Foster youth dream of going to college, just like their peers. However, they often face more barriers and have less support. 

The Education and Training Voucher helps many youth to overcome these barriers. The voucher provides money to help current and former foster youth pay for costs to attend college. Many youth don’t know about the voucher and the rising cost of education means it doesn’t go as far. 

Representative Judy Chu (CA-28) and Representative Nathaniel Moran (TX-01) have introduced bipartisan legislation to address some of these concerns. 

The Fostering Youth Postsecondary Education Access and Success Act would make the following changes to the Education and Training Vouchers: 

• Increase maximum amount youth can receive from $5,000 to $12,000 per year 
• Support students who are trying to get back on track and meet the satisfactory academic progress requirement (grades and course requirements to keep the voucher) through a grace period 
• Require federal Health & Human Services agency to consult with youth with lived experience on developing standards for the grace period
• Require states to simplify the application form for ETV (test it with young people) and make it available online 
• Require states improve their outreach to youth who are eligible for ETV 
• Allow Chafee funding (federal program that supports foster youth) to be used for outreach and notification 

FosterClub is proud to endorse this bill. Celeste Bodner, our Executive Director, shared: 

“Foster youth have the same college dreams as their peers but fewer supports. Education and Training Vouchers help level the playing field, and this bill expands access. We’re grateful to Representatives Chu and Moran for listening to young people.”

This is an important step forward that responds to what young people have told lawmakers. This bill still needs to pass through Congress and be signed into law. FosterClub will provide updates to our network on how you can support. 

Read the press release from Representative Chu and Representative Moran here.

You can learn more about Education and Training Vouchers in our Help Guide.