How can law and policy support foster youth in college?

Foster youth have plans for their future similar to all youth: college, vocational school, getting a good job. The vast majority of foster youth face extreme barriers to achieving these aspirations: only half will graduate from high school, and fewer than 10% will earn a bachelor’s degree by the time they turn 25 (compared to 38% of the general population).

One of the biggest challenges for foster youth – especially youth who age out of foster care –  is getting the post-secondary education they need to start a career. Foster youth face especially difficult barriers that prevent them from attending and graduating from college or technical training programs. Law and policy should support foster youth as they prepare for, attend, and complete college or vocational school.

We've talked about the importance of improving high school graduation rates and educational success for students in foster care. The next crucial step is increasing foster youth’s ability to attend and graduate from college or technical programs. To do that, we need to understand the barriers that prevent foster youth from attending and graduating from college: extreme costs, lack of guidance and counseling, and poor preparation for post-secondary education programs.

Paying for college and applying for financial aid can be challenging for anyone. For foster youth, the actual cost of post-secondary education is much higher and includes housing, food, books, transportation, health care, and tutoring – expenses which often aren’t covered by financial aid programs. Many foster youth incur large student loans, drop out, or choose not to go to college.

Most college graduates will acknowledge that having a strong support system and guidance from family was vital to their educational success. The majority of youth who age out of foster care will not have this kind of supportive network to help them select schools, navigate financial aid applications, or provide general advice about the complex world of college and vocational training.

Finally, the child welfare system does not prioritize educational success or provide foster youth the tools necessary to plan and prepare for college or technical programs. Poor preparation and limited academic achievement means that fewer foster youth are on a path toward successfully earning a college degree.

How can laws and policies support foster youth in college and post-secondary training programs?

• Ensure youth get high quality counseling when selecting and applying for college, training programs, and financial aid. The Preventing Sex Trafficking and Strengthening Families Act requires the planning process to prepare foster youth for adulthood (called “transitions planning”) to begin at age 14 and must incorporate plans for education and employment after they leave foster care.¹ States should clarify that transitions planning also requires counseling and support services for youth as they apply, attend, and graduate from college or training programs. The Higher Education and Success for Homeless and Foster Youth Act would improve college counseling for foster youth and would enhance their access to federal programs such as TRIO and GEAR UP that help young people succeed in post-secondary education programs.
• Provide foster youth with accurate and detailed information about financial aid options, rules, and limitations for its use. Foster youth need to know if taking remedial classes or going to school part time will impact financial aid. Juvenile Law Center and the Field Center for Children’s Policy and Practice have just released a guide on federal and state grants for foster youth in Pennsylvania. Information on eligibility, deadlines, and more is available here.
• Relieve the extraordinary educational costs for youth in foster care. Congress should amend the Chafee Act to increase the amount available for the Education and Training Voucher (a grant funding higher education and training for current and former foster youth) and change the eligibility rules to enhance access and successful program completion.
• Congress should pass The Higher Education Access and Success for Homeless and Foster Youth (S 2267/HR 4043). An amendment to the Higher Education Act, this bill addresses cost, guidance, and other higher educational issues for youth in foster care. Find out more about how the bill would help foster youth in our fact sheet. 
• States should enact laws and policies to help current and former foster youth cover educational costs and connect this financial assistance to counseling and support services. State laws should include tuition waivers and assistance beyond waiving tuition and fees such as housing over breaks and other emergency resources and support that many youth receive from their parents. Nearly three dozen states have taken action to make college more affordable for foster youth. Connecticut, for example, waives the full cost of attendance – books, food, housing, tutoring, health care – for all Connecticut foster youth attending any public or private school anywhere in the country. Linking financial aid programs to counseling and other support services is often more effective than providing funding alone because youth receive guidance and support to help them make good decisions about their education. This support also helps them navigate the complexities of financial aid and avoid any pitfalls that could jeopardize their financial aid eligibility.

[1] 42 U.S.C.A. §§ 675 (1)(D) & (5)(H).