The budget provides an increase to 41,000 Cal Grants for older students to pay tuition. Advocates say more help is needed and hope for bigger reforms next year.
Gov. Newsom said college students who are parents of dependent children deserve a special helping hand. But legislators say they want to aid a wider group of older students.
The request for the 2019-20 fiscal year, is the opening round in budget negotiations between the college system, the Legislature and the governor’s office, an annual process that ends with a new state budget in June, 2019.
Language added to the state budget will make it easier for unions to recruit and keep members as the high court is set to rule on the mandatory fees they charge.
Districts are hoping the upcoming state budget will include financial relief such as deferred state loans, flat per-student payments, and flexibility to sell or lease surplus property.
