TUITION AND FEE WAIVER FOR CURRENT AND FORMER FOSTER YOUTH AT TEXAS SCHOOLS: ENROLL BY AGE 25 TO BE ELIBILE

There have been recent changes in the law, expanding eligibility to include those who enroll in their first course by their 25th birthday!

Many current and former foster youth are eligible to have tuition and fees waived at Texas-funded vocational schools, colleges or universities (including dual credit courses*).

Tuition and fees will be waived if:

1. You were under the care of Child Protective Services (in foster care or a residential treatment center) until your 18th birthday (up until the day before your birthday is sufficient); or
2. You were under the care of Child Protective Services on your 14th birthday or after and you were eligible for adoption; or
3. You were under the care of Child Protective Services on the day you graduated from high school or got your GED; or
4. You were under the care of Child Protective Services while you were enrolled in a dual credit course*.
5. You have to enroll in a course at a covered institution before you turn 25. (Before January 2010 you will need to have enrolled in a course by the age of 21. But a new state law expands the tuition and fee waiver to those who enroll in a course by their 25th birthday starting in January 2010.) Once you have enrolled in a course in a Texas institution before the age of 25, you are entitled to this benefit at any covered school, no matter how old you are, as long as the state law is still in effect. This means it is really is important to enroll in by your 25th birthday and complete the course.

The schools that are covered are state-funded "institutions of higher education". Private schools in Texas are not covered. Unfortunately, there does not seem to be a complete list of these schools that is easy to access. But if you are considering a school in Texas and it has in-state and out-of-state tuition, then it probably is a state-funded school. If there is any question if the school is state funded, inquire at the financial aid office. To apply for the State Tuition and Fee Waiver, you must fill out a FAFSA or TASFA form and give the college registrar written proof from DFPS of your eligibility for the program.

While all state-funded schools are covered, you will need to meet the requirements of the school you want to attend to actually enroll in the school. State-funded schools are not required to accept you just because you were in foster care.

*Dual credit courses are college courses that allow you to receive college credit and high school credit for the course.