NY Educ L § 6456 (2021)
2021 New York Laws EDN - Education Title 7 - State and City Colleges and Institutions-Cornell University Article 130 - Arthur O. Eve Opportunity for Higher Education 6456 - Foster Youth College Success Initiative.

§  6456.  Foster  youth  college  success initiative. 1. Subject to an   appropriation, the commissioner shall allocate the funds  available  for   the foster youth college success initiative for the purpose of providing   support services to assist youth in foster care to apply for, enroll in,   and  succeed in college. Such grants shall be awarded to institutions of   the state university of New York and institutions of the city university   of New York, and  the  commissioner  shall  enter  into  contracts  with   degree-granting  institutions  in  New York that are currently funded by   the Arthur O. Eve  higher  education  opportunity  program  pursuant  to   section  sixty-four hundred fifty-one of this article for the purpose of   providing additional services and expenses to expand  opportunities  for   foster youth.2.  For  the  purposes  of  this  section,  "foster  youth" shall mean   students who (i) are an orphan or (ii) are, or have been, either a child   or youth in foster care as such term is defined  in  section  thirty-two   hundred  forty-four  of  this  chapter  or ward of the court at any time   after their thirteenth birthday.3. a. Funds appropriated in the  two  thousand  fifteen--two  thousand   sixteen  academic  year  for  the  purposes  of this initiative shall be   allocated by sector as follows: fifty-two percent  for  institutions  in   the state university of New York; thirty percent for institutions in the   city   university   of   New   York;  and  eighteen  percent  for  other   degree-granting institutions in New York  with  current  Arthur  O.  Eve   higher education opportunity programs.b.  Funds  appropriated  in  the  two  thousand  sixteen--two thousand   seventeen  academic  year  and  thereafter  for  the  purposes  of  this   initiative  shall  be  allocated  by  sector  based on the percentage of   foster youth identified by each institution that will be served by  this   initiative  in  the following academic year, in applications received by   the commissioner pursuant to subdivision six of this  section,  provided   however  that the award per student for foster youth first served in the   two thousand fifteen--two thousand sixteen academic  year  shall  be  no   less  than  the amount per student awarded for those students in the two   thousand fifteen--two thousand sixteen academic year.4. Funds for all programs under this section shall be awarded in equal   amounts per foster youth to each institution that  applies  for  funding   allocated to its sector distribution as provided in subdivision three of   this   section   and   has  an  application  that  is  approved  by  the   commissioner; provided, however, funds shall  be  awarded  to  a  foster   youth  based  on  his  or  her  need as determined by the institution of   higher education where such foster youth is in attendance.5. Moneys made available to institutions under this section  shall  be   spent for the following purposes:a. to provide additional services and expenses to expand opportunities   through   existing  postsecondary  opportunity  programs  at  the  state   university of New York, the city  university  of  New  York,  and  other   degree-granting higher education institutions for foster youth;b.  to  provide  any  necessary  supplemental financial aid for foster   youth,  which  may  include  the  cost  of  tuition  and  fees,   books,   transportation,   housing  and  other  expenses  as  determined  by  the   commissioner to be necessary for such foster youth to attend college;c. summer college preparation programs to help foster youth transition   to college, prepare them to  navigate  on-campus  systems,  and  provide   preparation  in  reading,  writing, and mathematics for foster youth who   need it;d. advisement, tutoring, and academic assistance for foster youth;e. to provide  supplemental  housing  and  meals,  including  but  not   limited to during intersession and summer breaks, for foster youth; or f.  medical  expenses  including,  but  not  limited to, primary care,   behavioral health, vision and dental care which is not otherwise covered   by an eligible student's health plan.6. Eligible institutions shall file an application for approval by the   commissioner  each year demonstrating a need for such funding, including   how the funding would be  used  and  how  many  foster  youth  would  be   assisted  with  such  funding.  Successful  applicants will be funded as   provided in subdivision four of this section.7. No funds pursuant to  this  section  shall  be  made  available  to   support  the  regular academic programs of any institution participating   in this program, nor shall funds be  provided  for  programs  which  are   incompatible  with the regents plan for the expansion and development of   higher education in this state.