Organizations Include the Nevada System of Higher Education, UNLV, UNR, Nevada School Districts
WASHINGTON, DC – Nearly 30 Nevada local and national organizations have endorsed U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen’s (D-NV) bipartisan Helping Foster and Homeless Youth Achieve Act, which would improve access to educational opportunities by requiring that higher education institutions waive their application fees for foster and homeless youth.
“Foster and homeless youth in Nevada and across the nation face significant financial barriers to higher education,” said Senator Rosen. “That is why I am proud to announce the growing support for my bipartisan bill to eliminate application fees and make higher education more accessible for foster and homeless youth.”
“This legislation is aligned with current NSHE practices that aim to decrease financial barriers which can impede student access and success,” said Cathy McAdoo, Chair of the Nevada System of Higher Education Board of Regents. “We are grateful to Senator Rosen and her team for their continual support of our hard-working and deserving students.”
“Senator Rosen’s bipartisan ‘Helping Foster and Homeless Youth Achieve Act’ is a critical step forward in ensuring that foster and homeless youth can reach the goal of a college education,” said Brian Sandoval, President of the University of Nevada, Reno. “This forward-thinking bill waives the application for enrollment fee for these students so that their journey toward achieving a lifelong dream – the attainment of a college degree – can begin.”
“As a rural Nevada school district, we applaud all efforts to remove barriers to a post-secondary education,” said Andre Ponder, Superintendent, Mineral County School District. “We support the efforts on behalf of students experiencing homelessness or in foster care.”
“The White Pine County School District is pleased to support the bipartisan Helping Foster and Homeless Youth Achieve Act, a bill that would waive application fees for foster youth and homeless youth applying for college,” said Adam Young, Superintendent, White Pine County School District. “This bill reduces one of the many barriers foster and homeless youth experience in furthering their education.”
“Homeless and foster youth finishing their high school careers are at a particularly vulnerable stage as they begin establishing their path in adulthood,” said Russell Klein, Superintendent, Lander County School District. “This is one step that can help them improve their odds of changing their lives for the better in the future.”
“Churchill County School District fully supports the Helping Foster and Homeless Youth Achieve Act,” said Dr. Summer Stephens, Superintendent, Churchill County School District. “We appreciate all efforts to remove any barriers that stand in the way of our youth reaching their dream of advancing their educations.”
According to the U.S. Department of Education, approximately 70% of foster youth express the desire to pursue higher education. Economic strain and burdensome financial aid program rules can also make it more difficult for homeless youth to apply for college and federal financial assistance.
The bipartisan Helping Foster and Homeless Youth Achieve Act is endorsed by nearly 30 national and Nevada organizations:
- Churchill County School District
- Douglas County School District
- Foster Kinship
- Lander County School District
- Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada
- Lyon County School District
- Mineral County School District
- Nevada State College
- Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE)
- Truckee Meadows Community College (TMCC)
- University of Nevada, Las Vegas
- University of Nevada, Reno
- Washoe County School District
- White Pine County School District
- Child Welfare League of America
- Children’s Advocacy Alliance
- Children’s Advocacy Institute
- Family Centered Treatment Foundation
- Family Focused Treatment Association
- First Focus Campaign for Children
- Foster Care Alumni of America
- Fostering Change Network Foundation
- iFoster
- Kidsave
- National Association of Counsel for Children
- National Network for Youth
- Schoolhouse Connection
- Youth Villages
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