In The News

'Closing the gap': Bill aims to make college debt-free for foster youth in California

SACRAMENTO, Calif. —

A new bill going through the state Legislature would cover the cost of college for foster youth in California.

Senate Bill 307 would guarantee that those who were part of the foster care system in California would be able to go to college debt-free at institutions within the California State University, University of California and community college systems. Tuition, housing, food and books would all be covered under the proposal.

State Sen. Angelique Ashby, D-Sacramento, introduced SB 307, and she said it would be life-changing for foster youth across the state.

"They don’t have a family to fall back on, to help them with housing or school loans or cars or shoes or backpacks or laptops. So, closing those gaps for these kiddos makes all the difference in the world," Ashby said. "Anything we can do to help young people who want to pursue college do so and not come out with crippling debt, I think is really important, regardless of where they are on the socioeconomic spectrum."

For more, click here