The Cal Grant Program establishes various awards, such as the Cal Grant A and B Entitlement Awards, the California Community College Expanded Entitlement Awards, the California Community College Transfer Entitlement Awards, the Competitive Cal Grant A and B Awards, the Cal Grant C Awards, and the Cal Grant T Awards under the administration of the Student Aid Commission. The eligibility requirements for awards under these programs for participating students attending qualifying institutions are outlined in the Education Code. To qualify for a Cal Grant award, the student, among other things, must make “satisfactory academic progress” at a qualifying institution. The Student Aid Commission is authorized to adopt regulations defining “satisfactory academic progress” in a manner consistent with the federal standards.
AB 789 eliminates the Student Aid Commission’s authority to adopt regulations defining “satisfactory academic progress.” Instead, AB 789, requires that an institution, as part of the criteria to be a qualifying institution under the Cal Grant Program, implement policies defining “satisfactory academic progress” in a manner that is consistent with the federal standards published in Title 34 of the Code of Federal Regulations and comply with various requirements by the start of the 2024–2025 academic year. Such requirements include, but are not limited to, setting the standards for grade point average and pace of completion, and providing specified notices to students regarding the institution’s “satisfactory academic progress” standards and the student’s progress.
(AB 789 amends Section 69432.7 of the Education Code.)