SB 860 Implementation

Multiple studies have shown that financial aid receipt positively impacts grade point average, transfer rates and undergraduate degree attainment, making it an essential college completion tool for foster youth. And yet, historically, foster youth were less likely to gain access to financial aid than their peers. SB 860, passed in 2020, clarifies the role of Foster Youth Services Coordinating Programs (FYSCPs) to include coordination of efforts to support FAFSA completion among foster youth who are high school seniors. It also adds FAFSA completion rates to their bi-annual reporting requirement.

  • FAFSA Challenge

    The FAFSA Challenge was a voluntary effort in which county FYCSPs coordinated work across various partners, including school districts, child welfare agencies, and local colleges. This pilot increased FAFSA completion rates from 45% to 64% among high school seniors in just three years, leveraging millions of dollars in financial aid. CLICK HERE to read more about the California Foster Youth FAFSA Challenge, which led to the introduction of SB 860.