Education and Training Voucher Program

What legislation defines sections of the education and training vouchers?

Promoting Safe and Stable Families Amendments of 2001 (PSSFA of 2001)- This is the legislation that authorized the creation of the sixth provision.

Higher Education Act of 1965 (as amended)- Several key definitions under the program are held within this piece of legislation. Click here to go straight to Section 472 which holds key definitions in cost of attendance.

What is the definition of an Institution of Higher Education?

For a full definition, refer to Section 101 and 102 of the Higher Education Act. A brief summary of the definition is as follows:

An Institution of Higher Education is a school that:

• Awards a bachelor’s degree or not less than a 2 year program that provides credit towards a degree or,
• Provides not less than 1 year of training towards gainful employment or,
• Is a vocational program that provides training for gainful employment and has been in existence for at least two years.
  

And must meet all three of the following criteria:

• Admits as regular students only persons with a high school diploma or equivalent; or admits as regular students persons who are beyond the age of compulsory school attendance
• Public, Private, or Non-Profit
• Accredited or pre accredited and is authorized to operate in that state
  

How do states compute the cost of attendance?

Universities, colleges, and other programs have tools for calculating the cost of attendance for their school. This computation does not always include the resources a young person needs to complete the semester such as child care and equipment. States can use this government site, www.nces.ed.gov, to see the standard tuition and fees along with room and board costs for any institution that receives Pell Grant funding.

What program guidelines were created as a result of the addition of the Education and Training Voucher provision?

The Promoting Safe and Stable Families Amendment of 2001 amended section 477 of the Social Security Act to add a new purpose to the Chafee Foster Care Independence Program. It also adds a new subsection to section 477. Subsection (i) spelled out the following 6 points:

The following conditions shall apply to a State educational and training voucher program under this section:

(1) Vouchers under the program may be available to youths otherwise eligible for services under the State program under this section.

(2) For purposes of the voucher program, youths adopted from foster care after attaining age 16 may be considered to be youths otherwise eligible for services under the State program under this section.

(3) The State may allow youths participating in the voucher program on the date they attain 21 years of age to remain eligible until they attain 23 years of age, as long as they are enrolled in a post secondary education or training program and are making satisfactory progress toward completion of that program.

(4) The voucher or vouchers provided for an individual under this section – a. may be available for the cost of attendance at an institution of higher education as defined in section 102 of the Higher Education Act of 1965; and b. Shall not exceed the lesser of $5,000 per year or the total cost of attendance, as defined in section 472 of that Act.

(5) The amount of a voucher under this section shall be disregarded for the purposes of determining the recipient’s eligibility for, or the amount of, any other Federal or Federally supported assistance, except that the total amount of educational assistance to a youth under this section and under other Federal and Federally supported programs shall not exceed the total cost of attendance, as defined in section 472 of the Higher Education Act of 1965, and except that the State agency shall take appropriate steps to prevent duplication of benefits under this and other Federal and Federally supported programs.

(6) The program is coordinated with other appropriate education and training programs.

When were the Education and Training Vouchers funded?

$42 million was earmarked for Chafee Independent Living Education and Training Vouchers under appropriations for FY2003. This Bill was signed into law on February 20, 2003. To see the one-sentence reference to the Independent Living Training Vouchers in the provision, go to www.house.gov/rules.pdf. This link is on the House Rules Committee website, and the vouchers can be found on pages 33-34. After a .65% (.0065) across the board cut for administrative purposes, $41.7 million will remain for student vouchers and training. To view what your state is doing with the project click here to go to our state by state pages.

Funding Allotments for 2003
Funding Allotments for 2004
Funding Allotments for 2005
Funding Allotments for 2006
Funding Allotments for 2007

How do states apply for ETV funds?

Funding to begin October 1, 2004 will be completed through application as a part of the annual Child and Family Services Plan. The program instructions (PI) for fiscal year 2005 planning has been released, to view a copy (pdf), click here. States had to submit these plans by June 30, 2004 and will begin their new programs at the start of the new fiscal year.

For additional information on Education and Training Vouchers, please visit the Children's Bureau web site.

Another Education Resource - Tuition Waivers

Tuition waiver programs have been initiated in several states to help foster youth continue their educational opportunities. A link to state information is included along with a description of differences between some programs. Click here for more information.