| Title: |
Trends in Community College Enrollment and CalFresh Eligibility during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Policy Brief |
| Language: |
English |
| Authors: |
Sam Ayers; Jennifer Hogg; Johanna Lacoe; Alan Perez; Jesse Rothstein; California Policy Lab (CPL) |
| Source: |
California Policy Lab. 2025. |
| Availability: |
California Policy Lab. 2521 Channing Way, Berkeley, CA 94720. e-mail: info@capolicylab.org; Web site: https://capolicylab.org/ |
| Peer Reviewed: |
Y |
| Page Count: |
10 |
| Publication Date: |
2025 |
| Sponsoring Agency: |
Spencer Foundation; Institute of Education Sciences (ED) |
| Contract Number: |
R305A220451 |
| Document Type: |
Reports - Descriptive |
| Education Level: |
Higher Education; Postsecondary Education; Two Year Colleges |
| Descriptors: |
Community College Students; Eligibility; Enrollment Trends; COVID-19; Pandemics; Low Income Students; Food; Federal Programs; Welfare Services; Nutrition; Student Financial Aid; Gender Differences; Geographic Regions; Income; Racial Differences; Ethnicity |
| Geographic Terms: |
California |
| Laws, Policies and Program Identifiers: |
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) |
| Abstract: |
When the COVID-19 pandemic began, the federal government responded by expanding the country's safety-net programs, including through stimulus payments. There were also significant federal policy changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the largest food assistance program in the United States. Benefit amounts were increased, and eligibility rules were changed to make more people eligible, including by temporarily broadening college student eligibility for SNAP. CalFresh is California's version of SNAP. This policy brief describes how eligibility for CalFresh changed among community college students because of broader college enrollment changes during the height of the pandemic and due to the temporary eligibility changes Congress made to SNAP. |
| Abstractor: |
As Provided |
| IES Funded: |
Yes |
| Entry Date: |
2025 |
| Accession Number: |
ED665513 |
| Database: |
ERIC |