Educational Supports for Youth in Foster Care - Ohio

Support for Completing High School

Citation: Admin. Code § 5101:2-42-19

Independent living services may include academic supports, including, but not limited to, the following services:

• Academic counseling
• Preparation for a general educational development (GED) diploma
• Assistance in applying for or studying for a GED exam
• Tutoring
• Help with homework
• Study skills training
• Literacy training
• Help accessing educational resources

Planning for Postsecondary Education

Citation: Admin. Code § 5101:2-42-19

Independent-living services may include postsecondary educational support, including, but not limited to, the following services:

• Classes for test preparation
• Counseling about college
• Information about financial aid and scholarships
• Help completing college or loan applications
• Tutoring while in college

Eligibility Requirements

Citation: Rev. Stat. § 3333.122

Only an Ohio resident who meets both of the following criteria is eligible for a grant awarded under the Ohio College Opportunity Grant Program:

• The resident has an expected family contribution of $2,190 or less.
• The resident enrolls in an undergraduate program or a nursing diploma program approved by the Board of Nursing at a State-assisted State institution of higher education; at a private, nonprofit institution in this State holding a certificate of authorization; at a career college in this State that holds a certificate of registration from the State Board of Career Colleges and Schools; or at a private institution exempt from regulation, if the program has a certificate of authorization.

Financial Supports for Postsecondary Programs

Citation: Rev. Stat. §§ 3333.052; 3333.122

The chancellor of the Department of Higher Education, with the assistance of the Department of Job and Family Services, shall establish the community college acceleration program to enhance financial, academic, and personal support services to students in need of support from local social service agencies. The program shall identify the services and resources available to assist eligible students enrolled in a community college, a State community college, a technical college, or a university branch campus.

The chancellor shall adopt rules to administer the program. The rules shall specify the types of services provided by the program, which may include any of the following:

• Comprehensive and personalized advisement
• Career counseling
• Tutoring
• Tuition waivers
• Financial assistance to defray the costs of transportation and textbooks

The chancellor shall establish and administer a needs-based financial aid grants program based on the U.S. Department of Education's method of determining financial need. The program shall be known as the Ohio College Opportunity Grant Program.

The needs-based financial aid grant shall be paid to the eligible student through the institution in which the student is enrolled. Needs-based financial aid grants shall be provided to an eligible student only as long as the student is making appropriate progress toward a nursing diploma, an associate or bachelor's degree, or completion of a comprehensive transition and postsecondary program. No student shall be eligible to receive a grant for more than 10 semesters, 15 quarters, or the equivalent of 5 academic years. Except as provided below, no grant awarded under this section shall exceed the total State cost of attendance.

The chancellor shall determine the maximum per student award amount for each institution by subtracting the sum of the maximum Pell Grant and maximum expected family contribution amounts, as determined by the chancellor, from the average instructional and general fees charged by the institution.

If a student is enrolled in a 2-year institution of higher education and is eligible for an education and training voucher through the Ohio Education and Training and Voucher (ETV) program that receives Federal funding under the John H. Chafee Foster Care Independence Program, the amount of a grant awarded under this section may exceed the total State cost of attendance to additionally cover housing costs.

From the department website: The Ohio ETV program provides up to $5,000 a year in Federal funding for qualified school-related expenses for young people who aged out of foster care or who were adopted after age 16. To qualify, recipients must enroll in a full-time postsecondary education or training program by age 21, continue to be enrolled, and make satisfactory progress. Funding may be used for tuition, room and board, student loan repayment, books and supplies, transportation, and/or other related expenses.