California Bill Could More Than Double Number of Cal Grants Awarded Max Pringle Tuesday, April 1, 2014 | Sacramento, CA Listen / Update RequiredTo play audio, update browser or Flash plugin. Wikimedia / Sreiach The bill would award 50,000 eligible students Cal Grants. The current allotment is 22,500. Matthew La Rocque with the Institute for College Access and Success says the supply of Cal Grants doesn’t begin to meet the demand from needy students. “With just 23 percent of the lowest income students in this state receiving any Cal Grants, this bill would mark an important and long overdue step in the right direction,” says La Rocque. The fiscal impact on the state hasn’t been determined. Backers of the bill say about 5,000 to 6,000 Cal Grant awards go unclaimed each year. The bill would allow the number of awards each year to go over 50,000. The overages from one year would then be taken from the next year’s allotment. Related StoriesSacramento City schools superintendent discusses vaccine mandate for the districtOctober 21, 2021Superintendent Jorge Aguilar called the vaccine requirement “a path forward to keeping our schools open.” The mandate takes effect Nov. 30, seven months before the state requirement begins.California education leaders discuss Black student disparitiesOctober 15, 2021The state superintendent, other officials look at challenges, solutions to creating equity for all students and families.Sacramento City Unified Parents Frustrated With District’s Independent Study ProgramSeptember 13, 2021Roughly 1,600 students at Sacramento City Unified schools have chosen to continue learning at home through the pandemic. But most of the kids remain without teacher assignments, and parents say the district has left many questions unanswered.California To Require Teachers, Staff Be Vaccinated Or Tested For COVID-19August 11, 2021California will require that all teachers and school staff be vaccinated or tested weekly for COVID-19, becoming the first state to impose such measures ahead of the new school year.Sacramento City Teacher’s Use Of N-Word Sparks Debate About Anti-Racist TrainingJuly 15, 2021A Sacramento City school teacher was recorded using racial slurs in the classroom. But one question from organizers still lingers: In a district that has mandatory anti-bias training for teachers, how could this incident happen? Follow us for more stories like this CapRadio provides a trusted source of news because of you. As a nonprofit organization, donations from people like you sustain the journalism that allows us to discover stories that are important to our audience. If you believe in what we do and support our mission, please donate today. Donate Today