California Student Opportunity and Access Program.

Existing law establishes the Student Aid Commission and assigns to it numerous duties with respect to student financial aid programs, including administration of the Student Opportunity and Access Program. Under this program, the commission may apportion funds for the support of projects designed to increase accessibility of postsecondary educational opportunities for certain elementary and secondary school pupils. Existing law requires each project to be proposed and operated through a consortium, as specified, and requires at least 30% or the equivalent of each project grant to be allocated for stipends to peer advisers and tutors meeting specified criteria. This bill, among other things, would instead authorize the commission to apportion funds under the program to projects designed to increase accessibility of postsecondary educational opportunities and financial aid for pupils from underserved communities who meet specified criteria. The bill would impose additional requirements on projects receiving funding, including requiring projects to provide assistance to those pupils from underserved communities who are enrolled in high school 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. The bill would require every consortium operating a project to allocate at least 30% or the equivalent of each project grant to college success coaches and for any costs associated with providing training or necessary supplies and equipment to the college success coaches who meet specified criteria. Existing law authorizes the initial grant for a proposed new project in an area that has demonstrated need for services provided by the Student Opportunity and Access Program to be used for planning and development and requires full project grant funding to be allocated when specified criteria are met. This bill would repeal these provisions.