Senate Passes Zenzinger’s Bipartisan Bill to Set Foster Youth Up for Educational Success

Legislation would require higher ed institutions to waive tuition fees for foster youth

DENVER, CO – The Senate today approved bipartisan legislation from Senator Rachel Zenzinger (D-Arvada) that aims to help support foster youth seeking higher education opportunities in Colorado. 

SB22-008 - which is also sponsored by Sen. Kevin Priola (R-Brighton) - will help college-bound students who have been in foster care afford the cost of attending college by requiring all higher education institutions to waive their undergraduate fees and tuition. 

“Through no fault of their own, foster children typically face extraordinary challenges, and it’s our duty to help eliminate the ones that we can,” said Sen. Zenzinger. “Of all the assets we can provide for foster children, education is the one they can leverage most effectively. In the end, everyone benefits.”

SB22-008 will provide tuition and fee waivers to youth coming through the foster care system to help expand higher education opportunities for foster youth.

To increase the likelihood of student enrollment in postsecondary education, the bill also designates navigators at school districts and universities to serve as a points-of-contact to help students choose programs, navigate the grant and tuition assistance programs, and submit applications.

For youth who are aging out of the foster system, the exit from care can be abrupt, and the transition to adulthood can be tenuous. Compromised social, familial, and economic supports lead to increased risks of unemployment, homelessness, and involvement with the criminal justice system. Foster care alumni are also at greater risk for mental health and substance use disorders.

According to a report from the Colorado Evaluation and Action Lab, only 13.4 percent of Colorado youth who were in foster care at age 13 or older entered postsecondary education by age 21, making them the lowest attaining group in Colorado. 

Nationally, 5 percent of youth who aged out of foster care had received a vocational certificate by age 21 and only 3 percent had received an associates, bachelor's or higher degree.

The legislation now moves to the House for further consideration. Track the progress of the bill here.