Logo courtesy of the Yolo County Office of Education

WOODLAND, CA (MPG) - The Yolo County Office of Education, Woodland Community College and RISE Inc. are partnering to offer free “Cash for College” workshops for Yolo County high school seniors and their families.

The seven workshops will provide hands-on assistance completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, or the California Dream Act Application, or CADAA. Students use these applications to apply for financial aid for college and other post-secondary education.

The workshops will give students and families an opportunity to ask questions, receive one-on-one assistance and learn about financial aid resources that can help make college more affordable. Students do not need to have started their applications before attending, and advance registration is not required.

The first workshop in the series was held Tuesday, Oct. 6 at Davis Senior High School. A second workshop will be held Thursday, Oct. 15, from 6 to 8 p.m. at River City High School in West Sacramento. On Tuesday, Nov. 3, a workshop will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Capay Valley Health and Community Center in Esparto.

Pioneer High School in Woodland will host a workshop Tuesday, Nov. 17, from 6 to 8 p.m., followed by a workshop at Woodland High School on Wednesday, Dec. 2, from 6 to 8 p.m. Esparto High School will host another workshop Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2027, from 6 to 8 p.m. The date and time for the workshop at Winters High School will be announced later.

Students and families are encouraged to attend a workshop even if they have not yet started their financial aid applications.

The FAFSA or CADAA must be submitted by March 2, 2027, for students to be considered for California state financial aid, including the Cal Grant and Middle Class Scholarship. Completing the application can also help students access other federal, state and institutional financial aid.

According to the California Student Aid Commission, 69.7% of Yolo County high school seniors completed a FAFSA or CADAA last year, compared with 70.8% of high school seniors at California public schools statewide.

“By offering these free workshops, we are helping to ensure all students have access to the financial resources they need for college and career success,” said County Superintendent Garth Lewis. “We want students and families to know that help is available and that completing a financial aid application is an important step toward making higher education more accessible.”

Students attending a workshop should bring 2025 tax information, including Form 1040 and W-2 forms, if available. They should also bring a driver’s license, Social Security card, recent bank statements, a list of colleges of interest and records of untaxed income, if applicable.

The workshops are offered in partnership with the California Student Aid Commission and the Sacramento Cal-SOAP Consortium.

For more information, visit the Yolo County Office of Education website at www.ycoe.org.