Dear Chair Leyva, Chair McCarty, Chair Medina, Chair Mitchell, Chair Roth, and Chair Ting:

Californians for College Affordability is a diverse coalition of higher education advocacy, civil rights, and social justice, business and workforce, and statewide student leadership organizations that are united in strengthening need-based financial aid in California so that all students can afford to attend and complete college, allowing the state’s workforce to remain competitive. Since 2012, Californians for College Affordability has advocated for increased state investments that ensure state financial aid enables students to attend full-time and complete a meaningful credential, and protects those with the least resources from shouldering the biggest burden of college costs and debt. During the ongoing COVID-19 global pandemic, we urge California policymakers to take targeted steps to ensure that the crisis does not undermine students’ eligibility for available financial aid.