Seniors, the deadline is looming to complete a FAFSA or Dream Act application. These applications help determine student eligibility for grant money, middle-class scholarships, and student loans for college.

Also note that at COS, if you complete the FAFSA and do not qualify for grant money, you will be automatically qualified for the Sequoia Promise, which will cover tuition. This translates to free college. How can you say no to that?

All VUSD students and parents are invited to attend one of the following workshops:

• Saturday, February 4, from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM at Mt. Whitney Campus, room S-12.

• Thursday, February 9, from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM at the Mt. Whitney Library

Please launch your FAFSA/Dream Act applications through your student account on CaliforniaColleges.edu.

The FAFSA/Dream Act application is due by March 2nd of the senior year to qualify for Cal Grants. The applications must be renewed each year while the student attends college.

In rare cases, if completing the application proves to be a family hardship, you will be asked to complete an opt-out form with your school site.

This is a reminder that the California Dream Act Application (CADAA) is available for undocumented students who are applying, re-entering or already enrolled in a California college or university. Students are encouraged to complete an application before the March 2nd, 2023, priority deadline.

The California Dream Act allows eligible undocumented students to apply for and receive state-based financial aid, institutional scholarships, and to pay in-state tuition. It also gives students an opportunity to apply for the California Dream Act Service Incentive Grant Program (DSIG) to perform community or volunteer service and be awarded up to $4,500 per academic year.

California Dream Act Application

Who can apply for the California Dream Act?

Undocumented Students, Temporary Protected Status (TPS) holders, and U-Visa holders must meet the eligibility criteria under Assembly Bill 540 to apply for and receive California state financial aid. The California Dream Act allows students to receive state and institutional grants if they meet income guidelines, apply by the priority deadlines and complete all necessary paperwork on-time. This application is unrelated to the federal Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.

AB 540 California Nonresident Tuition Exemption

Please encourage undocumented students to apply as soon as possible, but before the March 2nd priority deadline, for financial aid with the California Dream Act Application.

Virtual Events with Immigrants Rising and CSAC

The March 2 priority deadline for the CA Dream Act application is fast approaching! Join virtual events hosted by Immigrants Rising and the CA Student Aid Commission (CSAC) to get the help you need - whether that's completing your application or learning how to effectively guide your students.

Facebook Live: All About the CA Dream Act

Tuesday, February 7th 12 - 1 p.m.
Get general information and useful tips & resources to successfully submit your application. Tune in on Facebook @immigrantsrising

CA Dream Act Drives

February 23rd, March 1st, March 2nd 4 - 6 p.m.
Get help on your application from educators with specialized expertise in supporting undocumented students.
Register for February 23: bit.ly/cadaa-feb23
Register for March 1: bit.ly/cadaa-mar1
Register for March 2: bit.ly/cadaa-mar2

Source: schoolsupport@csac.ca.gov

The Linked Learning Academies are located at our district's four comprehensive high schools: El Diamante, Golden West, Mt. Whitney, and Redwood High Schools. Incoming eighth-grade students may choose to apply for an academy at any of the four high schools based on their career interests. Applications are now being accepted and are due by February 24.

Linked Learning Booklet

Application

Media Arts Academy Video

STRONG Academy Video

Business and Finance Academy Video

First Responders Academy Video

Computer Science Academy Video

Health Science Academy Video

Architecture, Construction, and Engineering Academy Video

Law and Justice Academy Video

In the near future, Visalia students who want to earn a Bachelor's or Master's Degree will not have to travel out of town to pursue their higher education goals. This fall, Tulare County voters approved a bond to build a university center next to the College of the Sequoias. Read the attached article for more information.

https://edsource.org/2023/tulare-county-passes-95-million-measure-to-build-a-public-university-center-for-its-residents/683591

This is an exciting semester for our eighth graders. It is time to think about high school and electives for the freshman year. All of our high schools offer Career Technical Education (CTE) classes. These courses help students develop real-life skills that can lead to career opportunities. Seniors that are pathway completers, in other words, complete the entire series of courses in one CTE area, are highlighted at graduation by wearing a CTE cord.

If you are interested in taking a CTE class, check out our videos highlighting these opportunities.

CTE Pathways at El Diamante High School

CTE Pathways for Golden West High School

CTE Pathways for Mt Whitney High School

CTE Pathways for Redwood High School

It is a big jump to the world of high school. Making that transition to freshman year can be smooth with the right information. Our VUSD College and Career student reporters have just the video for you. Also, you can access the VUSD high school graduation requirements and UC/CSU A-G requirements, along with tips for the freshman year.

College of the Sequoias Career Technical Education is excited to announce the launch of our Jump Start 2023 application. The success of last year's program led to an expansion of our internship opportunities. Students will have a choice to apply for industrial technology, healthcare, or police and administration of justice.

The internship is open to current high school juniors who are interested in pursuing careers in these specific industries. The three-week program is designed to engage students through applied learning, project development, and industry tours. Interns will receive soft skills training, program-specific training, relevant industry certifications, and a $1,000 scholarship upon successful completion.

We are hosting the internship from June 19 - July 7, 2023, with a Monday - Thursday 9am - 3pm and Friday 9am - 12pm schedule. Students may submit their application at COS.EDU/JumpStart.

COS looks forward to helping Jump Start the career path of your students!

We're serious about fun, but we're really serious about academics. UC Davis Discovery Programs provides an active, hands-on opportunity for junior high and high school students to discover new interests, explore potential careers and build skills for academic success at one of the world's top universities. If you're looking to prepare for college or interested in exploring a major or a career, you’ve come to the right place. Throughout the year, students can test drive various careers with our immersive, simulation-based courses or improve their study skills in an online college preparation course. In the summer, high schoolers can live the college life at UC Davis with our exciting two-week summer pre-college programs.

Do you want to explore new and interesting topics outside of the classroom? The more you explore the world around you, the more likely you will figure out who you are and what career would fit you best. Check out these YouTube channels.

CrashCourse: At Crash Course, we believe that high-quality educational videos should be available to everyone for free! Right now, we're producing Black American History and Public Health. The Crash Course team has produced more than 42 courses on a wide variety of subjects, including organic chemistry, literature, world history, biology, philosophy, theater, a ecology, and many more! We also recently teamed up with Arizona State University to bring you more courses on the Study Hall channel.

Practical Engineering: Practical Engineering is all about infrastructure and the human-made world around us. It is hosted, written, and produced by civil engineer, Grady Hillhouse. We have new videos posted every first and third Tuesday, so please subscribe for updates.

Practical Engineering: Deciphering Our Constructed World.

Talks at Google: Talks at Google is a leader in the corporate interview series space, providing a platform for influential thinkers, creators, makers, and doers to tell us about their work, their lives, and what drives them to shape our world.

Vsauce: Videos that feed the curious and illuminate the amazing.

This Virtual Transition Night is for high school seniors with IEPs or 504 plans (and their families) who may need extra support in college, as well as any interested high school staff or counselors wanting to learn about the Access & Ability Center.

The event will be on Zoom.

Monday, February 6th at 6:00pm (click to register)

Presenters:

COS Access & Ability Center: College Degree & Certificate Programs

Department of Rehabilitation: Entering into Employment

Visalia/Tulare Adult Schools: Basic Skills or Professional Certificate

UC's Blue and Gold Opportunity Plan will ensure that you will not have to pay UC’s systemwide tuition and fees out of your own pocket if you are a California resident whose total family income is less than $80,000 a year and you qualify for financial aid — and that's just for starters.

Blue and Gold students with sufficient financial need can qualify for even more grant aid to help reduce the cost of attending.

How to apply: FAFSA/California Dream Act Application + Cal Grant GPA Verification Form (you will be automatically considered when you submit these forms by March 2; there is no separate application for this program)

What's covered?

If you are eligible, your system wide tuition and fees will be fully covered by scholarship or grant money. The plan combines all sources of scholarship and grant awards you receive (federal, state, UC, and private) to go toward covering your tuition and fees.

Students with greater financial need can qualify for even more grant support to help pay other educational expenses (like books, housing, transportation, etc.).

You don't need to fill out a separate application to qualify for the Blue and Gold Opportunity Plan. You will receive the benefits of the Blue and Gold plan automatically if you qualify.

Eligibility requirements

• Submit a FAFSA or California Dream Act Application and Cal Grant GPA Verification Form by March 2

• California resident or have AB 540 status

• Demonstrate total family income below $80,000 and financial need, as determined for federal need-based aid programs

• Be in your first four years as a UC undergraduate (first two for transfer students)

• Meet other campus basic requirements for UC grant aid (for example, be enrolled at least half-time during the academic year, meet campus academic progress standards, not be in default on student loans, etc.)

Source: UCNOTES@UCOP.EDU

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Office Phone Number: 559-730-7510