# Understanding the Fostering Success in Higher Education Act of 2023

This bill creates a new federal grant program designed to help foster youth and homeless youth get to college and succeed once they're there. The federal government would provide money to states, which would then use those funds in two main ways: first, to run statewide programs that prepare foster and homeless youth for college, and second, to give money directly to colleges that want to become "institutions of excellence" for serving these students.

The statewide programs would focus on the basics that many foster and homeless youth lack access to: information about college, help filling out applications, guidance on financial aid, and summer preparation programs before students start college. States would need to spend at least 25 percent of their grant money on these outreach and support activities. The remaining funds—at least 70 percent—would go to colleges that partner with child welfare agencies and homeless youth organizations. These colleges would use the money to hire dedicated staff members to support foster and homeless students, provide emergency grants when unexpected expenses come up, adjust how they calculate financial aid to account for housing costs during breaks, and ensure robust mental health services are available.

The bill recognizes that foster and homeless youth face unique barriers to college success. Many lack stable housing, have experienced trauma, don't have family support systems, and may not have anyone to help them navigate the college application process. By requiring colleges to hire full-time staff dedicated to these students and providing emergency funding for unexpected crises, the bill aims to address the real obstacles these young people face. The program would be funded at $150 million per year for six years, with money distributed to states based partly on how many foster and homeless youth live there, though every state would receive at least $500,000 annually.

Fostering Success in Higher Education Act of 2023

Davis, Danny K.

Fostering Success in Higher Education Act of 2023 This bill requires the Department of Education to provide formula grants to states&nbsp;for&nbsp;activities to improve college access, retention, and completion rates for foster and homeless youth. States that receive such grants must award subgrants&nbsp;to institutions of higher education to carry out these activities&nbsp;in partnership with child welfare agencies and organizations serving homeless youth.