Foster to College Scholarship

Ohio foster care youth, alumni and allies continue to share their voices to seek to pass legislation to establish a full-time school foster care liaison within the Department of Education and to make an appropriation for the Foster-to-College Scholarship Program.

Representative Sharon Ray has introduced a budget amendment. On March 5, 2025, Jaleshia Brown, Adam Hassan and Michael Outrich provided in-person testimony regarding House Bill 96.  This is a video link to their testimony. 

Additional written testimonials were provided by: 

In favor of adding the Foster to College Scholarship provision to Ohio’s state budget. 

Ohio’s 136th General Assembly has introduced two new companion bills, House Bill 25 and Senate Bill 13. These two bills mirror one another in their efforts to enact sections 3301.95 and 3333.89 of the Revised Code to establish the Foster-to-College Scholarship Program, to require the Department of Education to hire a full-time school foster care liaison, and to make an appropriation for the Foster-to-College Scholarship Program.

Current messaging to Ohio legislators is that: “We urge you to pass the Foster-to-College Scholarship legislation (HB25 and SB13) and include the appropriation in the state’s FY26-27 budget bill as an amendment to the Governor’s proposed budget. The legislation passed resoundingly in the House in the 135th GA, 85-5. The Senate, while supportive, waited to move it forward until funding was appropriated in the budget bill. We urge you to ensure that the funds are established so that this important policy can benefit young people who face the biggest barriers to success.”

Previously the companion bills were House Bill 164 and Senate Bill 182. House Bill 164 had 58 co-sponsors, and on June 12, 2024, it passed in the Ohio House of Representatives with a vote of 84 in favor and three against. But Senate Bill 182 did not pass before the deadline. This requires both bills to be reintroduced in this new General Assembly. Thankfully, the cosponsors of HB 164 remain supportive.

Many thanks to ACTION Ohio ally member Kim Eckhart and to the Junior League of Columbus for their tireless efforts.

Previous testimonials have been submitted by:

When former foster youth attain post-secondary success, society benefits as well. We are more likely to be employed, less reliant on government services and contribute more in taxes.