Governor Gavin Newsom’s 2019 May budget revision maintains strong investments in the University of California, the California State University, and the California Community Colleges. It also continues January’s new programmatic investments at the California Student Aid Commission; however, the total figures have been adjusted down to match new estimates on financial aid participation in the upcoming year. Some additional funds have been proposed since January; the UC and CSU would see small increases to support rapid rehousing of homeless students.
The budget continues to acknowledge that nontraditional students are increasingly the norm, and that they are a critical component to meeting the state’s economic demands. Our workforce needs in California are simply too great to be met by focusing only on first-time full-time students. Specifically, the Governor’s budget proposal makes the following adjustments:
- A decrease of $24.9 million from the $121.6 million proposed in January to provide Cal Grant access awards for the UC, CSU, and CCC students with dependent children; and
- An increase of $2 million from the proposed $9.6 million to increase the number of Competitive Cal Grant awards, which tend to go to older students from lower-income households and who face substantial challenges to completing their postsecondary education.
- $6.5 million to the CSU and $3.5 million to the UC to support rapid rehousing for homeless and housing insecure students.
We appreciate the Governor’s strong commitment to investing in higher education, and we applaud the California legislature’s progress on mitigating many of the challenges students face right now.
Another priority championed by California Competes that remains in the Governor’s proposal is the establishment of a statewide longitudinal data system.
Included is $10 million to plan for and develop a longitudinal data system that will connect student information from early education through the workforce. Data is imperative for educational equity. Eliminating disparate outcomes for California’s students through state policy requires a solid understanding of current and future student populations; effective goals, practices, and outcomes; as well as workforce needs—issues that can only be answered with reliable, timely, accurate data.
“We appreciate the Governor’s strong commitment to investing in higher education, and we applaud the California legislature’s progress on mitigating many of the challenges students face right now,” said California Competes Interim Executive Director Ria Sengupta Bhatt. “We are optimistic that in the coming weeks, the administration and legislature will work together to pass a budget that better supports student success.”
To hear more from California Competes about the May Revise and what it means for students, register for the webinar we will co-host with the Institute for College Access and Success next week.
