April 12, 2018 - Sacramento – On Wednesday, the California State Senate Education Committee unanimously passed Senate Bill 967 authored by Senator Tom Berryhill (R-Modesto).  SB 967 will waive Community College, CSU, and UC tuition and fees for foster kids who have been in foster care for at least twelve months. 

“I have served on the Human Services Committee for almost twelve years and have watched foster youth fight their way through the system. Anything we can do to help them break the cycle and earn a college degree is important,” said Berryhill.

Studies indicate that youth in foster care are less likely to enroll in college if they complete high school, and less likely to graduate from college if they enroll.  Several factors, both academic and non-academic, contribute to this gap in educational success. Foster kids often can’t turn to parents for information about college, help with college applications, or assistance with their tuition. 

“Twenty-Eight states already have tuition waiver programs in place.  Removing this barrier to education has the potential to be a true game changer in the lives of so many foster youth in this state,” added Berryhill.
Source: Senator Tom Berryhill