Ohio Bill Seeks to Provide Foster Children with College and Career Opportunities
Source: http://ohiocapitaljournal.com
A bipartisan bill in the Ohio General Assembly aims to create a scholarship program for foster children, helping them pursue higher education and career training. House Bill 25, reintroduced by Rep. Dontavius Jarrells (D-Columbus) and co-sponsored by Rep. Sharon Ray (R-Wadsworth), would provide scholarships for Ohioans who were in foster care after their 13th birthday, covering tuition, fees, and other education expenses outside of federal and state financial aid.
With foster youth experiencing higher dropout rates and lower college completion rates, the bill proposes $7.5 million in funding over the next two years to support the initiative. It would also establish “foster care student navigators”—state-hired professionals who would assist students with applications, admissions, and career training.
A companion bill, Senate Bill 13, has been introduced in the Ohio Senate by Sen. Michele Reynolds (R-Canal Winchester). Supporters compare the initiative to the GI Bill, which transformed lives by making education accessible to military personnel.
“These kids, when they’re 18, just age out of the system,” Ray said. “We want to make sure they have the best chance at life.”
Read more about the story here: https://ohio.childreninfobank.com/safebank/ohio-foster-to-college-bill-aims-to-bring-kids-out-of-system-into-higher-ed-career-tech/
Image Source: http://ohiocapitaljournal.com