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Bill Cirone: Cal Grants Help Lower- and Middle-Income Families
For a great many students in California there has sadly been very little incentive to do well in school.
Although some of these students still summon the inner motivation to study hard and do well in school, many others are handicapped by this motivation barrier. It’s easy to see why the typical stresses and distractions of adolescents can loom larger for those who see no promise of any academic advancement in the future.
More than 40 years ago, California set a goal of providing access to higher education for low- and middle-income students. That goal became a reality with the passage of funding for Cal Grants. These are cash awards for college aid.
The deadline for application this year is March 2.
Cal Grant A provides full tuition and fees at a University of California or California State University campus, or $9,700 per year toward tuition at a private university. These funds are provided to high school graduates with a 3.0 (B) or higher grade-point average whose maximum income ranges from $28,000 for recipients who are independent to $88,300 for students from a family of six or more.
Cal Grant B provides $1,551, enough money for fees, books, and some living expenses at a community college, or tuition at a CSU campus. Cal Grant B students must have a 2.0 (C) or higher grade-point average with a maximum income of $40,200 for a family of four.
Cal Grant B Competitive Awards are for students with a minimum 2.0 GPA who are from disadvantaged and low-income families. These awards can be used for tuition, fees and access costs at qualifying schools whose programs are at least one year in length. A Cal Grant B Competitive Award can only be used for access costs in the first year, including living expenses, transportation, supplies and books. Beginning with the second year, the Cal Grant B Competitive Award can be used to help pay tuition and fees at public or private four-year colleges or other qualifying schools.
It’s clear that the availability of these grants has had the potential to change lives. It provides students with the motivation to focus even harder on their studies. If students do their part and earn good grades, money will no longer be a barrier to higher education.
This has been a landmark accomplishment and it has spurred many students to work hard in school and fulfill their family’s dreams and their own potential.
With all these programs in place, the state has made a strong commitment to higher education and accessibility for students. We will all reap the benefits of an educated workforce and an educated consumer base that can attain the job skills to earn the money to afford the goods and services produced by our economy. Truly these grants are a win-win situation for all.
Click here for more Information about the grants.
Bill Cirone is Santa Barbara County’s superintendent of schools.
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» on 02.05.09 @ 02:09 AM
I wonder under the years of Bill Cirone’s leadership if there is any demonstrable evidence that the County Office of Education has contributed to the improvement of performance by inner city students. My very strong suspicion is that if the county office disappeared tomorrow the lives of these kids would not change. In fact, if the money went to the schools instead of the county office these children would benefit. The County office is an administrative organization, not a leader or policy influencer.
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» on 02.05.09 @ 10:51 AM
Satirical “Interested” Citizen
Don’t I wonder under any years of anyone’s leadership if there is any demonstrable evidence that any Office:
>>> Federal, State, County, City, or any known Governmental Office even so called Charters
...of Services:
>>> Military, Police, Fire, Health, or even Education
...has contributed to the improvement of performance by inner city people:
>>> What People?
...including all the Adults and Kids (alike) including so called students.
My “MOTHER” (quote from Sadam Hussein – not related to a Chicago Lawyer) of all suspicions is that if any Governmental Office disappeared tomorrow the lives of all these Kids (Adults alike) would not change – by mentality alone.
By Law, if any want MONEY directly to these said Local Offices instead of other Governmental Office, these people would benefit more. Any Governmental Office is an Administrative Organization, never a leader or policy influencer – because the same Local Community did not VOTE leaders who designed these Systems.
REASONS (can be plural): They are called Checks as well as Balances that will not cause Rebellion or Chaos as to provide for Everyone in our most idiotic dilemmas of a Budget drenched out because “I DID NOT KNOW” going to “WAR” will take a toll on my “REPUTATION” lowering my “HOUSING” price so that I can lower paying “TAXES” so that no “REVENUES” will be received by these local “AGENCIES”, most importantly “SCHOOLS.”
I will complain to confuse matters most because I cannot get what I want. I do not pay the price of my own decisions but when the times get weary, I look for someone else to complain…!
Sorry, for I did not learn that I need those services because I AM AMERICA.
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» on 02.06.09 @ 08:22 PM
“For a great many students in California there has sadly been very little incentive to do well in school.”
Exactly, Mr. Cirone, your school system is, “sadly,” failing our children. “There has sadly been very little” child-centered education, hands-on methodology, authentic assessment, any engagement, any relevance to the child’s life, very little community, no celebration.
“There has sadly been very little incentive” to want to go to school, to want to learn, listen, experiment, and figure things out, to want to do more research, to find and follow a blissful path.
“Doing well in school” means learning how to do well on tests, to do as you are told, to conform, be quiet, and interact with a book instead of googling to the outer ends of the universe.
If you think that the low socio-economic sector of our society is failing in school because they don’t think they’ll have money to go to college, you are “sadly” mistaken.
You beat the joy of learning out of them; you fail to hellp tehm understand, you refuse to test them for learning disabilities or support their learning differences and style.
Shame on you, Mr. Cirone. None of your county programs offer democratic, engaged, and relevant education.
Instead of pushing Cal Grants, why not provide the incentive by giving the millions that you waste? Check out the incentives to graduate one year early by giving them community college scholarships (http://www.yankeeinstitute.org).
Good schools have the stude3nts running to school, enjoying class, loving learning throughout life. You have failed our children—-abused some of them—-and betrayed our trust.
Progressive districts are giving incentives to students by teaching them so that they want to go to school—-money is not the problem; management is.
Cough up your credit card statements, Cirone, or resign before you’re indicted.
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» on 02.06.09 @ 10:17 PM
Complaining about the system can only prove what I kept saying, the same people who kicked me out of school ends up costing us more.
I now know who wrote my letter. As they say in Latin:
PARA BELLUM
If wanting peace or the pax, we all need to act as if it is like war. In our turbulent times, I can now prove who was responsible - when in Rome, do what the Romans would.
This is not Bill Ceroni but if you want to complain about his position, take the 101 North and connect to the 5 North. Sacramento is 7 hours away better suited to help you.
If a teacher looses Consortium in being forced to resigned, I have a the SBTA to pay responsibility by taking the UTLA out here, the likes everyone is going to play guilty – I can because it is question of business CTA has no claim for neglecting.
Cease and desist, injunctions, subpoena, restraining orders are all the same concept. They are writs of mandamus everyone feels so much entitlements on.
The more we complaining during times of strife, some of us are asking haste upon such strife. This is called STOP. The whole eyes of the nation will now fall because of not thinking what we are suppose to do.
Where is the psychologist this time? I wrote the satirical piece because my perspective of everyone wanting their own way. This the same MATH TEACHER who got a “forced resignation” from DPHS. I see how the whole thing works.
Salus.
[Note to Editor: If ever taking this out by claiming nonsensical postings, I am saying the issues have been neglected; dated 02/07/2009 for my reference. Disclaim this one. You have taken at least one of my post for reasons of I do not know. Psychologize that.]
[Editor’s note: If only I had the time to try to figure out what you’re trying to say. But I don’t. What I’m trying to say is, look, this is the Internet so do yourself and our readers a favor and just be direct and concise. I know I appreciate to-the-point comments and I suspect most of our readers do as well. Thanks.]
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» on 02.07.09 @ 06:29 AM
I want my job back NOW. There is no process involved. We will talk about my sacrafices later. I skipped out of taking the LSATs today because it is actually raining and by using the “internet” for reasons of psychology of Editor’s time, I figured the whole thing now.
Any one wanting to know, ask me directly because parts of the law called Libel and Slander prevents me and will penalize everyone for blabbing things out. Like I said - I WANT MY JOB NOW. The Santa Barbara School Districts needs to do this NOW. Waiting to figure things out will cost me MONEY and cost EVERYONE THEIR OWN RETIREMENTS.
I HAVE EVERYONE WRITTEN OUT.
[Editor Note: I wrote the Enterprise Stories and Bob Noel also thinks I’m Rob Kuznia. No, Thank You.]
[Editor’s note: And ... these postings are intended to help you get a job?]
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» on 02.07.09 @ 09:07 AM
No but at the least, it will curve out people’s idea of reading. Need to read between the lines. I’m completely sane, maaaaaaan - just as long as those posting with uber words that go off on tangent goes away ‘B’ cause, as the Title says:
Cal Grants Help Lower- and Middle-Income Families.
That was the message. Posting coherence helps that - to actually apply for a GRANT even in the the most deficit of tempos - to do it.
Say, do you have that job or not?
[Editor’s Note (supplemental): He goes away, teachers will stop reading. Let’s keep him posting and sucker the heck out of ads to make a killing. Chu chu POW. How you likes me NOW. This may go both ways as: Noted Editor.]
PEACE = PAX >>> pleased to be axed…?!?
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