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Powerful Research from
Institutional Solutions

NEWLY RELEASED RESEARCH! 

Building Institutional & Statewide Capacity for the CA Dream Act

by Nancy Jodaitis. Released October 2026

This groundbreaking research examines where the process breaks down for undocumented and other eligible students. Our goal is twofold:

  1. ​Identify and clarify the barriers eligible students face when applying for and receiving financial aid

  2. Elevate promising practices to ensure current and prospective students are able to receive the financial aid they are eligible for by law

  1. The CA Dream Act isn't serving a large percentage of current and prospective students

  2. Most students who apply for CADAA don’t receive a Cal Grant

  3. Students don't have a clear path to receive financial aid through the CA Dream Act

  4. Gaps in CADAA compliance and siloed efforts leave eligible students without aid

Key Takeaways: 

Download the full report here.

At a time when higher education, immigrants, and democracy itself are under attack, we must not look away. This moment calls for courage and bold leadership from every sector.

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Decades of collective effort made college possible for undocumented students. Our work now is to make sure the aid they’re eligible for actually reaches them.

NEWLY RELEASED RESEARCH! 

From Applying to Accessing Grants: Student Experiences Navigating Grants through the California Dream Act by Dr. Christian Espinoza.  Released August 2026

 

This report examines what students experience after submitting the CA Dream Act Application, as they attempt to access Cal Grants. 

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THE BIG IDEA

California has built strong financial aid pathways for undocumented students (AB 540, CADAA, Cal Grants) — but eligibility alone does not guarantee access. Based on interviews with 20 undocumented students across CCC, CSU, and UC campuses, the process after submitting CADAA is fragmented, confusing, and left largely on students’ shoulders​

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Key Numbers

  • ​75% initially believed submitting CADAA was the main or final step

  • 70% felt personally responsible for keeping the process moving

  • 65% relied heavily on one trusted person to navigate the process

  • 60% described confusion or difficulty with WebGrants 4 Students

  • 45% experienced unexplained delays or long periods of silence

Six Findings at a Glance:

  1. Too many disconnected parts

  2. Students thought applying was the end

  3. Web Grants 4 Students came too late

  4. Submit everything, then silence

  5. No single place to track progress

  6. Everything changed with the right person

Link to Full Report & Quick Read.

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Moving Forward Together: Increasing Access to the CA Dream Act  

by Nancy Jodaitis  Released May 2026

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This groundbreaking research highlights a dramatic and sustained decline in CADAA completion rates since the pandemic, even while enrollment for undocumented students was trending upwards.  

 

 

 

 

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California's undocumented student enrollment grew 19% from 2021 to 2023, yet CA Dream Act applications dropped 15% over the same period. These numbers are alarming and have continued to decline due to the recent attacks on immigrant communities.  We must work together to uphold California laws and reduce the barriers that undocumented and other eligible students face when accessing financial aid!​​

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Key Takeaways

  • Almost 30% drop in students completing CADAA since the pandemic began

  • CADAA rates don't follow undocumented student enrollment trends

  • Significant reduction in graduating high school seniors completing CADAA

  • CA's All In for Financial Aid policy doesn't reach CADAA students equally​​

​Specific and actionable recommendations:

  • Higher Education/K-12 System Leaders

  • California Student Aid Commission

  • CA Legislature & Philanthropy

  • Vice Presidents of Student Services

  • Financial Aid Leadership & Staff

  • High School Counselors/College Access Orgs​

Link to the full report here.

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