Texas foster youth struggle to get college degrees

[Draggingtree]

Texas Tribune:

Texas foster youth struggle to get college degrees

 

Although Texas offers free tuition waivers and other benefits to ease foster youths' transition to higher education, the number of students using the resources has declined.

by Elena Mejia Lutz Nov. 13, 2016

 

Shortly before her ninth birthday, Briana Dovi and her five siblings were placed into foster care in Central Texas. Dovi enrolled in school for the first time, battling speech disorders and dyslexia.

 

“My siblings and I only interacted with one another, which caused our language skills to be underdeveloped," Dovi said. "When we were placed into [foster] care, we did not speak true English."

 

Today, all six siblings have college diplomas — and Dovi has a master's degree — but they didn't spend a penny on tuition, thanks to a 1993 state program.

 

In Texas, foster youths are eligible for waived college tuition and education training vouchers as long as they enroll before their 25th birthday. But many eligible students do not take advantage of the program

 

About 3,200 students used the waivers in the 2015 budget year at a cost to colleges of about $8.3 million, according to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.