2025 United States Senate Youth Program
We are pleased to announce the 2025 United States Senate Youth Program (USSYP). All public and private high schools in the state are invited to nominate up to two outstanding juniors or seniors who are interested in pursuing careers in public service to participate in this educational program coordinated by the California Department of Education (CDE).
Two student delegates from each state will be selected to attend this unique educational experience. The 63rd Annual Washington Week is being planned to be held in Washington, D.C., on March 1-8, 2025. Student delegates will partake in a comprehensive, interactive leadership program, and each will receive a $10,000 college scholarship.
To apply, students must be nominated by their high school principal and currently serve in an elected or appointed leadership capacity in a student government, civic, or educational organization for the entire 2024-25 school year. In addition, nominated students must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents, be currently enrolled in a California public or private secondary school, and live in California for the entire academic year. Four finalists, consisting of two delegates and a first and second alternate, will be selected by the CDE to be California's USSYP representatives.
The application and scholarship information for the 2025 USSYP are available on the
CDE USSYP web page at https://www.cde.ca.gov/eo/in/us/. The deadline to apply is
Friday, October 7, 2024, at noon.
If you have any questions regarding the USSYP, please email [email protected].
Reminder: The Gates Scholarship Application is Open!
About The Gates Scholarship
The Gates Scholarship (TGS) is a highly selective, last-dollar scholarship for outstanding, minority, high school seniors from low-income households. Each year, the scholarship is awarded to exceptional student leaders, with the intent of helping them realize their maximum potential.
Selected Scholars will receive funding for the full cost of attendance to earn a bachelor’s degree, that is not already covered by other financial aid and the Student Aid Index, as determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), or the methodology used by a Scholar’s college or university. Costs covered include tuition, fees, books, and food and housing, and may include additional personal costs.
TGS also provides Scholars with various online support services designed to help them excel in their degree programs, graduate, and make a successful transition to their chosen careers. These include career services, mentoring, leadership development, wellness, and knowledge building.
Eligibility requirements:
- A high school senior
- From at least one of the following ethnicities: African American, American Indian/Alaska Native*, Asian/Pacific Islander American, and/or Hispanic American
- Pell-eligible
- A US citizen, national, or permanent resident
In a good academic standing with a minimum cumulative weighted GPA of 3.3 on a 4.0 scale (or equivalent)
Additionally, a student must plan to enroll full-time, in a four-year degree program, at a US accredited, not-for-profit, private or public college or university.
*For American Indian/Alaska Native, proof of tribal enrollment will be required.
An ideal candidate will also have:
- An outstanding academic record in high school (in the top 10% of his/her graduating class)
- Demonstrated leadership ability (e.g., as shown through participation in community service, extracurricular, or other activities)
- Exceptional personal success skills (e.g., emotional maturity, motivation, perseverance, etc.)
Application deadline: Phase I of the application opened July 15, with a submission deadline of Sunday, September 15, 2024, 2:00 PM PT.
The Gates Scholarship Fact Sheet
For additional information, please visit our website and watch the video below.
Are You a High School Senior? Make Sure You Claim your CalKIDS Account!
Graduating seniors are now preparing to finance an important next chapter in their lives: college or career training. Many have $500 to $1,500 in their CalKIDS account already which can be used to support these expenses.
What's Needed to Claim An Account?
Claiming an account and using the money is quick and easy. Just follow these simple steps:
- Locate the high school senior’s 10-digit Statewide Student Identifier (SSID), which may be found on their school’s portal, report cards, or by asking their campus.
- Check eligibility here.
- If eligible, claim your account at www.calkids.org.
Once the account is claimed, money can be used to pay for qualified higher education costs, such as tuition, fees, computers, books, and more. The funds can be used at eligible colleges, universities, vocational schools, community colleges, and apprenticeships.
Click here for CalKIDS resources/flyers
Guaranteed Admission to Cal State University San Marcos for San Diego Unified Graduates Under New Agreement Between University, District
Criteria and Additional Supports Laid Out for Students and Families
High school graduates from the San Diego Unified School District will be guaranteed a spot at Cal State University San Marcos (CSUSM) under a new compact that includes college prep and supports for students and families starting in middle school
Approved by the Board of Education on May 14th, the partnership is designed to provide students the access and resources they need to attend and thrive at CSUSM.
“San Diego Unified is committed to giving every student a path to college, as well as the resources they need to prepare for a successful transition to higher education,” Deputy Superintendent Dr. Fabiola Bagula said. “We are so grateful to Cal State San Marcos for this partnership, which provides our students with access to a world class university.”
Among the requirements for the district’s high school graduates:
- Students must be continually enrolled in the district from at least 9th grade with exceptions for homeless, foster youth, and military dependents.
- Completion of all A-G coursework required through California State University (CSU) system.
- Meet minimum CSU eligibility requirements.
- Graduate with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.
San Diego Unified will help prepare students for guaranteed enrollment under the compact with supports that include:
- A Common Core State Standards-aligned mathematics curriculum for grades 6-12.
- Additional high school mathematics electives that prepare students with skills to pass college entrance exams or to meet college course requirements.
- Summer school opportunities for basic skills preparation.
- Increased opportunities for 11th and 12th graders to experience university-level academic work at all high schools.
Additionally, the district will offer expanded intervention and credit-recovery opportunities for students and submit the required Cal Grant GPA Verification by March 2 of their senior year.
Family and community engagement is an integral component of the guaranteed admission partnership, especially for families of first-generation college students.
Beginning in seventh-grade, students, families and staff will receive notifications about the CSUSM partnership and how to meet eligibility criteria. The district will also lay out criteria for identifying and supporting incoming seventh graders who are at risk of not meeting the admission requirements.
For Blessyn Lavender Williams, a student Board of Education member and a senior at Lincoln High School, one of the benefits of this agreement is that it could eliminate some of the anxiety - and mystery - that comes with the college application process.
“Getting into college often feels like a random lottery for so many students. This agreement gives students at every San Diego Unified high school the ability to plan for college without the stress and uncertainty of increasingly competitive college admissions,” Lavender Williams said.
In an effort to help students and their families familiarize themselves with CSUSM, tours and orientations - along with transportation - will be organized by the district.
“The admission pipeline to Cal State San Marcos provides an incredible opportunity to students at every San Diego Unified high school by providing them with a clear path to college,” Board of Education President Shana Hazan said. “This alliance shows the shared commitment of both institutions to enhance and expand educational opportunities that benefit our students, families, and the entire community.”
For its part, CSUSM has pledged to assign a Recruitment and Outreach Officer to San Diego Unified schools who will, among other things, promote college awareness, preparation, and access to CSUSM.
“This partnership with San Diego Unified School District will provide opportunities to transform the lives of more students, their families, and their respective communities,” said Vice President for Student Affairs Dr. Viridiana Diaz. “We want students to envision themselves in college early on and to know that CSUSM is a great option given that many of our graduates stay in the area after college to give back to their community.”
The district will begin providing supports to students this summer. The class of 2025 will be eligible to apply for admission to CSUM under the compact.
More than 17,000 students are currently enrolled at CSUSM in 43 undergraduate programs, 24 master’s programs, 11 teaching credentials, and one joint doctoral program.
Students Who Enroll Full-Time at a California Community College Can Qualify for the Student Success Completion Grant (up to $8,000)
The Student Success Completion Grant is a financial aid program that encourages community college students to enroll full-time by offering up to $8,000 in financial aid, so they can work less, focus on classes more, and graduate, begin careers and start earning money as soon as possible. The amount of money students receive is dependent upon the number of classes they take. Students can get up to $2,596 per year for taking at least 12 units per semester, and that amount more than triples to up to $8,000 per year for taking 15 or more units. This means if current students are enrolled in 12 units, they could receive much more financial aid if they take just one more 3-unit class.
The Student Success Completion Grant is an incredible opportunity for current and prospective community college students to secure additional financial aid for being a full-time student. And it does not have to be repaid.
Who is eligible?
Community college students are eligible for the Student Success Completion Grant if they:
- Enroll in 12 or more units per semester (and with 15 or more units they get additional aid)
- Apply for financial aid (such as the FAFSA and CADAA) and are awarded a Cal Grant B or C
- Maintain satisfactory academic progress requirements, including a 2.0 GPA or higher. Contact a local community college financial aid office for more information about eligibility.
How to apply?
Complete the FAFSA or the CADAA and the appropriate community college financial aid office will determine eligibility and automatically award this grant.
Financial aid applications are being accepted now! Be sure to encourage students to complete their application as soon as possible to see if they are eligible to receive the grant. Current and prospective students can visit ICanGoToCollege.com for direct links to the FAFSA or CADAA, and to enroll at their local community college.
Students who have already completed the FAFSA or CADAA for the 2024-25 academic year do not need to re-apply. They will be notified if they are eligible and are awarded the Student Success Completion Grant as part of the financial aid application process.
Learn more about the Student Success Completion Grant and other community college financial aid opportunities and support services by visiting ICanGoToCollege.com.