist their students with completing the FAFSA or the CADAA. (g) Projects shall promote the value of career technical education, available career programs in public schools and postsecondary segments with sequenced courses beginning in high school and continuing into postsecondary education, and the resulting career opportunities. (h) Each project shall establish or strengthen regional collaborative relationships and partners
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