College Information

North County Trade Tech High School works with your seniors to understand and complete the FAFSA or the CADAA.  This will take place in their first semester Civics course here on campus. Students and parents will be encouraged to complete the documentation prior to March 2nd, but will begin the process in class during their first semester.

 

The California Department of Education (CDE) and the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) invite you to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the California Dream Act Application (CADAA).

 

Filing financial aid applications is the first step toward college success and helps eligible students qualify for federal, state, and campus-based aid as well as some private scholarships. 

 

The Cal Grant deadline is typically annually on March 2, and statewide participation is essential.

 

Students should apply at https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa for the FAFSA or at https://www.csac.ca.gov/california-dream-act for the CADAA.

 

FAFSA and CADAA are open year-round to allow students to apply for various financial resources. Please help students who dream of pursuing higher education to take that first step of completing financial aid applications by reminding them of this important March 2 Cal Grant deadline.

 

If you have any questions or if students or their parents need any additional information, please contact the CSAC toll-free at 888-294-0153 or contact the CDE College Preparation and Postsecondary Programs Office, Career and College Transition Division, at 916-323-6398.

Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the California Dream Act Application (CADAA) Completion Requirement 

Education Code Section 51227.5 

Introduction and Overview 

Education Code Section 51225.7, enacted in 2021, requires that each local educational agency ensure that each 12th grade pupil complete specified financial aid applications, opt-out of the requirement, or be determined exempt from the requirement. To assist in complying with Section 51225.7, certain confidential information related to pupils’ completion of those applications may be shared with North County Trade Tech High School (“Trade Tech”). The purpose of this policy is to ensure that Trade Tech, its staff and contractors, comply with state laws related to the confidentiality and privacy of information shared by parents, legal guardians, and pupils under Section 51225.7, as well as confidential information that may be shared with Trade Tech by other government agencies, and to protect against the unauthorized disclosure of Confidential Information provided to Trade Tech. 

Failure to ensure the confidentiality of Confidential Information provided to Trade Tech to ensure compliance with Section 51225.7 could result in a violation of state law and an invasion of parents’ and pupils’ rights to privacy in their financial and educational records. 

Policy 

Disclosure of Confidential Information shall be limited solely to personnel having the need and authorization to access such information. Trade Tech’s employees, contractors, consultants and temporary employees having access to Trade Tech’s information assets (data and systems) or to the specific Confidential Information provided to the Trade Tech for purpose of Education Code Section 51225.7, shall acknowledge adherence to this policy and sign an information security and confidentiality agreement provided by Trade Tech. 

State Law Requirements 

Trade Tech designates Chloe Medina, Principal as the individual responsible for implementing this policy and ensuring compliance with its provisions. Ms. Medina shall maintain in writing Trade Tech policies and procedures that support this policy, maintain a list of staff, contractors, and other individuals who have access to confidential information pursuant to this policy, and ensure all such individuals are included in Trade Tech’s annual information security and privacy awareness training. 

Trade Tech will ensure that it handles any Confidential Information it collects for purposes of complying with Education Code Section 51225.7 in a manner consistent with the following state laws, where applicable, and with any policies and procedures Trade Tech has adopted in furtherance of these laws: 

1. the California Information Practices Act (California Civil Code Sections 1798, et seq.): 
2. California’s Pupil Protections Relating to Immigration and Citizenship Status provisions (Education Code Section 234.7). 
3. California’s Values Act (Government Code Sections 7284, et seq.); 
4. California Student Online Personal Information Practice Act (Business and Professions Code Sections 22584, et seq.); 
5. Third Party Contracts for the digital storage, maintenance, and retrieval of student records (Education Code Section 49073.1); 
6. Pupil Records (Education Code Sections 49060, et seq. and any related regulations); and Please visit [insert LEA privacy policy link] for the [insert LEA] privacy statement. 
7. California’s Public Records Act (Government Code Sections 6250, et seq.) 

In addition to the foregoing, the following conditions apply to Trade Tech’s management of Confidential Information collected or maintained by it in furtherance of the requirements of Education Code Section 51225.7: 

• Trade Tech will ensure that Confidential information will be maintained on a secure data infrastructure with appropriate levels of security for the data based on the Federal Information Processing Standards Publication 199 protection levels. Confidential Information will not be copied to other computers and will not physically leave Trade Tech’s data infrastructure. Trade Tech will apply security patches and upgrades and keep virus software up-to-date on all systems on which data may be used. 

• If transfer of Confidential Information to a third party is necessary, Trade Tech will ensure such transfer is only made for purposes of furthering Trade Tech’s obligations pursuant to Education Code Section 51225.7 and that such transfers are only made to parties covered by this acceptable use policy, or which are otherwise bound by the same requirements as this policy. In addition, any such transfer will be made in a secure manner, such as secure file transfer protocol, an encrypted cloud-based solution, or an encrypted hard drive. 

• The Trade Tech shall not disclose any Confidential Information in Trade Tech’s possession pursuant to fulfilling its obligations under Education Code Section 51225.7 if the disclosure is not authorized by Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) or applicable state laws. 

• The Trade Tech shall not disclose Confidential Information to third parties not covered by this acceptable use policy without the written consent of the pupil, or a parent or guardian when the pupil is a minor. Written consent shall include: (1) the signature and date of the parent, guardian, or eligible pupil providing consent; (2) a description of the records to be disclosed; (3) the reason for release of information; (4) the parties or class of parties receiving the information; and (5) if requested by the parents, guardians or eligible pupil, a copy of the records to be released. The Trade Tech shall permanently keep the consent notice with the pupil record file. 

If a pupil, parent, or guardian chooses not to provide information that could assist Trade Tech in meeting its obligations pursuant to Education Code Section 51225.7, Trade Tech shall not use such actions as a basis to discriminate against any pupils or families or bar children from enrolling or attending school or discipline the pupil in any fashion. 

Definition of Key Terms 

“FAFSA” means the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. 

“CADAA” means the California Dream Act Application. 

“FAFSA/CADAA Completion Requirements” means the requirements contained in Education Code Section 51225.7 that local educational agencies ensure that each 12th grade pupil either (1) complete a FAFSA or CADAA application; (2) opt out of the completion requirement; or (3) is otherwise exempt from the requirement. 

“Confidential Information” means any information shared by parents, legal guardians, and pupils to assist Trade Tech in complying with Education Section 51225.7, as well as information related to a pupil’s FAFSA or CADAA status that is provided to Trade Tech by the California Student Aid Commission, California Department of Education, or other entity; and any similar information created by Trade Tech related to its compliance with Education Code Section 51225.7.