Don’t Miss LegiSchool’s town hall on financial aid reform in California

The final LegiSchool Virtual Town Hall of the academic year will focus on the importance of financial aid reform in California, is scheduled for 1-2 p.m. Wednesday, April 21.

The discussion will focus on financial challenges facing students pursuing a college degree across California. Civics Institute alumni Jackelyn Diaz, Jake Robb, and Jeana Lee will moderate as participants consider significant economic concerns associated with students attending a community college or four-year university.

To help address financial hardships, the California Legislature increased the number of available competitive Cal Grants and boosted funding for the California College Promise in 2019. Unfortunately, many students still encounter financial stress with non-tuition costs, such as housing, food, and transportation. The California Legislature is currently considering a number of bills to reform the state’s Cal Grant program. The registration link for the April 21, 2021 Town Hall is: https://csus.zoom.us/webinar/register/4416179892068/WN_4co-SKjEQtGjaBPqxKQy7Q

The LegiSchool Project is a civic education collaboration between California State University, Sacramento, and the California Legislature, administered by the Center for California Studies. The Project’s mission is to engage California’s high school students in matters of public policy and state government by creating opportunities for students and state leaders to meet and share ideas on issues affecting Californians.

LegiSchool’s previous Town Hall on Feb. 17, 2021, related to cybersecurity in the digital age. High school students, teachers and educators were urged to become informed about internet risks and precautions individuals must take to protect their privacy and personal information.

That panel’s moderators, Rachel Lu and Lamont Dobbins, both Civics Institute alumni, were joined by panelists Landon M. Klein from the Assembly Committee on Privacy and Consumer Protection, Sean Smith from Sac Valley Hi Tech Crimes Task Force, and Daren Bournstein from the California Cybersecurity Integration Center.

While closing the event, Klein said, “The fact that you’re even holding this event or attending this event already shows a level of engagement that’s far beyond many other people. Keep it up, and keep asking good questions.”

For information about how to get high school students or classes involved in LegiSchool’s civics education programs for the next academic year, please contact Rotce Hernandez or visit the Center for California Studies’ LegiSchool website.