Cal Grants on chopping block

Even with the passage of Propositions 57 and 58, which Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said are necessary for him to balance the budget, student grants for college face a grim future.

With the March 2 deadline to file for Cal Grants quickly approaching, now is the time for students to finalize their paperwork and hope for the best. Cal Grants have been providing the opportunity for students to attend college, private and public, for the past eight years. But the state budget crisis has put Cal Grant funding in jeopardy. Cal Grants are funded by the state and have been a guarantee in the past for students who need the grants to fund their education. The state’s student aid program may soon undergo a major change.

Schwarzenegger’s proposed budget will cut more than $30 million for the 2004-2005 school year budget in state grants to college students seeking financial aid to attend private schools.

Under the Governor’s proposal the Cal Grant program will decrease by about 44 percent. According to the California Student Aid Commission, a student may currently receive a maximum of $9,708 a year when awarded a Cal Grant. However, with the new budget proposal, a student will receive a maximum of $5,482 starting next school year. A private school student would only be receiving roughly $500 more than a student attending a state school. Some private schools may have to cut admissions and services.

State schools will also face harsh changes. It is expected that 10 percent, or approximately 7,000 of UC and Cal State students will be rerouted to community colleges. However, these schools have limited funds and cannot absorb all of these students.

The state of California is known for providing an affordable education to any person in the state that wants to go to college. If the state wants to sustain this tradition the new budget proposal will have to be carefully rethought.

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