Thanks to the new law, California foster youth will be able to attend any public, state, or community college for FREE.
California Will Cover “Housing, Books, Education, and Food” for Former Foster Youth
Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-Calif.) signed the article—called Encouraging the Future-implementation of the law at the beginning of this month. The law was written by Sen. Angelique Ashby (D-Sacramento).
In a wordsAshby said that the agreement has signs “$25 million to build a college [debt-free] for foster youth.” The funding will allow former foster youth to “have 100% of their unmet need for other services.” This includes “housing, books, education, and food.”
“A lot of foster youth want to go to college and can’t afford it.” This funding will ensure that California’s most at-risk youth are able to take action in their lives by pursuing higher education. “
He added that, “This bill gives hope that they can go to college debt-free — taking one important step toward our nation’s goal of making college accessible to all.”
As for other barriers, Ashby emphasized how “only 4 percent of foster youth earn a four-year degree.” However, this “will increase[s] opportunities for foster youth to achieve their educational goals.”
“64% of young people graduate from high school, and only 4% of young people have earned a four-year college degree, even though 96% say they want to.”
In order to improve these statistics, these laws allow foster youth to attend any free school at Cal State (CSU), University of California (UC), or California Community Colleges (CCC) for free.
Today @GavinNewsom he signed the budget.
There are many things in this budget that I am proud of, including my bill to create college loans for California’s foster youth – now funded by state law.
Thank you very much @me_mike22 other sponsors & our sponsors @JBAforYouth pic.twitter.com/dZnQDSCHSK
— Senator Angelique Ashby (@SenatorAshby) July 11, 2023
Supporters Celebrate The Law As “Huge Win” & “Game-Changer”
In response to orders, CBS8 photo he says Shane Harris– a former foster youth who heads a non-profit organization called the People’s Association of Justice Advocates – said, “This is a huge win for foster youth in California.”
“Who wouldn’t want to go to college for free, especially when you’re in the same situation that most of us are?” When your parents die, you have no way to support yourself, you try to deal with all these problems, and then you go pay for college?”
Steven JellaChief Program Officer with San Diego Youth Services, spoke about the law in a statement Fox 5.
“We are taking steps to address the financial disparities our foster youth may experience and increase the connections that come with a post-secondary education.”
Additionally, CBS 8 reports that Sen. Ashby declared, “It’s a game changer, a game changer for the youth of California.” Additionally, he acknowledged how he builds on what Golden State has already established.
“The state of California has historically done a good job of paying for the education of young people going to college, but it hasn’t worked. Including housing … you can’t hide anything if you don’t want the housing anymore.”