SACRAMENTO — The California State Assembly passed AB 402, authored by Assemblymember Dr. Darshana Patel (D-San Diego County). This bill, which increases the Cal Grant aid size for low and middle-income students attending private nonprofit colleges, received bipartisan support and is now moving to the Senate.
The Cal Grant program provides financial aid to students based on merit and need. Since its inception in 2001, the amount granted to students attending private nonprofits has dropped by 4%, while awards for UC and CSU students have risen by 274% and 224%, respectively. The huge funding difference ignores the role that private nonprofits play in facilitating upward mobility; 39% of low-income students who attend them rise to the top 20% of income earners.
AB 402 returns the maximum Cal Grant level for students attending private nonprofit colleges to what the legislature first envisioned over 20 years ago. This will ensure that students have agency and abundant educational opportunities.
“Every student deserves the opportunity to choose the college that best supports their goals, regardless of income or background,” said Assemblymember Dr. Patel. “AB 402 restores fairness to the Cal Grant system and removes barriers that have prevented low-income students from accessing schools where they can thrive.”
AB 402 is sponsored by the Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities (AICCU) and backed by the California Chamber of Commerce, the San Diego Community College District, and over two dozen education and equity organizations.
“AB 402 restores fairness to the Cal Grant program and expands access for low-income, first-generation, and nontraditional students,” said Kristen Soares, President of AICCU. “By including private nonprofits in transfer entitlements and raising the award amount, this bill removes barriers and strengthens California’s commitment to college affordability. We commend Assemblymember Patel for championing this effort on behalf of the students we serve.”
