Senator Angelique Ashby shared on a recent webinar hosted by JBAY that she “wanted to swing for the fences and do something big for foster youth” when she arrived in the legislature two years ago, an apt analogy in light of the LA Dodgers’ recent World Series victory.
A new report from the Urban Institute examining a JBAY sponsored effort authored by the Senators Ashby and McGuire to expand access to financial aid for foster youth confirms that they succeeded. The partnership between JBAY and Senator Ashby and McGuire resulted in an expansion of the Middle Class Scholarship (MCS) program so that foster youth pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree at a public institution in California are eligible to receive scholarships that cover 100% of their unmet need after accounting for an $8,000 self-help contribution. For comparison, other students receive about 20-30% of their unmet need through MCS, depending on funding. Senator Ashby noted that this was the only ongoing funding allocation included in California’s 2023-2024 budget—a remarkable feat given the state’s looming budget deficit at the time.
So, what’s the impact? During the 2023-24 academic year, 796 students with foster care backgrounds received awards under the MCS program, translating to around $4.6 million in additional aid. On average, foster youth recipients received $5,700 in MCS funding, compared to the $2,300 received by other MCS recipients. And with newly enacted adjustments to how the Chafee grant (another source of support for foster youth) interacts with financial aid, the average award amount for foster youth could rise even higher in the future.
Foster youth interviewed for the report shared just how meaningful this support is. One student stressed the importance of awareness among adults working with foster youth: “If you’re going to be a foster parent, if you’re going to be a social worker working with foster youth, these are things that you just need to know. I’m a third-generation foster youth; this is how you end the cycle: you get me to college and get me the resources I need to thrive.”
Understanding how crucial this is, JBAY continues to prioritize raising awareness and supporting foster youth on their education journey. Current initiatives include promoting FAFSA/CADAA completion and supporting implementation of communication requirements. JBAY has also updated its Education Planning Guides, available in both English and Spanish, with fresh FAFSA materials slated for release this month.
Senator Ashby’s ambitious “swing for the fences” approach has already scored a home run for foster youth in California. With continued support from organizations like JBAY, the path to college for these students looks a little more affordable—and a lot more promising.