1

Effectively Assisting Homeless, Unaccompanied, and Foster

Children and Youth

With Educational Supports

Many CPS involved families/children who are not in formal foster care are McKinney-Vento homeless eligible

Nearly 40% of all foster youth will become homeless within 24 months of aging out of the system

Many youth age out without a high school diploma or enough credits to graduate

Only 51% of foster youth/homeless youth (only 25% of unaccompanied homeless youth) have a high school diploma or GED by their 26th birthday

Foster – Homeless Connection

Foster Children and Homeless Children have a lot in common

High mobilityInstabilityNumerous school changesRecords lossGroup livingTraumaHealth & mental health needs

2

Issues of Entering Foster Care areSimilar to Becoming Homeless

Removed from home/parents/siblingsMay not have had opportunity to say good byeUncertainty about where parents/siblings are

Living with strangers– In strange house/room/bed– Strange customs/routine– Other children in home

Issues of Entering Foster Care areSimilar to Becoming Homeless

Few or none of their possessionsLucky to have one bag of belongingsHow much can I carry?

Uncertainty about futureWhere will I live?Will I return home? Will I have a home?Where will I go to school?

Children experiencing homelessness, similar to foster

children, experience the trauma of loss: home, room, neighborhood,

family members, school, community, possessions, security, safety, self

esteem, predictable routines

Grief and loss in common

3

Lack of school records/birth certificates Lack of immunizations/immunization records

Barriers to Enrollment & Attendance

Lack of transportationLack of information regarding rightsand choicesLack of school suppliesLack school clothingUncertainty about where to stayFood insecurityLack of educational advocacyHealth/mental health issuesPlace to do homeworkInability to concentrateLack of resources for extracurricular activities

8

Who is Homeless?• McKinney-Vento: Anyone lacking a fixed, regular,

adequate night-time residence

• USDE Guidance: Those sleeping:

unsheltered: on the street, under a bridge, in a

car, in a park, abandoned building, bus station

In a shelter or transitional housing program

In substandard housing without running water,

electricity, open to elements, too crowded

In a hotel/motel

In a doubled-up situation due to loss of housing,

economic or other hardship

Awaiting foster care

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Who Are Homeless Unaccompanied Youth?

• Are not in the physical custody of a parent or legal guardian

• Is there an age limit on serving homeless secondary students?MV applies to all school-aged youth (as defined by state law); typically states allow youth to attend school up to the age of 21 – in Texas this has been extended to age 26 in certain circumstances, 22 for Special Education

TEA defines unaccompanied as under age 21 on September 1 of the school year

4

10

Who is a foster child?

• Child/Youth of whom CPS has taken legal control of via court proceeding – TMC or PMC

• Ward of the Court – Dept. of Juvenile Justice

• CPS has placed with a paid placement:Licensed or certified (by LCPA) individual or group

home

RTC

Neglect or Delinquent Center (N or D)

Paid kinship placement

**Students can verify this with a DFPS Placement Authorization Form 2085fc.

How McKinney-Vento Comes into Play with Children in Foster or

Kinship Care

Three possible scenarios• When McKinney-Vento applies to

children involved with CPS

• When a McKinney-Vento-type provision exists for children in foster care –Fostering Connections & some state laws

• When McKinney-Vento does not apply and no similar provision exists for children who are CPS involved

5

13

When MV applies: Many Children are Placed with Caregivers with CPS

Involvement but no Court Proceedings

Volunteer Caregiver: no change in custody, criminal background checks, home study, training2298: Safety Plan or Family Plan of Service

When MV applies to a foster child:

• “Awaiting” foster care• In a shelter• Ran away from foster care and living in a

homeless situation• Aged out and is living in a homeless

situation• Other - living in a homeless situation

When McKinney-Vento does notapply to a CPS involved child

When child is in foster care they are not “awaiting foster care placement” and therefore are not McKinney eligible –even when they are in a “temporary” foster home while CPS attempts to find a more permanent foster home – foster children change foster homes frequently

Because of paid kinship placements, Texas discerns between formal and informal out of home care

6

MV Eligible? Formal vs Informal Substitute Care

Does CPS have custody/ward of state?Is the home licensed or certified?Is it a kinship or foster home?Has there been a home study?Is the family receiving financial support from CPS? If the answer is no = informal & MV eligibleIf the answer is yes = formal & not MV eligible

Situation:CPSinvolved McKinney‐VentoEligible

CPS/Foster Care –NotMVEligible

ChildinCPSCourtorderedcustody,placedinalicensed/certifiedfosterhomeorfostergrouphome(homestudy,training,licensed/certified,andfinanciallysupported).

X

ChildplacedwithTexasYouthCommission(TYC). X

ChildplacedinaNeglectorDelinquentCenter(NorDCenter). X

ChildplacedinaResidentialTreatmentCenters(RTC). X

ChildinCPScourtorderedcustody,placedinanemergencyshelterortransitionalliving. X X

ChildinCPScourtorderedcustody,butranawayfromthefosterhome,returnedtostaywithbirthfamily.

X

ChildinCPScourtorderedcustody,butranawayfromthefosterhome,livingwithextendedfamilyorfriends.Childisconsidered“doubled‐up”andMVeligible.

X X

ChildinCPScourtorderedcustody,placedwithaformalkinshiphome(homestudy,training,licensed/certified,andfinanciallysupported).

X

Childinformallyplacedinakinshiporfamilyfriendhome(homeisNOTicensed/certified,notraining,nohomestudy)&CPSdoesNOThavecustody.CPS“droppedoff”thechildwithorwithoutasafetyplan,and/orpowerofattorney–thischildisconsidered“doubled‐up”underMV.Powerofattorneyisnotguardianship.

X

ChildinCPScustody,and“awaitingfostercare”,isnotyetplacedwithafosterfamily. X

CPShascourtorderedcustodyandthechildismovedfromonetemporaryfosterfamily(licensed/certified,homestudy,training,andfinanciallysupported)toanother,perhapsrepeatedly.

X

Childisplacedwithalegalguardian.(Guardianshipisalengthycourtproceeding.) X

Childisplacedinanadoptivehome. X

McKinney‐VentoEligibilityforCPSinvol1

MV Eligible?

CPS asked the Jones family to take their grandchildren in while they investigate allegations of abuse against their mother.

Based on the above information:Are the children considered “awaiting” foster care? Is this an informal or formal placement?Are they MV eligible? Why or why not?Are the children unaccompanied?

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MV Eligible?

A school counselor calls you about a 14-year-old student who attends your district school. The student was removed from her home by CPS and has been placed in a shelter in another district, while they attempt to find her a home. She wants to continue attending the same school. Neither district provides transportation to high school students.

• Is this student homeless and MV eligible? Why or why not? •Can she remain in her same school?•Who must provide transportation and how will it be paid?•Who is her legal parent or guardian?

MV Eligible

CPS removes the Garza children from their single mother who is charged with endangerment due to drug use. Their aunt Susan agrees to take the children. CPS dropped them off three weeks ago, leaving a “2298 Agreement for Parental Child Safety Placement” and Susan has not heard anything definitive about their case. Susan takes the children, ages 6 and 12 to register in her district. The registrar tells her she cannot enroll the children as she is not their legal guardian. Susan tells the registrar that she is a foster home placement by CPS and hands over the form. The registrar tells her she must get CPS to come enroll them, or get guardianship or possibly a power of attorney.

Is Susan’s home a foster home? Are the children MV eligible?Can Susan enroll the children without legal guardianship? Can the school require Susan get guardianship or a power of attorney?How will you get the children’s school records? If the children have not had all their immunizations, can they be enrolled? Are these youngsters entitled to a transfer to Susan’s district?

MV Eligible

Robbie age 9 and his younger brother Mike are placed with their grandparents after two years in a foster home. Their grandparents have gone through training to be foster parents just to keep Robbie and Mike. CPS is retaining custody for six months to see how it goes prior to turning over guardianship to the grandparents.

Are Robbie and Mike MV eligible until the grandparents get guardianship?

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MV Eligible

CPS takes custody of Jill. She is placed by CPS with her grandmother. CPS gives grandmother $1000 at the time of placement, and assists with childcare.

Is Jill MV eligible? Why or why not?

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RECAP: Types of Out-of-Home Placement

Formal Care: • Child/Youth whom CPS has taken legal

control over via court proceeding – TMC or PMC

• Placed by CPS in a formal foster or kinship home

Informal Care – MV eligible: • Children who are voluntarily placed

• Children who have left home or been pushed out of their homes and taken in by a relative or family friend

The McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance

Improvements Act of 2001

The Federal Law: Educational Supports

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McKinney-Vento requires...

• That all homeless children and youth have access to a free and appropriate public education:

• That every state review and revise all laws, regulations, practices, or policies that may act as a barrier to the enrollment, attendance, or success in school of homeless children; and

• That homeless children and youth have access to the education and services they need to ensure them an opportunity to meet the same challenging state standards to which all students are held

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Removal of barriers to enrollment, attendance and school success

Right to stay in the school of origin

Transportation to school of origin

Comparable services to other students

Access to special programs, IDEA, gifted

Free nutrition services

Pre-K eligibility

McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Act of 2001 –addresses identification, enrollment, attendance and school success

Immediate enrollment even w/o records

•State Homeless education office•Homeless Liaison in every district

State Coordinator’s Office

• Every State Education Agency has an Office of State Coordinator for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth - THEO

– Collaboration responsibilities across agencies and with communities

– Technical assistance to LEAs– Compliance oversight– Professional development– Data collection and reporting– Hotline– Three year competitive grant program– Dispute assistance– Advocacy– Federal and State policy input

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District Homeless Education Liaisons

• Every Local Education Agency (school district) must designate a liaison for students in homeless situations

• Responsibilities– Ensure that children and youth in homeless

situations are identified through school and community

– Ensure that homeless students enroll in and have full and equal opportunity to succeed in school

– Make referrals for health, mental health, and other services, and ensure that homeless children receive Head Start and preschool programs administered by school districts

– Track student attendance and academic progress, arrange tutoring and other interventions

District HomelessEducation Liaisons (cont.)

Inform parents, guardians, or youth of educational and parent involvement opportunities

Post public notice of educational rightsResolve disputes Inform parents, guardians, or youth of

transportation services, including to the school of origin

Collaborate and coordinate with community and school personnel to provide needed services

Outreach & Student Rights

The McKinney-Vento Act requires public notice of educational rights of children and youth experiencing homelessness be disseminated in every school district at every campus and wherever services are accessed.

30

Posters can be downloaded from the THEO website -www.utdanacenter.org

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New PEIMS indicators for 2012-13 school year

Districts must identify in PEIMS:

Homeless students

Homeless Unaccompanied students

Homeless students that receive MV services

Homeless students that do not receive MV services

p. 180

Identification Use a student residency questionnaire

Use a Student Residency Questionnaire

• Enrollment is defined as attending and fully participating

• Enroll immediately even if no records are currently available

• Enrollment without withdrawal from previous school

• Enrollment without immunizations or immunization records

• LEA contacts previous school last attended for records

• Enrollment without parent or legal guardian – cannot require someone to seek guardianship

• Enrollment without proof of a permanent residence

• Cannot require dual residency affidavits

• Homeless students are not transfer students

Immediate Enrollment

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12

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Can unaccompanied youth consent to their own medical treatment?

• Generally, only persons age 18 and over can consent to their own medical, dental, and health care; minors need consent of a parent or guardian

• The Texas Family Code gives youth 16 or older who are independent of parents the right to consent to their own medical treatment.

• Students of any age can access certain health and mental health services under certain circumstances, i.e., in cases of abuse

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What about school liability or parental disapproval?

Liability is based on the concept of negligence, or a failure to exercise reasonable care — following federal law and providing appropriate services are evidence of reasonable care

Learn how the district handles:

• Lack of parental signature for field trips, playing sports, other activities?

• Who goes on the contact form?

• Who receives school notices?

• Who gets called in case of illness, a behavior issue, or an emergency?

• Who is held accountable for poor attendance?

• Who instigates and attends an ARD?

13

37

Immigration/documentation

• Undocumented unaccompanied youth have the same rights as all unaccompanied youth

• Districts are not to ask about legal documentation status

• Current Immigrant Youth Crisis – case by case basis

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UnaccompaniedImmigrantChildrenOverallProcessfromApprehensionthroughPlacement1

TerminologyDHS:DepartmentofHomelandSecurity,thefederalagencythatoverseesimmigrationlawandenforcement.ICE:ImmigrationandCustomsEnforcement,thesubdivisionofDHSthathandlesimmigrationinvestigationsandenforcementandtakesunaccompaniedimmigrantchildrenintocustody.IncludesHSI(HomelandSecurityInvestigations)andERO(EnforcementandRemovalOperations).DHHS:DepartmentofHealthandHumanServices,thefederalagencythattakescustodyofandprovidesservicestounaccompaniedimmigrantchildrenastheyawaitadjudication.ORR:OfficeofRefugeeResettlement,asubdivisionofDHHSwiththeresponsibilitytoprovideforthecustody,careandplacementofunaccompaniedimmigrantchildrenuntiltheirimmigrationcaseiscompleted.

DHS,throughICE,takescustodyof

unaccompaniedimmigrant

childrenastheycrosstheborder

(orwhendiscoveredintheUS).

Within72hours2,childrenaretransferredtothecustodyof

DHHS.

DHHS,throughORR,providesimmediate

shelter(oftenonmilitarybases)andbasicservices(includingeducation).

ORRseeksappropriatelonger‐termplacements,includingthefollowing:

Detention

• McKinney‐Ventoeligible?No.• Incarcerated,nothomeless

GroupHomeorShelter

• McKinney‐Ventoeligible?Probably.• Case‐by‐caseusingMVde inition• Analogies:• Awaitingfostercareplacement?• Incarcerated?• Homeless?

FosterFamily

• McKinney‐Ventoeligible?Probablynot.• Unlessparticularsituationmeetsyourstate'sde initionof"awaitingfostercareplacement."

OtherSponsor3

• McKinney‐Ventoeligible?Itdepends.• Case‐by‐caseusingMVde inition.• Ifsponsorisnotaparent,homelessnessismuchmorelikely.• Homelessstatusmaychangeovertime.

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Educational Stability: School of Origin

• School where the child became homeless or last school attended

• Default choice unless parent or unaccompanied youth decide differently

• Use THEO checklist to assist with an informed decision

• Transportation is mandated to and from the school of origin

• District of origin and district of residency decide who provides transportation and how it is paid for, if they cannot agree, it must be shared equally

14

Length of Eligibility

• Once identified, students are eligible for services throughout the school year, even if they become permanently housed

or• For the duration of homelessness

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M-V requires that districts serve the ‘best interests’ of the student by:

•Continuing child or youth in school of origin to the extent feasible; or

•Enrolling the child or youth in a public school in the attendance area where the child or youth temporarily resides

•Parents are the first decision-maker of what is “feasible” and in their child’s best interest

•What happens when the school and the parent doesn’t agree on what is feasible and in the child’s best interest?

•Use THEO School Selection check-list41

“Best Interests”

Coordination with Title I

• Title I requires that districts provide services for children and youth who live in homeless situations

• LEAs need to reserve funds to provide comparable services for eligible homeless children who do not attend participating schools

• Children and youth experiencing homelessness are automatically eligible to receive Title I services by virtue of their homelessness

• The district must provide Title I, Part A Set-asides for non-title campus services

42

15

Examples of Eligible Uses• Clothing and school

uniforms• School supplies• Birth certificates• Immunizations• Food• Medical and dental

services• Glasses and hearing

aids• Counseling services

• Outreach services• Extended learning time

before and after school• Tutoring services• Fees for GED testing• Fees for AP & IB testing• Fees for SAT & ACT

testing• Student fees• School of origin

transportation• Part of liaison’s salary

43

Nutrition Programs

• Categorical eligibility for homeless, runaway, foster, and migrant children and youth

• Immediate access

• Homeless documentation can be used to document eligibility for nutrition programs

• Income documentation is not required if child/youth is homeless

• Homeless children residing with another household are eligible

• Other children in the household may be eligible

• Duration of eligibility for the entire school year even if housing is secured or duration of homelessness

44

Removal of barriers to enrollment, attendance and school success

Right to stay in the school of origin

No school mandate for transportation to school of origin

Pre-K eligibility

Access to special programs

Free nutrition services

Title I eligibility

Foster Child Education Provisions

Immediate enrollment/access to records

•State Foster Student education office•Foster Liaison in every district

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Special Education Provisions

Includes a definition of homeless that mirrors the McKinney-Vento definition

Temporary placement

•Use of existing ARD and IEP records

– ARD – Admission, Review & Dismissal

– IEP – Individual Education Plan

•Transfer of records from previous campus

•Assignment of a surrogate parent, if necessary

•Districts should have a surrogacy program46

Communicate with/within the School System

Necessary to ensure optimal services for foster and homeless children

-Administrators- Counselors- Teachers

- Liaisons- Caseworkers - CPS Education Specialists- Foster Parents- Education Decision-Makers- Interagency agreements

Ensure Good School Services and Placements

Education Service Plan

Mentoring, tutoring, after-school or summer enrichment programs, counseling groups

Students should be granted access to all special services for which they are eligible

Appropriate placement in class increases likelihood for success

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• Foster and homeless youth are disproportionately

disciplined more frequently and more harshly than

other youth

• Behaviors related to homelessness,

abuse & neglect history

• Understanding of school discipline

policies and procedures

• Strong advocate

Ensure Fair Discipline in School

Special attention to keep older students in school

Why Do Teens Drop Out?Legal right to leave school

Behind and have had bad school experiences

Frequent moves, both school and residence = lack of credit = inability to graduate

Don’t see benefit in staying in school--often don’t seem to fit in with others

Higher/vocational education feels out of reach

Lack planning and future vision

51

Accelerated Instruction

• Texas Education Code § 29.081

• Foster youth in secondary school are entitled to accelerated instruction

• Use of Personal Graduation Plan

18

Effectively Assisting Homeless, Unaccompanied, and Foster Students with

College Access and Support

53

Higher Education Assistance• Independent student status FAFSA and

institution – don’t need parent’s financial information

• Test and Fee Waivers for homeless students first

• Foster child higher education benefits – see chart

• Activate tuition & fee waivers by enrolling in a dual credit course

• State assistance for undocumented youth, in-state tuition & TASFA

• Independent if ANY of these are true:– Married– 24 years old– Veteran or on active duty– Graduate student– Has a legal dependent (child/other)– Orphan/Ward of the court/In a legal guardianship– Legally emancipated minor– In foster care at age 13 or older– Unaccompanied homeless youth– Independent by “professional judgment” or “dependency 

override” as determined by the Financial AidAdministrator (FAA)

CLASSIFICATION AS “INDEPENDENT”

19

College Cost Reduction and Access Act (CCRAA)

• Starting in the 2009-2010 academic year:– independent student definition will also be

expanded to include any applicant who has been verified during the school year in which the application is submitted as either:

– An unaccompanied youth who is a homeless child or youth, as such terms are defined in section 725 of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act; or

– An unaccompanied youth who is at risk of homelessness and is also self-supporting.

– Any student in foster care after the age of 13

Local homeless education liaison; for students graduating from high school who were identified as an UHY while in high school

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) shelter director or designee; for students who have received services

Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (RHYA) shelter director or designee; for students who have received services

Financial Aid Administrator (FAA); for any student, but particularly those who cannot get a determination from one of the other three authorized parties

Determiners of Independent Status for UHY

Fee Waivers

• Seek out the school counselor• AP exams• ACT• SAT• College Applications

20

Additional resources are available on the NCHE handouts webpage at http://www.serve.org/nche/web/college.php, including: Making Student Status Determinations for Unaccompanied

Homeless Youth: Eligibility Tool for Financial Aid Administrators (NCHE) Unaccompanied Homeless Youth Documentation of

Independent Student Status for the FAFSA (NAEHCY) Reconciling Federal, State, and Institutional Policies

Determining Educational Access for Undocumented Students: Implications for Professional Practice (National Forum on Higher Education for the Public Good)

Additional Resources

• Provide information on parent income and assets and their own income and assets

• Need parent signature• The EFC is based on family income and assets; as such, even 

though they fill out the FAFSA as dependent students, homeless students from low‐income families will likely qualify for a beneficial aid package

• Example: The EFC Formula, 2012‐2013 explains that, under certain circumstances, students qualify for an automatic $0 EFC, including students who received free school meals in 2010 or 2011, and whose parents’ 2011 income is less than $23,000http://ifap.ed.gov/efcformulaguide/attachments/010512EFCFormulaGuide1213.pdf

Accompanied Homeless Students and the FAFSA

60

Social Services for Unaccompanied Youth

• TANF

• SSI

• Food Stamps

21

61

TANF and UHY

• Child-Only TANF – given regardless of income of nonparent caretakers

• To receive TANF benefits, teen parent must live with a:– parent or legal guardian

– another adult relative; or

– in another approved living situation

• A teen/teen parent can apply without his/her parents

• Parents’ income is irrelevant for eligibility

62

SSI and homeless youth

• The only public benefit that provides a monthly cash payment to a single unaccompanied youth with disabilities.

• May also receive SSI benefits to supplement their TANF income.

• Youth who receive SSI are also automatically eligible for Medicaid, which gives them access to low cost health care.

• A youth between the ages of 16 and 18 may sign their own application, as long as they are:– mentally competent, – Have no court appointed representative, and are not in the

care of another person or institution.

63

Food stamps and homeless youth

• The food stamp program provides funds that youth can use to buy food at grocery stores, certain retail stores, and some restaurants.

• No age minimum

• No parent signature required

• No denial solely due to lack of address/photo id.

22

• Newly released comprehensive resource guide.

• Co-written with TEA, DFPS and Children’s Commission.

• Research based: Codifies foster care education practice, policy, laws and resources in one central location.

• Foundational resource for the education community, foster care liaisons, and all who support the education of students in foster care.

Where to find the Foster Care & Student Success Resource Guide:

• Online Interactive PDF available for downloadhttp://www.tea.state.tx.us/FosterCareStudentSuccess/resource-guide.pdf

• Hard-copies may be ordered through TEA’s Office of Publications: http://www.tea.state.tx.us/index4.aspx?id=2147487430

• A professional grade PDF file of the guide is available for groups and organizations that would like to have the guide printed: email fostercareliaison@tea.state.tx.us or kelly.kravitz@tea.state.tx.usfor information.

• www.utdanacenter.org/theo, click on Resources, Fact Sheets, scroll down to Foster Care 65

66

Tips for finding legal services providers for children and youth

• www.abanet.org/litigation/committee/childrens_l/directory.pdf

• www.lsc.gov/about/grantee_links.php

• www.ptla.org/links.htm#services

• www.jlc.org

• www.youthlaw.org

23

• NAEHCY Template (Unaccompanied Homeless Youth Documentation of Independent Student Status for the FAFSA) available at http://www.naehcy.org/higher_ed.html

• NCHE/NAEHCY FAA Tool (Making Student Status Determinations for Unaccompanied Homeless Youth: Eligibility Tool for Financial Aid Administrators) available at http://center.serve.org/nche/downloads/faa_det_tool.pdf

• Texas Homeless Education Office FAFSA Round‐up tools at:   http://www.utdanacenter.org/theo

Resources

• Hotline: 1-800 446-3142

• Jeanne Stamp: 512-475-6898 jeannestamp@austin.utexas.edu

www.utdanacenter.org/theo

Contact THEO

TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY & PROTECTIVE SERVICES HIGHER EDUCATION SERVICES/INFORMATION FOR CURRENT AND FORMER FOSTER YOUTH, ADOPTED YOUTH AND

YOUTH IN PCA/PMC-Chart Revised March, 1 2011 EDUCATION AND TRAINING VOUCHER (ETV)

PROGRAM STATE TUITION AND FEE WAIVER OTHER DFPS EDUCATION

RESOURCE Brief Description-Based on need, the federally funded ETV program provides up to $5,000 a year to eligible youth to be used for education related expenses including rent, utilities, childcare, computers, books, transportation, and personal expenses for youth enrolled in college or specialized postsecondary vocational programs.

Brief Description

-The state tuition and fee waiver provides exemptions at Texas state supported institutions of higher education to certain youth who were formerly in foster care, adopted youth, and youth in Permanent Managing Conservatorship.

Brief Description

-Preparation For Adult Living (PAL) Services prepare youth for adult life when they leave foster care. This is a federal program.

Eligibility: FOSTER YOUTH

Youth in foster care who are at least 16 and likely to remain in care until 18; or

Youth who aged out foster care but have not turned 21

A youth is eligible for ETV if they are in a Texas Juvenile Probation Commission (TJPC) title IV-E placement the day before he/she turns 18. TJPC must provide proof that the youth was in an IV-E placement the day before he/she turned 18.

Eligibility: FOSTER YOUTH-must be in DFPS conservatorship on or after: The day preceding the student's 18th birthday; The day of the student's 14th birthday, if also

eligible for adoption on or after that day; The date the student graduates from high school

or receives the equivalent of a high school diploma

Eligibility: The targeted priority population are youth in DFPS-paid substitute care who are at least age 16 or older and likely to remain in foster care until at least age 18. Youth may qualify for PAL services up to their 21st birthday.

ADOPTED YOUTH OR YOUTH WHO ENTER PERMANCEY CARE ASSISTANCE (PCA) Youth not yet age 21 and are adopted after turning

after age 16; or Youth not yet age 21 and entered PCA after age 16

ADOPTED YOUTH Adoption occurred on or after September 1,

2009; OR Adopted and the subject of an adoption

assistance agreement for monthly financial assistance and Medicaid

PERMANENT MANAGING CONSERVATORSHIP(PMC) PMC of the student was granted to an individual

other than the student's parent on or after September 1, 2009.

Benefits: Transitional Living Allowance-Up to $1,000 and must meet the qualification requirements to include completion of PAL Life Skills Training. Aftercare Room and Board Assistance-Based on need and emergency, up to $500 a month (not to exceed $3,000 of accumulated payments) and have been in DFPS paid care at age 18 and meet qualification requirements.

Age 21-23 participation: Youth who are participating in ETV on their 21st birthday may remain eligible until age 23 as long as they are enrolled and making satisfactory progress toward completion of postsecondary education or a vocational training program.

DUAL CREDIT COURSES Students who enroll in a dual credit course or

other course in which they may earn joint high school and college credit. Must be in DFPS conservatorship on the day of enrollment.

NOTE: ETV funds may be used for some college attendance cost not covered by the tuition fee waiver.

Program Enrollment (meet PAL eligibility criteria) and: be between 16 and 21 years of age;

and meet qualification requirements as

they apply to each PAL Service

Program Enrollment (meet eligibility criteria) and: Have a high school diploma or GED or be exempt

from required school attendance; and Be enrolled in an institution of higher education

before age 21; and Complete and file an ETV application with required

supporting documentation. For more information go to this website: http://www.bcfs.net/etv

Higher Education Enrollment/Age Criteria: FOSTER YOUTH, YOUTH IN PMC, AND YOUTH ADOPTED ON OR AFTER SEPTEMBER 1, 2009- Must enroll in an institution of higher education as

an undergraduate not later than the student's 25th birthday.

ADOPTED YOUTH SUBJECT WITH AN ADOPTION ASSISTANCE AGREEMENT- There is no age limit to enroll in an institution of

higher education.

For more information about PAL services go to this website: http://www.dfps.state.tx.us/Child_Protection/Preparation_For_Adult_Living/default.asp

Page 1

Cont'd-EDUCATION AND TRAINING VOUCHER (ETV) PROGRAM-Schools

Cont'd-STATE TUITION AND FEE WAIVER Schools

Cont'd-OTHER DFPS EDUCATION RESOURCE

Youth receiving ETV apply these funds to the cost of attendance associated with attending *accredited or pre-accredited nonprofit private or public institutions of higher education, in the following categories: provides a bachelor's degree or not less than a two-

year program that provides full credit towards a degree (associate degree) or certification; or

provides not less than a one-year program of training to prepare students for gainful employment in a recognized occupation; or

is also a private institution that has been in existence for at least two years and provides a program of training to prepare students for gainful employment in a recognized occupation (proprietary schools).

Online correspondence or distance learning courses must be accredited or pre-accredited and verified by ETV staff. *all of the categories listed above must be accredited or have been granted pre-accreditation status by such an agency or organization that has been recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education. Youth that originally received ETV services in Texas and move out-of-state to attend one of the institutions referenced above may continue to receive ETV services from Texas. Statutory Citation: P.L., 110-351, Section 101-Title IV-E of the Social Security Act, Sec. 477 (a) Texas Administrative Code §700.1613

Youth are exempt from the payment of college tuition and fees at Texas state-supported colleges and universities, public medical school, public dental schools, or public technical institutes. Note: Fees are covered if it is required for education (i.e., lab or other mandatory fees). The waiver letter must be submitted to the higher education registrar's office by the youth at the time of enrollment. The Texas Education Agency and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THCEB) are responsible for developing outreach programs to ensure that students in foster or other residential care in grades 9-12 are aware of the availability of the exemption from payment of tuition and fees. THECB provides helpful information needed for youth to plan for college at http://www.collegeforalltexans.com/ Statutory Citation: Texas Education Code §54.211 and §54.2111

If a youth is eligible for PAL Aftercare room and board assistance, these funds are used after ETV funds have been expended.

Note: Regional PAL staff can be contacted for additional information regarding these services/programs. A list of regional lead PAL staff is available at: http://www.dfps.state.tx.us/Child_Protection/Preparation_For_Adult_Living/PAL_coordinators.asp For additional information on CPS-Transitional Living Services go to: http://www.dfps.state.tx.us/Child_Protection/Transitional_Living/default.asp Page 2