Foster Youth: State Support for Higher Education

Foster Youth: State Support for Higher Education

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August 12, 2016
Foster Youth: State Support for Higher Education
Background
education resources maintained by Western Michigan
Research indicates that current and former foster youth
University’s Center for Fostering Success. (The review did
(hereinafter, “foster youth”) face barriers in enrolling and
not include assistance for high school students preparing to
completing post-secondary education. Along with specific
attend college.) CRS found that state higher education
federal programs, states are increasingly playing a role in
resources for foster youth generally fall into four categories:
providing support to foster youth attending institutions of
(1) student support services once they are on campus; (2)
higher education. Education-focused programs targeted to
scholarships and grants; (3) tuition waivers; and (4)
foster youth have generally not been rigorously evaluated to
assistance for housing.
determine if they help this population in college.
Some of these supports are available at public colleges and
Casey Family Programs, a foundation that supports child
universities statewide and others are available at specific
welfare program research and development, has proposed a
campuses. A state or campus may have a comprehensive
framework that addresses both how to create and sustain a
program that provides multiple resources such as tuition
program of post-secondary educational support for foster
assistance and social supports. The CRS review likely does
youth and what the program should include. The framework
not capture all of the possible state-funded higher education
envisions educational support programs that give foster
resources available to foster youth, and is not exhaustive of
youth access to a caring and trusted program staff person
all the possible information on each identified educational
who has primary responsibility for helping the youth
resource. It also does not identify how some private
navigate higher education. Table 1 shows key features of
universities and organizations, such as philanthropic
program development and student support.
groups, support foster youth in attending college.
Nonetheless, a small number of private colleges were
Table 1. Casey Framework for Postsecondary
captured in the search. In addition, the review found that
Educational Programs Targeted to Foster Youth
some state or public university resources are funded in

whole or part by private dollars.
Designated leadership
 Internal and external champions
Student Support
 Col aboration with social service and
As described in Table 1, postsecondary educational
other organizations
programs for foster youth include people and services that

 Data-driven decisionmaking
can help them succeed as students. University leaders,
mentors, academic advisors, tutors, and peer advocates are
Program
 Staff peer support and professional
the individuals often involved in these programs. Student
Development
development
support services can include helping foster youth find
 Sustainability planning
housing, connect to services on campus, and advocate for

their own needs, in addition to providing community
Year-round housing and other basic needs
building activities and care packages. The CRS review
 Financial aid
identified over 80 such support programs at colleges and
 Academic advising, career counseling, and
universities in approximately 20 states. For example, the
supplemental support
Horns Helping Horns program at the University of Texas at

 Personal guidance, counseling, and
Austin seeks to “foster academic success and a sense of
supplemental support
community” for foster youth. The program provides a
Direct

faculty or staff mentor and a small peer group that offer
Student
Opportunities for student community
guidance to help students navigate campus life.
engagement and leadership
Services
 Planned transitions to col ege, between
A small number of programs (e.g., California College
col eges, and from col ege to employment
Pathways, Florida Reach, Washington State Passport to
Source: Casey Family Programs, 2010.
College Promise Scholarship Program) support institutions
of higher education (and sometimes other entities) in
A Congressional Research Service (CRS) review of state
assisting foster youth. The Passport to College program is
supports for foster youth attending institutions of higher
state funded and provides scholarships for students who
education found that some states do offer the kinds of direct
were in foster care. It also gives incentive funding for state
student services described in the Casey framework,
college campuses to provide recruitment and retention
although they may not always be available on a statewide
services for these students, and has a partnership with the
basis. In conducting its review, CRS looked at statutes for
College Success Foundation to provide both student
all states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico
services to foster youth and training for campus staff.
(“states”); websites for state educational and human
resources agencies; and an online database for higher
https://crsreports.congress.gov

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Foster Youth: State Support for Higher Education
Scholarships and Grants
The waiver programs include eligibility criteria. Such
Scholarships, grants, stipends, allowances, or fee
criteria often include requiring that the youth have been in
exemptions are available specifically for current and former
foster care for a particular period, are of a certain age (e.g.,
foster youth to cover the cost of attending post-secondary
not yet 21), and are in good academic standing. Some states
educational institutions and specified related expenses.
have additional requirements, such as that youth engage in
Approximately 20 states and a few dozen college campuses
community service (Arizona) or are employed if possible
in about 10 states provide this type of financial support.
(Minnesota). Some of the waivers are provided on a limited
Assistance is generally provided to youth who have spent a
basis. For example, Alaska allows for a maximum of 15
certain amount of time in care, meet age requirements, and
students to be supported with waivers each year at any
attend an in-state institution of higher education.
University of Alaska campus. The Arizona statute specifies
that the tuition waivers end in 2019.
For example, Hawaii authorizes a monthly stipend to cover
the living expenses of students ages 18 to 27 who were
Housing Assistance
formerly in foster care. The voucher is provided for up to
Some foster youth who live on campus do not have a place
60 months, so long as the youth show they are making
to stay during school breaks. As shown in Table 2, the CRS
progress toward completing the program, among other
review found that two states (California and Texas) require
requirements. The Iowa Opportunity Foster Care Grant
public universities to provide or ensure housing during
provides an annual grant for any college expenses (e.g.,
breaks. Selected campuses in Michigan (Michigan State
meal plans, transportation, books, and supplies) for foster
University, Northern Michigan University, Western
youth between the ages of 17 and 23, including youth who
Michigan University), New Jersey (Rutgers University),
were adopted after age 16.
South Carolina (Johnson C. Smith University) and Vermont
(College of St. Josephs) provide housing to foster youth
Universities and colleges that provide direct financial
during breaks. In addition, some states provide financial
support to foster youth generally do so as part of a larger
assistance that can be used for housing.
support program for these students. For example, the
Michigan State University Foster Youth Endowed
Table 2.Excerpted California and Texas Statutes on
Scholarship program provides scholarship funding to youth
Providing Housing for Foster Youth
who were in foster care as teens, including youth who were
adopted or placed in kinship care. The program also
State
Statute
matches youth with a mentor and provides other supports.
CA
Campuses with the University of California (UC) must
Tuition Waivers
give priority to eligible foster youth for on-campus
housing and allow them to remain in housing that is
Separate from scholarships and grants, 19 states cover the
available during academic breaks at no extra charge.
cost of tuition through what are referred to as “tuition
(California Education Code §92660)
waivers” targeted to foster youth. Waivers cover the tuition
The California State University (CSU) and California
at public community colleges, universities, and/or
Community Col eges must review housing issues for
vocational schools. Waivers in some states also cover fees.
emancipated foster youth living in col ege dorms to
Generally, waivers are available for higher education
ensure basic housing during the regular academic year,
campuses within the state. All of the waivers are specified
including vacations and holidays other than summer
in state statute.
break. (California Education Code §89342)
Figure 1. Tuition Waivers Specifically for
TX
At the eligible foster youth’s request, public
Foster Youth
institutions of higher education must assist the student
in locating temporary housing during breaks. They
must also provide temporary housing or a stipend for
temporary housing (if not otherwise covered) for
foster youth who demonstrate financial need. (Texas
Education Code §51.978)
Source: Congressional Research Service.

This brief accompanies CRS In Focus IF10449, Foster
Youth: Higher Education Outcomes and Federal Support.
Adrienne L. Fernandes-Alcantara, Specialist in Social
Policy
Sarah W. Caldwell, Senior Research Librarian
IF10450

Source: Congressional Research Service (CRS) review of state
statutes and correspondence with selected states.
https://crsreports.congress.gov

Foster Youth: State Support for Higher Education

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