District of Columbia: Education and Training Vouchers (ETV)

About this resource

If you're in foster care or were adopted after age 16 in DC, you may qualify for up to $5,000 per year to help pay for college or job training through the District of Columbia Education and Training Voucher (ETV) Program.

This money can help cover tuition, books, supplies, transportation, laptops, housing, and even costs like childcare or disability-related support. You must apply each year, and funds are given out on a first-come, first-served basis.

The full guide explains who’s eligible, what’s covered, how to apply, and what happens after you’re approved.

Who can use this resource (eligibility)?

The ETV program is available to the following youth:

 

Youth ages 18 to 21 – the following criteria applies:

• U.S. citizenship or legal residency.
• Out-of-home care at the age of 15 years or older or adopted after the age of 16.
• High school diploma or equivalent, or general education development (GED)
• Enrolled in post-secondary school or training program as a full-time or part-time student
• An application has been submitted to the post-secondary school or training program for financial aid.
• The post-secondary education or training was initiated before reaching the age of 21
• Satisfactory academic progress (i.e., at least a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale) or academic standing consistent with the institution's graduation requirements for the federal student financial aid program.

Youth 21 to 23 must fulfill both of the following eligibility criteria:

• Meet all eligibility requirements for youth ages 18 to 21 (above).
• Be participating in the voucher program on the date they reach age 21 in order to be eligible to receive assistance until reaching the age of 23 years old, as long as they are enrolled in a post-secondary education or training program and are making satisfactory progress toward completion of that program.
• Adopted youth must be adopted from the District of Columbia’s foster care system after age 16 and meet the same eligibility requirements for foster youth who would have been otherwise eligible for services under Chafee.