Student financial aid: online technology platforms: guidance: training: media campaign.

Senator Reyes's proposal to expand California's student financial aid infrastructure centers on developing comprehensive guidance for online platforms that connect underserved students with college funding opportunities. The legislation directs the Student Aid Commission to create guidelines by July 2027 for how schools and libraries can leverage technology to help low-income pupils, foster youth, and undocumented families navigate financial aid resources.

The bill outlines specific requirements for the online platforms, including providing personalized cost and aid information based on students' circumstances, highlighting institutions that meet full demonstrated financial need, and offering side-by-side comparisons of living expenses and funding options. The platforms must incorporate dedicated tools for foster youth and DACA-eligible students, multilingual resources, and progress tracking for California State University and University of California admission requirements. Direct links to key applications like FAFSA, CSS Profile, and the California Dream Act would be mandatory components.

To support implementation, the Student Aid Commission would develop training programs for school counselors, administrators and community organizations on utilizing the new guidance. The commission would also launch a multilingual media campaign to raise awareness about these online resources among underserved communities. The bill's provisions apply to school districts, county offices of education, charter schools, and public libraries across California.