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The Honorable Holly Mitchell
Chair, Assembly Budget Subcommittee #3
California State Senate
Sacramento, CA
Sent via fax: 916-668-7004
The Honorable Tony Thurmond
Chair, Assembly Budget Subcommittee #1
California State Assembly
Sacramento, CA
Sent via fax: 916-319-2179
RE: BUDGET PROPOSAL TO EXPANDCHAFEE ETV
Dear Senator Mitchell and Assembly Member Thurmond,
I am writing on behalf of <Association/Group> to express my support for the budget proposal to expand access to the Chafee Education and Training Voucher. This important policy will improveexpand access for foster youth in California by modifying Chafee eligibility such that all students who apply by August 31st would be entitled to a grant and restricting the use of Chafee funds at schools that meet certain graduation and loan default criteria.
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With expansion of foster care in 2012, the number of foster youth attending community college in California has increased 38 percent, with a full 14,761 foster youth attending community college in 2014-15.The Chafee ETV has not kept pace with this growth and remains at the 2002 funding level. In 2014-15, a total of 4,609 students applied for the Chafee ETV and were determined to be eligible in 2014-15. However, due to insufficient funds, 1 in 4 eligible applicants did not receive a grant. In addition to inadequate funding, the Chafee ETV may be used at post-secondary schools that do not meet the minimum requirements adopted by the Cal Grant program in 2013. The Chafee budget proposalwould address these concerns through its two provisions:
The Chafee budget proposal would entitle all eligible students who apply for a Chafee ETV to receive a grant if they apply by September 2nd deadline. Eligible students who submit a Chafee application after the deadline would receive funds based on their availability. Currently, there is no application deadline or guarantee of funds and applications are processed on a rolling basis.
The Chafee budget proposalwould also prohibit the use of the Chafee ETV at post-secondary institutions that do not meet the following criteria: 30% graduation rate and no higher than a 15.5% cohort default rate. This provision was adopted by the Cal Grant in 2013 and has been successful in reducing the number of underperforming school in California.
Thank you very much for your support and I urge your support of thisimportant policy.
Sincerely,
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