Christi na Dukes, NCHEcdukes@serve.org

Jennifer Marti n, NASFAAmarti nj@nasfaa.org

PAVING THE WAY TO COLLEGE FOR

STUDENTS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS

MEET NCHE AND NASFAA

The Nati onal Center for Homeless Educati on (NCHE) is the U.S. Department of Educati on’s technical assistance and informati on center in the area of homeless educati on; www.serve.org /nche

The Nati onal Associati on of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA) supports the training, diversity, and professional development of fi nancial aid administrators; advocates for public policies and programs that increase student access to and success in postsecondary educati on; and serves as a forum for communicati on and collaborati on on student fi nancial aid issues; www.nasfaa.org

What do you consider yourcurrent knowledge level to be regarding

college access for homeless students?1. Expert2. Average3. Beginner4. Ummm, what’s college access?

RAISE OF HANDS

Dealing with application expensesAdvanced Placement exam feesCollege entrance exam fees (SAT and ACT)College application fees

Seeking financial aid and scholarshipsThe FAFSA for “accompanied” and unaccompanied

homeless studentsPrivate scholarships State-specific opportunities

Options for undocumented homeless students

SESSION OUTLINE

The McKinney-Vento Act; available at www.serve.org/nche/legis/mv.php

The FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), available at www.fafsa.ed.gov

The Application and Verification Guide (AVG) (Chapter 5, Special Cases), available at www.serve.org/nche/ibt/higher_ed.php

FOUNDATIONAL DOCUMENTS

College Access and Success for Students Experiencing Homelessness: A Toolkit for Educators and Service Providerswww.naehcy.org/educati onal-resources/he-toolkit

Chapter 1: Introducti on and ContextChapter 2: Choosing a CollegeChapter 3: Fee WaiversChapter 4: Federal AidChapter 5: Beyond Federal AidChapter 6: Supporti ng Student Success in

CollegeAppendices with practi cal tools and resources

NAEHCY HIGHER EDUCATION TOOLKIT

1 (855) 446-2673 (TOLL-FREE)highered@naehcy.org

NAEHCY HIGHER EDUCATION HELPLINE

Take Advanced Placement (AP) tests, if applicableTake college entrance exam(s) (SAT and/or ACT)Complete and submit college applicati onsComplete and submit the FAFSAComplete and submit applicati ons for private

scholarshipsMore informati on is available from the College Board:

“Applying 101”: htt ps://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/get-in/applying

“Financial Aid 101”: htt ps://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/pay-for-college/financial-aid

COLLEGE ADMISSIONS CHECKLIST

FEE WAIVERS

ADVANCED PLACEMENT (AP) EXAMS:

Most four-year colleges in the United States and colleges in more than 60 other countries give students credit, advanced placement, or both on the basis of AP Exam scores; however

Each college or university may set its own policy as to which tests they will accept for credit, how much credit they will give, and what score is required to get credit.

ADVANCED PLACEMENT (AP) EXAMS:

AP exam fee waivers are available for eligible students with no limit on the number of waivers per student

To qualify for an AP exam fee waiver:The student receives or is eligible to receive free or

reduced price lunch;The student's family receives TANF assistance; orThe student is eligible to receive medical assistance

under the Medicaid program

ADVANCED PLACEMENT (AP) EXAMS:

Waivers are administered at the school; speak with your school’s AP Coordinator

Additional information is available at htt p://professionals.collegeboard.com/testing/waivers/guidelines/ap

COLLEGE ENTRANCE EXAM:THE ACT

To qualify for an ACT fee waiver, the student: Must be enrolled in high school in the 11 th or 12th grade Must be a U.S. citizen (if testing abroad) or be testing in the U.S.,

Puerto Rico, or a U.S. territory Must meet one or more of the following indicators of economic

need: Student is receiving free/reduced lunch Family income is below the USDA reduced-price lunch level Student is enrolled in TRIO or a similar program Family lives in subsidized housing or receives public assistance Student is experiencing homelessness Student is living in a foster home Student is a ward of the state or is an orphan

COLLEGE ENTRANCE EXAM:THE ACT

• Student can use the waiver to take the ACT up to two times

• The waiver is sent to high schools each summer; students must access the waiver from the school counselor, not from ACT

The waiver covers the basic test fees, including sending the test score(s) to up to four colleges; does not cover late registrati on fees or change fees

Additi onal informati on is available at www.actstudent.org/faq/feewaiver.html

A sample fee waiver is available at htt p://media.act.org/documents/feewaiver.pdf

COLLEGE ENTRANCE EXAM:THE SAT

To qualify for an SAT fee waiver, the student must:Be enrolled in high school in the 11 th

or 12th grade (SAT) or in grades 9-12 (SAT Subject Tests)

Be a U.S. citizen (if testing abroad) or be testing in the U.S., Puerto Rico, or a U.S. territory

Meet one or more indicator(s) of economic need (same as for the ACT fee waiver)

COLLEGE ENTRANCE EXAM:THE SAT

The waiver must be obtained from the student’s high school counselor or an authorized agency, not from the College Board

The student can receive up to four waiver cards: Up to two waivers for the SAT and two waivers for SAT Subject Tests

The waiver covers the basic test fees, including sending the test score(s) to up to four colleges; does not cover late registrati on fees or change fees

Additi onal informati on is available at htt p://sat.collegeboard.org/register/sat-fee-waivers

COLLEGE APPLICATION FEES

College Board program Students who qualify for the College Board’s SAT fee

waiver also qualify to receive up to four Request for Waiver of College Application Fee forms

Forms should be included with the students’ college applications and sent to colleges included in the Directory of Colleges Cooperating with the SAT Program Fee-Waiver Service

Additi onal informati on is available at htt p://professionals.collegeboard.com/guidance/applicati ons/fee-waivers

COLLEGE APPLICATION FEES

Nati onal Associati on of College Admission Counseling (NACAC) form To be completed with the help of the high school counselor For graduating high school seniors entering college in the fall Same eligibility criteria as the ACT and SAT waiver programs Can be based on income and/or the counselor’s knowledge

of the family’s circumstancesAdditi onal informati on is available at

www.nacacnet.org/studenti nfo/feewaiver/Pages/default.aspx

COLLEGE APPLICATION FEES

Most colleges accept the College Board or NACAC waiver forms; however, individual insti tuti ons may have their own fee waiver policies that vary

Some colleges do not charge applicati on fees for students that apply online

NCHE does not recommend using McKinney-Vento subgrant funds or Title IA set-aside funds to pay for AP exam, college entrance exam, or college applicati on fees

QUESTIONS?

THE FAFSA

RAISE OF HANDS

Describe your experience working with unaccompanied homeless youth (UHY) to

access federal fi nancial aid?1. I have worked with UHY; our eff orts were successful2. I have worked with UHY; our eff orts were met with

resistance3. I have not yet worked with UHY on fi nancial aid issues4. Ummm, what’s an UHY?

FAFSA = Free Application for Federal Student AidThe offi cial FAFSA web address is

www.fafsa.ed.gov Students applying for federal aid must complete

a FAFSA for each school year for which they are seeking federal aid

FAFSA BASICS

A new FAFSA is released each January for the upcoming school year

Example: 2013-2014 FAFSAReleased in January 2013Valid for students attending school for Fall 2013 and

Spring 2014Treatment of the Summer term depends on the school

FAFSA BASICS

EFC = Expected Family ContributionBased on the information submitt ed

on the FAFSA, the U.S. Department ofEducation calculates the EFC

Dependent StudentMust report parent information on FAFSAEFC is based on parents’ and student’s

income and assetsIndependent Student

Does NOT report parent information on FAFSAEFC is based on student’s income and assets

CALCULATION OF FEDERAL AID

Independent if ANY of these are true:Married24 years oldVeteran or on active dutyGraduate studentHas a legal dependent (child/other)Orphan/Ward of the court/In a legal guardianship Legally emancipated minor In foster care at age 13 or olderUnaccompanied homeless youth Independent by “dependency override” as determined

by the Financial Aid Administrator

WHO IS INDEPENDENT?

Students experiencing homelessness with their family fi ll out the FAFSA as dependent students Living arrangement meets the M-V

definition of homeless In the physical custody of a parent or

guardian

“ACCOMPANIED” HOMELESS YOUTH

Need parent signatureThe EFC is based on family income and assetsHomeless students from low-income families likely will

qualify for a benefi cial aid package Example: The EFC Formula, 2013-2014 explains that students who

received free school meals in 2011 or 2012, and whose parents’ 2012 income is less than $24,000, quality for a $0 EFC

Additi onal informati on is available at htt p://ifap.ed.gov/efcformulaguide/att achments/091312EFCFormulaGuide1314.pdf

“ACCOMPANIED” HOMELESS YOUTH

Unaccompanied homeless youth fi ll out the FAFSA as independent studentsHomeless: Living arrangement meets the M-V definition

of homelessUnaccompanied: Not in the physical custody of a parent

or guardianYouth: 21 or younger or still enrolled in high school on

the date he/she signs the FAFSAAges 22-23: Requires a dependency override24 or older: Automatic independent status

UNACCOMPANIED HOMELESS YOUTH

Unaccompanied youth at risk of homelessness fi ll out the FAFSA as independent studentsAt risk of homelessness: When a student’s housing may

cease to be fixed, regular, and adequate, for example, a student who is being evicted and has been unable to find fixed, regular, and adequate housing.

Unaccompanied: Not in the physical custody of a parent or guardian

Youth: 21 or younger or still enrolled in high school on the date he/she signs the FAFSA

AT RISK OF HOMELESSNESS

Do not need to provide informati on on parental income and assets

Do not need a parental signatureDo provide informati on on their own

income and assetsIndependent status is not equivalent

to free tuiti on; however, the EFC is calculated proporti onal to what the student can provide based on his/her resources

INDEPENDENT HOMELESS YOUTH

Local homeless educati on liaison; for students graduati ng from high school who were identi fi ed as an UHY while in high school

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) shelter director or designee; for students who have received services

Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (RHYA) shelter director or designee; for students who have received services

Financial Aid Administrator (FAA); for any student, but parti cularly those who cannot get a determinati on from one of the other three authorized parti es

DETERMINERS OF INDEPENDENT STATUS

ACCORDING TO THE AVG…THE FINANCIAL AID

ADMINISTRATORIf a student does not have, and cannot get, a

determination from a local liaison, RHYA provider, or HUD provider, a FAA must make a determination of unaccompanied homeless youth status

If a student meets the definition of UHY, this is not a “dependency override”; this is determining the independent student status of an unaccompanied homeless youth

ACCORDING TO THE AVG…FAA DETERMINATIONS

Verification of “yes” answers to the unaccompanied homeless youth questions on the FAFSA is not required unless there is conflicting information

A FAA may determine a student’s status with a documented interview

ACCORDING TO THE AVG…FAA DETERMINATIONS

Encourages discretion and sensitivity when gathering information Some information may be confidential (e.g., protected

by doctor-patient privilege)Child welfare and/or law enforcement reports are not

necessaryRecommends consulting with local liaisons,

State Coordinators, NCHE, school counselors, clergy, etc.

Online FAFSA includes four questions regarding unaccompanied homeless youth, including for youth who have no determination as of yet

Encourage UHY to complete the FAFSA online

2013-2014 ONLINE FAFSA

PDF FAFSA includes only 3 UHY-related questi ons

2013-2014 PDF/PAPER FAFSA

A student without a determination of independent status must respond “no” to UHY questions and follow up with the FAA

2013-2014 PDF/PAPER FAFSA

Student doesn’t sign the applicationName reported on the FAFSA does not

match name in Social Security Administration records

Report adjusted gross income equal to taxes paid

TOP FAFSA ERRORS FORHOMELESS YOUTH

NAEHCY Template (Unaccompanied Homeless Youth Documentati on of Independent Student Status for the FAFSA ) available at www.naehcy.org/educati onal-resources/higher-ed

NCHE/NAEHCY FAA Tool (Making Student Status Determinati ons for Unaccompanied Homeless Youth: Eligibility Tool for Financial Aid Administrators) available at www.serve.org/nche/pr/faa_tool.php

TOOLS

QUESTIONS?

SCHOLARSHIPS,STATE RESOURCES,UNDOCUMENTED

STUDENTS

Check with the high school’s guidance counselor for a list of private scholarships available to area students

The LeTendre Education Fund Scholarship: www.naehcy.org/letendre-scholarship-fund/about-the-fund

Give Us Your Poor/Horatio Alger Scholarship: www.horatioalger.org/scholarships/

PRIVATE SCHOLARSHIPS

Free scholarship search engines:Fastweb!: www.fastweb.com/ College Board: https://

bigfuture.collegeboard.org/scholarship-search U.S. Department of Education: http://

studentaid.ed.gov/types/grants-scholarships/finding-scholarships (includes scholarship search tips and guidelines)

PRIVATE SCHOLARSHIPS

Some states have special provisions available for low-income and/or homeless students: Indiana: Students receiving free lunch receive a tuition waiver

when participating in Indiana’s Double Up Program (dual enrollment in college courses for students in 11 th and 12th grade)www.in.gov/legislative/ic/code/title21/ar14/ch8.html

Florida: Homeless students are exempt from the payment of tuition and fees at a school district that provides postsecondary career programs, community college, or state university (2011 F.S. 1009.25); restrictions applyhtt p://www.leg.state.fl .us/Statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&Search_String=&URL=1000-1099/1009/Sections/1009.25.html

STATE RESOURCES

Encourage the student to consider a variety of institutions with different “price points”A student may not be able to afford a particular

institution, but other good college options may be available

A student may start at a community college and transfer to a four-year college at a later time, but needs to have a solid and informed transition plan

Consider housing options if looking into a school without dorms

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

RAISE OF HANDS

In your experience, how accessible ishigher education for undocumented students

in your state?1. Very accessible2. Somewhat accessible3. Not accessible at all4. Ummm, what’s an undocumented student?

Undocumented studentNot a U.S. citizen or legal permanent

residentDoes not possess a green card, visa,

or other legal documentationUndocumented students may

face obstacles in three areas:College admissionTuition Financial aid

UNDOCUMENTED STUDENTS

Access to higher educati on for undocumented students is highly state-specifi c and insti tuti on-specifi c No federal law prohibiting the admission of undocumented

students into U.S. colleges and universities Some states permit the admission of undocumented students into

state institutions Some private institutions permit the admission of undocumented

students Some states or institutions admit undocumented students but

treat them as out-of-state or foreign students, making them ineligible for state aid and in-state tuition

COLLEGE ADMISSION

Some states charge undocumented students out-of-state tuition fees

Some states permit undocumented students to pay in-state tuition under certain circumstancesExample: California permits undocumented students to

pay in-state tuition if the student has attended a state high school for three or more years, has graduated from a state high school, and signs an affi davit promising to file an application to legalize his/her immigration status

COLLEGE TUITION

Undocumented students are not eligible to receive federally funded fi nancial aid

Undocumented students are not eligible for state aid in most states; a handful of states grant eligibility for state aid to undocumented students who qualify for in-state tuiti on

Private colleges and universiti es set their own fi nancial aid policies; some grant scholarships and other aid to undocumented students

Many, but not all, private scholarships require applicants to be U.S. citi zens or legal residents

FINANCIAL AID FORUNDOCUMENTED

STUDENTS

From Reconciling Federal, State, and Institutional Policies Determining Educational Access for Undocumented Students: Implications for Professional Practice, available at www.nasfaa.org/research/member-surveys/Reconciling_Federal,_State,_and_Institutional_Policies_Determining_Educational_Access_for_Undocumented_Students__Implications_for_Professional_Practice.aspx

Let’s take a quick glance…

A GLANCE AT THE STATES

Visit htt p://professionals.collegeboard.com/guidance/financial-aid/undocumented-students and htt p://media.collegeboard.com/digitalServices/pdf/diversity/Repository-Resources-Undocumented-Students_2012.pdf for more information, including: Information on state laws regarding college access for

undocumented studentsA list of scholarships available to all students, regardless

of immigration status

MORE INFORMATION

FINAL QUESTIONS?

RAISE OF HANDS

What is your most valuable “take-home” point from today’s session?

1. Informati on on fee waivers2. Informati on on the FAFSA3. Informati on on private scholarships and state

opportuniti es4. Informati on on undocumented students5. All of the above6. Ummm, what? Sorry, I was napping.

Learn more about TRIO at htt p://www2.ed.gov/about/offi ces/list/ope/trio/index.html

Learn more about GEAR UP at htt p://www2.ed.gov/programs/gearup/index.html

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES