AN ACT EXTENDING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR THE POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION EXPENSES OF FOSTER YOUTH.

Children Education

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Committee on Children
Last action: 2026-03-06
Official status: Favorable Change of Reference, Senate to Committee on Appropriations
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official text confirms the bill passed both chambers, but does not show if it has been signed into law or vetoed.

Extending College Aid for Foster Youth to Age 28

This law requires the Department of Children and Families to extend financial aid for college or training programs so foster youth can receive support until they are twenty-eight years old.

What This Bill Does

Increases the age limit from twenty-one to twenty-six for a youth to qualify for education funding.
Raises the maximum age from twenty-three to twenty-eight for a student already in school who continues to meet requirements, allowing them to finish their program with aid.
Requires students applying for this money to fill out federal financial aid forms and apply for other scholarships every year they are enrolled.
Sets an effective date of July 1, 2026, for these new rules.

Who It Names or Affects

Foster youth who were committed to the Department of Children and Families at age eighteen or older.
The Commissioner of Children and Families, who must update department policies.
Students enrolled in programs that lead to a degree or vocational certification.

Terms To Know

Postsecondary education program: Any school course that leads to an academic degree or job training certificate.
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA): A form students must complete to apply for federal money for college costs.

Limits and Unknowns

The law does not require the department to provide case management services for youth who start receiving this funding after age twenty-one.
Students must continue to meet all other requirements set by the department's policies and regulations to keep their aid.

Bill History

2026-03-06 Connecticut General Assembly
Favorable Change of Reference, Senate to Committee on Appropriations
2026-03-05 LCO
Reported Out of Legislative Commissioners' Office
2026-03-05 Connecticut General Assembly
Favorable Change of Reference, House to Committee on Appropriations
2026-03-04 LCO
Filed with Legislative Commissioners' Office
2026-03-03 KID
Joint Favorable Substitute Change of Reference Appropriations
2026-02-20 Connecticut General Assembly
Public Hearing 02/24
2026-02-19 Connecticut General Assembly
Referred to Joint Committee on Children

Official Summary Text

To require the Department of Children and Families to continue to provide financial aid for the postsecondary education expenses for foster youth until such youth reaches twenty-eight years of age.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

LCO 1 of 2

General Assembly Substitute Bill No. 5270
February Session, 2026

AN ACT EXTENDING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR THE
POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION EXPENSES OF FOSTER YOUTH.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:

Section 1. (NEW) (Effective July 1,2026) (a) As used in this section: 1
(1) "Department" means the Department of Children and Families; 2
(2) "Postsecondary education program" means any program that 3
leads to an academic degree or certification in a vocation or employment 4
training; and 5
(3) "Postsecondary education funding program" means the program 6
set forth in department policy 28 -1 under which it funds the 7
postsecondary education of a youth who is committed to the 8
department, remains committed at the age of eighteen and meets the 9
requirements established by the department in its policies and 10
regulations. 11
(b) The Commissioner of Children and Families shall amend the 12
department policies and regulations regarding the postsecondary 13
education funding program to (1) increase the age until which a youth 14
can qualify for funding from the department under the postsecondary 15
education funding program from twenty-one to twenty-six years of age, 16
(2) increase the age until which a youth who is enrolled in a 17
Substitute Bill No. 5270

LCO 2 of 2

postsecondary education program and continues to meet the 18
requirements established by the department is eligible for funding to 19
complete such postsecondary education program under the 20
postsecondary education funding program from twenty -three to 21
twenty-eight years of age, and (3) require any youth who is eligible for 22
funding under the postsecondary education funding program to 23
complete for each year such youth is enrolled in a postsecondary 24
education program, as a condition to receiving such funding, the Free 25
Application for Federal Student Aid and applications for any 26
appropriate scholarships and grants, including, but not limited to, 27
through any scholarship application portal administered by the 28
provider of such postsecondary education program. Nothing in this 29
section shall be construed to require the department to continue 30
providing case management services for any youth who begins 31
receiving funding under the postsecondary education funding program 32
when such youth is older than twenty-one years of age. 33
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
sections:

Section 1 July 1,2026 New section

KID Joint Favorable Subst. C/R APP