Foster Youth Resources

Per the Department of Children and Families or Community Base Care Agency:

Undergraduate and Career and Technical Program Tuition and Fee Exemption for Students Receiving or Formerly Receiving Services from the Department of Children and Families

Students may qualify for an educational tuition and fee exemption pursuant to the “Florida K-20 Education Code”, Section 1009.25(2)(c), Florida Statutes, due to one of the following conditions:

• Is or was at the time he or she reached age 18 in the custody of the Department of Children and Families (no time restrictions on eligibility)
  
• Was adopted from the Department of Children and Families after May 5, 1997 (four-year eligibility limit after high school graduation)
  
• Is or was at the time of reaching age 18 in the custody of a relative under s. 39.5085, F.S. (four-year eligibility limit after high school graduation)
  
• Was placed in a guardianship by the court after reaching age 16 and spending at least 6 months in the custody of the Department of Children and Families (no time restrictions on eligibility)

Per s. 1009.25 (2)(c), F.S., the following individuals are eligible for educational tuition and fee exemptions: “A student who is or was at the time he or she reached 18 years of age in the custody of the Department of Children and Family Services or a relative under s. 39.5085, F.S., who is adopted from the Department of Children and Family Services after May 5, 1997, or who, after spending at least 6 months in the custody of the department after reaching 16 years of age, was placed in a guardianship by the court. Such exemption includes fees associated with enrollment in career-preparatory instruction and completion of the college-level communication and computation skills testing program. Such an exemption is available to any student who was in the custody of a relative under s. 39.5085, F.S., at the time he or she reached 18 years of age or was adopted from the Department of Children and Family Services after May 5, 1997; however, the exemption remains valid for no more than 4 years after the date of graduation from high school.”

The above language reflects a four-year restriction on the length of time that the exemption remains valid after high school graduation for students who were adopted after May 5, 1997, or were in relative custody under s. 39.5085, F.S. However, no time restriction is provided for students who are in the custody of the department or who were in the custody of the department on their 18th birthday or those placed in guardianship after reaching age 16.