On October 8, 2011, Governor Jerry Brown signed into law the final provisions of the California Dream Act, making it possible for thousands of undocumented students to apply for and be eligible for government based financial aid in higher education.   As has become obvious and the California Department of Education highlights in this report, closing the achievement gap for socioeconomically and racially disadvantaged students is important to the “quality of life for Californians, economic growth and a competitive advantage for California, [and] viability of a diverse, pluralistic, and democratic society to power California’s prosperity.”   Though such disadvantaged students have been able to apply to the California college systems for some time, simply being allowed to apply is not the same as qualifying for the necessary grants and loans that can make it possible for a student to actually attend.  The Dream Act makes access to California’s higher education system a reality for an important segment of disadvantaged students.