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District counselors to push FAFSA/KADA and CalKID guidance as seniors prepare for college and trade school
Summary
Student wellness staff advised high school families to complete FAFSA or the California Dream Act (CADAA/KADA) applications early, described key federal and state grants and scholarships and highlighted CalKID accounts for eligible children born after July 1, 2022.
Martina Beach Hedges, assistant director for student wellness and support services, urged all high school seniors to complete the FAFSA or the California Dream Act (CADAA/KADA). She explained that FAFSA (federal) and CADAA (state) determine eligibility for aid such as Pell grants, work-study, subsidized and unsubsidized loans, and Cal Grants.
"We ask in California that all students, all high school students, high school seniors, complete this application either the FAFSA or the KADA," Hedges said, adding counselors and college-and-career readiness teachers (CCRTs) will be trained and will help families with the process.
Hedges stressed timeline management: tax-year information from the prior year will be required and families should create required accounts (FSA ID/CCGI) ahead of open dates. She said district staff monitor updates to federal timelines and will post current dates on the district website once finalized.
On scholarships, Hedges listed common sources (Cal Grant, college promise fee waivers, private and corporate scholarships including Gates and Coca-Cola) and advised families to use scholarship search platforms, build a student portfolio and never pay to apply for scholarships.
Hedges also described CalKID, a state program established in 2022 that can hold small scholarship funds for eligible California-born public school students. She asked parents of children born after July 1, 2022, to check eligibility by SSID and noted higher awards may be available for foster or homeless youth.
The presentation included Q&A on volunteer opportunities and counselor training; Hedges said counselor positions require credentials but volunteers can support school-based outreach and that district trainings for counselors and CCRTs will be scheduled.
