<p>Under the new Sentate Bill 70, if a previous Cal Grant B student goes over the income ceiling by even one dollar, they have to wait an entire year to reapply to the Cal Grant Program without grant money.</p>
<p>Example: 2011-12 Dependent student (received $1551 Cal Grant B 2010-11) from a family of four makes $42,300/yr = $0 Cal Grant award for 2011-12. (ceiling is $42,200) Can't get revaluated for Cal Grant A--Must reapply for 2012-2013 to be considered for Cal Grant A or B skipping an entire year.</p>
<p>Dependent student from a family of four makes $80,200 = Full Cal Grant A awarded.</p>
<p>So a low income family of four could have had $35,000 income 1st year and $42,300 2nd year for a total of $77,300 for 2 years and only get the $1551 year Cal Grant B 1st year amount and $0 the 2nd year. And the family near the top of the income ceiling could have made $150,000+ for those 2 years, and receive the full Cal Grant A for those 2 years (which can total $20,000+ for 2 years).</p>
<p>This is a major negative loophole. I can understand that less Cal Grant money is available and cuts need to be made. But why not consider cutting the program from the higher income student families. The lower income previous Cal Grant B students must now wait an entire year with zero Cal Grant money.</p>
<p>I confirmed this with the Cal Grant Program information number and a CSU college financial aid office.</p>