ATLANTA — State Representative Sandra Scott (D-Rex) today announced the introduction of House Bill 1044, otherwise known as the Higher Education Access and Success for Homeless and Foster Youth Act.
“This legislation will remove barriers and help vulnerable young people achieve a better future through higher education,” said Rep. Scott. “This bill is a framework for these youth for greater access to education and support from Georgia’s colleges and technical schools. We must create a defined and measurable way to connect these students to a higher education.”
HB 1044 would provide in-state tuition at the University System of Georgia and branches of the Technical College System of Georgia for youth who are homeless or in foster care. This bill would also exclude foster care assistance from being considered as income when calculating financial aid.
“Georgia has over 7,500 students in foster care, and 35 thousand certified homeless students attending Georgia’s public schools,” said Rep. Scott. “The number of certified homeless students has almost doubled since 2008. The rate at which foster and homeless youth enter and complete post-secondary education remains extremely low, and Georgia does not track homeless students entering college or technical schools. Without the support of family, and often without a stable home life, these youth face significant barriers to enrolling, attending, and navigating through college. These youth are often living at the margins and working extremely hard just to maintain their day to day needs. Foster youth and homeless youth often have trouble proving residency for in-state tuition, because of paperwork issues. Others lose residency in their “home” state because homelessness or foster care forces them to move. This bill seeks to correct these issues that these students in our state are facing.”
HB 1044 is supported by the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus Education Committee and will be presented at the Caucus’s Annual Heritage Dinner.
For more information on HB 1044, please click here.
Representative Sandra Scott represents the citizens of District 76, which includes portions of Clayton and Henry counties. She was first elected into the House Representatives in 2010, and currently serves on the Human Relations & Aging, Legislative & Congressional Reapportionment, Science and Technology, and Special Rules committees
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