Relates to higher education funding opportunities for foster youth

Latest action Feb 26, 2026

Directs the education department and OCFS to prepare posters and pamphlets with information regarding higher education funding opportunities for foster youth.

Not chosen yet

Where it stands

Passed one of the two chambers; it still needs the other.

Introduced
In committee
Up for a vote
Passed one chamber
Passed
Enacted

New York State Senate

Same as A5658, the matching bill in the Assembly.

Amends the Education Law.

Committee

Higher Education · New York State Assembly

Also referred to Higher Education · New York State Senate.

Purpose, from the sponsor's memo

THIS LEGISLATION WILL FAMILIARIZE STUDENTS AND STAFF AT PUBLIC HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS WITH FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES THAT FOSTER YOUTH MAY BE ELIGIBLE FOR.

Filed with the bill. Read it on nysenate.gov (opens in a new tab)

Recorded votes

Vote: Floor vote
NY SenateFeb 26, 2026Result: passed
(57) (0) (0) (6)
Vote: Committee vote · Higher Education
Senate Higher EducationFeb 10, 2026Result: passed
(11) (0) (0) (0)
Vote: Floor vote
NY SenateFeb 24, 2025Result: passed
(60) (0) (0) (3)
Vote: Committee vote · Higher Education
Senate Higher EducationFeb 3, 2025Result: passed
(11) (0) (0) (0)

Cosponsors

Albert A. Stirpe, Andrew Hevesi and 14 more on Agora

Democratic16

Show all 16 on Agora

See the full list on nysenate.gov

The sponsor's argument

Why Samra Brouk says this is needed

CHILDREN WHO HAVE SPENT TIME IN THE CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM FACE UNIQUE CHALLENGES IN EDUCATIONAL SETTINGS. THEY TEND TO LACK PROPER FINANCIAL AND EMOTIONAL SUPPORT, WHICH NEGATIVELY AFFECTS THEIR SCHOOL ENROLLMENT, ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE, AND GRADUATION RATES. THESE CHALLENGES OFTEN RESTRAIN THEIR ABILITY TO THRIVE IN OUR HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEM. SIXTY- THREE PERCENT OF YOUNG PEOPLE IN CARE WANT TO GO TO COLLEGE BUT THINK THERE ARE NO RESOURCES. OF THOSE THAT DO ENROLL, ONLY THREE TO ELEVEN PERCENT ACTUALLY OBTAIN A DEGREE. FORMER, CURRENT, AND PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS, AS WELL AS ADMISSIONS AND FINANCIAL AID STAFF WITHIN HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS MAY BE UNAWARE OF POTENTIAL FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO FOSTER YOUTH. CONSIDERING THAT HIGHER EDUCATION IS BECOMING INCREASINGLY LESS AFFORDA- BLE, ACCESS TO FINANCIAL AID IS CRITICAL FOR FOSTER YOUTH IN NEW YORK STATE. THIS BILL WOULD PUT IN PLACE REQUIREMENTS THAT FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES THAT FOSTER YOUTH ARE ELIGIBLE FOR ARE POSTED PUBLICLY TO BRING GREATER AWARENESS TO THESE OPPORTUNITIES. ACCESS TO THIS INFORMATION WILL HELP ENCOURAGE FOSTER YOUTH WHO MAY BE HESITANT TO APPLY BY COMMUNICATING THAT THERE ARE FINANCIAL RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO THEM. THIS LEGISLATION WOULD INCREASE FOSTER YOUTH ENROLL- MENT AND GRADUATION RATES IN INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION ACROSS THE STATE OF NEW YORK. EQUIPPING STUDENTS AND STAFF WITH WRITTEN MATERIALS AND ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS ABOUT FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR FOSTER YOUTH WOULD ENSURE THAT STUDENTS, STAFF, FAMILIES, AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC ARE AWARE OF THEIR OPTIONS AND CAN EMPOWER YOUTH TO EXPLORE NEW POSSIBILITIES.

This is the sponsor's own case for the bill, quoted from their memorandum. It is not Agora's description of what the bill does.

Full history

Feb 26, 2026
Sent to the executive
DELIVERED TO ASSEMBLY
NY Senate
Feb 26, 2026
Passed a chamber
PASSED SENATE
NY Senate
Feb 26, 2026
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO HIGHER EDUCATION
NY Assembly
Feb 24, 2026
Advanced to Third Reading
ADVANCED TO THIRD READING
NY Senate
Feb 11, 2026
2ND Report CAL.
2ND REPORT CAL.
NY Senate

Show full history (12 earlier events)

Feb 10, 2026
1ST Report CAL.308
1ST REPORT CAL.308
NY Senate
Jan 7, 2026
Died in Assembly
DIED IN ASSEMBLY
NY Assembly
Jan 7, 2026
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO HIGHER EDUCATION
NY Assembly
Jan 7, 2026
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO HIGHER EDUCATION
NY Senate
Feb 24, 2025
Sent to the executive
DELIVERED TO ASSEMBLY
NY Senate
Feb 24, 2025
Passed a chamber
PASSED SENATE
NY Senate
Feb 24, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO HIGHER EDUCATION
NY Assembly
Feb 19, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO HIGHER EDUCATION
NY Assembly
Feb 5, 2025
Advanced to Third Reading
ADVANCED TO THIRD READING
NY Senate
Feb 4, 2025
2ND Report CAL.
2ND REPORT CAL.
NY Senate
Feb 3, 2025
1ST Report CAL.223
1ST REPORT CAL.223
NY Senate
Jan 8, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO HIGHER EDUCATION
NY Senate

About this record

Summary: The summary comes from NY Open Legislation, the New York State Senate's public record. For more, see How we handle summaries.
Cosponsors: The list shows the cosponsors who are on Agora, A to Z. The official record may list more.
Party colors: Parties are shown in the same neutral colors.
Source: From NY Open Legislation, the NY Senate and Assembly, and official rosters. This record was last updated Nov 2, 2026. About our data

Read the record

Read on NY Senate (opens in a new tab) The official record on nysenate.gov.

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