Bill Would Aid Foster Kids in Pennsylvania Seeking Higher Education

House Bill 1745 would would create college tuition waivers for foster youth age 14 and older at state-supported institutions, such as state-owned universities, state-related universities and community colleges. The legislation would also require schools to have a point of contact specifically for foster youth to aid in connecting them with services.

Advocates for the bill have said many other states have such arrangements for youth who have aged out of the foster system, either as tuition waivers or scholarships.

“This is something that we know is common,” said Nadia Mozaffar, staff attorney at Philadelphia-based Juvenile Law Center, which supports the bill.

Completing higher education can be a struggle for children who have left foster care.