California Code of Regulations › Title 5 - Education › Division 4 - California Student Aid Commission › Chapter 1 - California Student Aid Commission › Article 3.1 - Model Opt-Out Form for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (Fafsa) or the California Dream Act Application (Cadaa) Completion Requirement; and Model Acceptable Use Policy for Handling Personal Information › Appendix A

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 28, July 12, 2024
MODEL FAFSA or CADAA Opt-Out Form
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or
					 California Dream Act Application (CADAA) determines a pupil's eligibility for
					 financial aid to assist with a pupil's attendance at a college or career school.
					 California Education Code (CEC) §
										51225.7 requires
					 a local educational agency to confirm each 12th grade
					 pupil's completion and submission of a FAFSA or CADAA unless the pupil is determined
					 to be exempt or an opt-out form is completed by a pupil who is a legally emancipated
					 minor, a pupil who is 18 years or older, a legal guardian, or parent, or a local
					 educational agency on a pupil's behalf. This opt-out form permits a pupil to
opt out
of the completion of
					 a FAFSA or CADAA form.
To opt a pupil out of the Financial Aid Application requirement,
					 please complete this form and return it to your local high school counselor by the
					 date established at your local school district.
Submitting a
Financial Aid Application Opt-Out
					 Form
does not prohibit a pupil from completing and submitting a financial
					 aid application at any time in the future.
PUPIL INFORMATION
Pupil Name (First, Last)
Date of Birth (Month, Day, Year)
Statewide Student Identifier (SSID)
Option 1 - Pupil Authorization
							 (emancipated minor or age 18 or older):
By signing this form,
I have
							 read the information on the reverse, I understand what the FAFSA and CADAA are, and
							 I choose not to submit the completed financial aid application.
Pupil Signature
Pupil Printed Name
Date
Option 2 - Parent or Guardian
							 Authorization:
The pupil named on this form is under the age of 18. I am a
							 parent or legal guardian of the above-named pupil, and by signing this form
I
							 have read the information on the reverse, I understand what the FAFSA and CADAA are,
							 and I choose for my pupil not to submit the completed financial aid
							 application.
Parent/Guardian Signature
Parent/Guardian Printed Name
Date
Option 3 - Counselor
							 Authorization:
My signature below certifies that reasonable efforts to ensure
							 the pupil completed the FAFSA/CADAA application have been made, but I have
							 determined the pupil is unable to complete requirements of Education Code Section
							 51225.7.
Counselor Signature
Counselor Printed Name
Date
Frequently Asked Questions about the Free Application for
					 Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the California Dream Act Application
					 (CADAA)
"What is the FAFSA/CADAA?"
The Free Application for
					 Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the online application that allows a pupil to apply
					 simultaneously for federal student aid (including the Federal Pell Grant, work-study
					 opportunities, and federal student loans) and state financial aid such as the Cal
					 Grant program. Many colleges and universities use it for their aid programs, too.
					 The California Dream Act Application (CADAA) is a similar application that provides
					 a path for some pupil who do not qualify for federal aid to apply for state and
					 University-funded assistance. Applying for the FAFSA/CADAA could qualify you for
					 free money through federal, state and university grants and scholarships that help
					 cover the cost of your education.
"Do I need to have citizenship or DACA to apply for
					 financial aid?"
No, while you must be a citizen to apply for federal
					 financial aid through the FAFSA, the CADAA is available to any California student
					 that meets what is called "AB 540 criteria" that qualifies them for in-state tuition
					 rates at a University of California or California State University campus, as well
					 as state financial aid like the Cal Grant. Before deciding whether to apply, you can
					 check
https://www.csac.ca.gov/undocumented-dreamer-students
to understand if you might be eligible for financial aid.
"Isn't the application too long and difficult to
					 complete?"
Most applicants complete the FAFSA or CADAA in about 30 minutes.
					 If you have questions, talk to your school counselor. If you need assistance with
					 your application, sign up for a local "Cash for College Workshop" at:
https://www.cash4college.csac.ca.gov/
.
"If I want to learn a trade, can the FAFSA/CADAA still be
					 of assistance to me?"
The FAFSA/CADAA applications are not just for
					 California associate's or bachelor's degree programs! FAFSA applicants can receive
					 need-based Federal Pell grants, federal student loans, and other federal student aid
					 for technical, trade, and vocational programs. CADAA applicants also have state
					 financial aid opportunities at community colleges and at other schools and training
					 programs. Pupils can check with the school they want to attend or use the federal
					 government's online College Navigator tool to find out which institutions
					 participate in the programs:
https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/
"Does my family make too much money to benefit from the
					 FAFSA/CADAA?"
Financial aid is left on the table every year by pupils who
					 didn't apply because they erroneously thought they were ineligible. You really don't
					 know until you apply! Income and assets are factors in determining your eligibility,
					 but so are things like the number of pupils in the family who are in school and the
					 age of the parent(s). For pupils from families that
do
make too much to
					 qualify for need-based grant aid, the FAFSA/CADAA can still be helpful, since it is
					 used to determine eligibility for other federal and state financial aid such as the
					 Middle Class Scholarship, work-study programs, federal student loans (usually at
					 competitive rates and with more borrower protections than private loans, including
					 options for income-based repayment and forgiveness programs for some careers) DREAM
					 loans for CADAA applicants at UC and CSU campuses, and other types of aid. Your
					 college may offer aid based on your FAFSA/CADAA info too, and your eligibility may
					 be different depending on your school. Additionally, some scholarship programs use
					 information from the FAFSA/CADAA as part of the application process. As most
					 financial aid is awarded in date order based on FAFSA/CADAA filing date, it is a
					 very good idea to complete the application as early as possible. This "place in
					 line" can be used for opportunities that come up later, and also can be used if
					 family financial circumstances suddenly change.
"What if I don't want a student loan?"
Filing the
					 application
doesn't
commit you to anything. You'll just find out
					 whether you might be eligible for aid!
"How is the FAFSA/CADAA data protected"? "I don't want my
					 information sold, and I don't want my school to have it."
By law, your
					 personally identifiable Information (PII) in the FAFSA can only be used in
					 furtherance of administering financial aid, including research. Although your high
					 school will know whether you completed the FAFSA, it will not have access to the
					 information that you provide on your FAFSA. The California Student Aid Commission
					 (CSAC) released a joint statement with the California Department of Education
					 stating, "The information provided via the California Dream Act Application is used
					 solely to determine eligibility for state financial aid and isn't shared with the
					 federal government or used for immigration enforcement purposes. The CSAC will
					 protect this information to the fullest extent of the law." To read the full
					 statement, visit
https://www.csac.ca.gov/post/joint-message-california-department[1]education-and-california-student-aid-commission
"If I choose to file an application, how will I know that
					 my application is complete?"
Once you submit the FAFSA or the CADAA, you will
					 receive a confirmation of receipt at the email address you provided in the
					 application. This will allow you to demonstrate that you've met the requirement of
					 filing an application even if there are circumstances that will need to be addressed
					 with the college/university's financial aid office later.