N.Y. Education Law § 6456: Foster youth college success initiative

§ 6456. Foster youth college success initiative. 1. Subject to an

appropriation, the commissioner shall allocate the funds available for

the foster youth college success initiative for the purpose of providing

support services to assist youth in foster care to apply for, enroll in,

and succeed in college. Such grants shall be awarded to institutions of

the state university of New York and institutions of the city university

of New York, and the commissioner shall enter into contracts with

degree-granting institutions in New York that are currently funded by

the Arthur O. Eve higher education opportunity program pursuant to

section sixty-four hundred fifty-one of this article for the purpose of

providing additional services and expenses to expand opportunities for

foster youth.

2. For the purposes of this section, "foster youth" shall mean

students who (i) are an orphan or (ii) are, or have been, either a child

or youth in foster care as such term is defined in section thirty-two

hundred forty-four of this chapter or ward of the court at any time

after their thirteenth birthday.

3. a. Funds appropriated in the two thousand fifteen--two thousand

sixteen academic year for the purposes of this initiative shall be

allocated by sector as follows: fifty-two percent for institutions in

the state university of New York; thirty percent for institutions in the

city university of New York; and eighteen percent for other

degree-granting institutions in New York with current Arthur O. Eve

higher education opportunity programs.

b. Funds appropriated in the two thousand sixteen--two thousand

seventeen academic year and thereafter for the purposes of this

initiative shall be allocated by sector based on the percentage of

foster youth identified by each institution that will be served by this

initiative in the following academic year, in applications received by

the commissioner pursuant to subdivision six of this section, provided

however that the award per student for foster youth first served in the

two thousand fifteen--two thousand sixteen academic year shall be no

less than the amount per student awarded for those students in the two

thousand fifteen--two thousand sixteen academic year.

4. Funds for all programs under this section shall be awarded in equal

amounts per foster youth to each institution that applies for funding

allocated to its sector distribution as provided in subdivision three of

this section and has an application that is approved by the

commissioner; provided, however, funds shall be awarded to a foster

youth based on his or her need as determined by the institution of

higher education where such foster youth is in attendance.

5. Moneys made available to institutions under this section shall be

spent for the following purposes:

a. to provide additional services and expenses to expand opportunities

through existing postsecondary opportunity programs at the state

university of New York, the city university of New York, and other

degree-granting higher education institutions for foster youth;

b. to provide any necessary supplemental financial aid for foster

youth, which may include the cost of tuition and fees, books,

transportation, housing and other expenses as determined by the

commissioner to be necessary for such foster youth to attend college;

c. summer college preparation programs to help foster youth transition

to college, prepare them to navigate on-campus systems, and provide

preparation in reading, writing, and mathematics for foster youth who

need it;

d. advisement, tutoring, and academic assistance for foster youth;

e. to provide supplemental housing and meals, including but not

limited to during intersession and summer breaks, for foster youth; or

f. medical expenses including, but not limited to, primary care,

behavioral health, vision and dental care which is not otherwise covered

by an eligible student's health plan.

6. Eligible institutions shall file an application for approval by the

commissioner each year demonstrating a need for such funding, including

how the funding would be used and how many foster youth would be

assisted with such funding. Successful applicants will be funded as

provided in subdivision four of this section.

7. No funds pursuant to this section shall be made available to

support the regular academic programs of any institution participating

in this program, nor shall funds be provided for programs which are

incompatible with the regents plan for the expansion and development of

higher education in this state.