Lawmakers in the state of California are actively revamping their higher education system. On Friday, Governor Gavin Newsom signed a bill that would provide emergency grants for community college students to help them continue their studies.
Assembly Bill 943, introduced by David Chiu (D-San Francisco), will allow the use of Budget Act for the Student Equity and Achievement Program for an unforeseen financial emergency such as eviction, sudden illness, or the death of a family member.
“With the cost of education as high as it is, many students are just one financial crisis away from being forced to drop out of school,” said Assemblymember Chiu.
“We want to give students who experience an emergency a bit of stability so they can continue their studies.”
The bill would authorize community colleges to administer the emergency grant to help students continue their school without affecting their overall college experience and increasing student success, retention, and completion rates.
“AB 943 will offer colleges access to impactful resources to keep community college students on campus and on the path to transfer or earning their degree or credential,” said Robert C. Ballard, president, and CEO of Scholarship America.
The bill was supported by the City College of San Francisco Faculty Union, AFT 2121, Los Rios College Federation of Teachers, AFT 2279, California Federation of Teachers and Faculty Association of California Community Colleges (FACCC).
Last month, Gov. Newsom signed the historic The Fair Pay to Play Act allowing student-athletes to receive payments directly from a private or commercial source for their name, image, and likeness.
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