Higher Education Access and Success for Homeless and Foster Youth Act of 2026
- Sponsor
- Sen. Murray, Patty [D-WA]
- Committees
- Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee (primary)
- Last action
- Jul 28, 2026
Bottom line
The bill aims to remove systemic barriers to higher education for homeless and foster youth by improving financial aid processes, institutional support, and access to housing and educational programs.
What it actually does
This bill amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to enhance support for homeless and foster care youth in accessing and completing postsecondary education. It expands definitions for these populations, mandates institutional liaisons, prioritizes housing, integrates these youth into federal TRIO and GEAR UP programs, and ensures in-state tuition rates at public institutions.
Proponents argue
Supporters argue that homeless and foster youth face significant obstacles to higher education, including financial instability, lack of stable housing, and insufficient institutional support. This bill provides crucial, targeted interventions to address these challenges, ensuring these vulnerable populations have equitable access to postsecondary opportunities and can achieve academic success.
Opponents contend
No specific organized opposition is typically raised against measures designed to support vulnerable youth in accessing education. Potential concerns might revolve around the administrative burden on institutions or the cost implications, though proponents would argue the benefits outweigh these.
The bill is moderately complex due to its amendments to existing law, but its provisions are generally clear and can be understood within a reasonable reading time.
Section 2(a) of the bill, amending Section 103 of the Higher Education Act of 1965
Expanded Definitions for Foster Care and Homeless Youth
This section expands the definitions of 'foster care youth' and 'homeless youth' within the Higher Education Act. 'Foster care youth' now includes individuals aged 13 or older who were in state or tribal care, even if subsequently adopted or placed under guardianship. 'Homeless youth' and 'unaccompanied youth' are defined by reference to the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act.
Supporters argue
Supporters argue that clear and comprehensive definitions are essential to ensure that all eligible vulnerable youth receive the support they need, preventing individuals from falling through cracks due to narrow or inconsistent interpretations.
Critics contend
No specific opposition is typically raised against clarifying definitions, as it is a technical but necessary step for effective program implementation.
Tradeoffs
The primary tension is ensuring definitions are broad enough to capture all intended beneficiaries without being overly expansive, which this bill aims to balance.
Section 3 of the bill, amending Section 141(f)(3) of the Higher Education Act of 1965
Ombudsman Support for Dependency Status Appeals
This provision expands the duties of the Student Loan Ombudsman to include receiving, reviewing, and expeditiously resolving complaints regarding a student's independent status determination for financial aid purposes, specifically for homeless and foster care youth. The Ombudsman will consult with child welfare agencies and homeless youth liaisons.
Section 4 of the bill, amending Sections 487(a)(19) and 485 of the Higher Education Act of 1965
Institutional Liaisons and Prioritized Housing Access
This section requires institutions of higher education to designate a trained staff person as a liaison for homeless and foster youth to connect them with support services (financial aid, housing, health care, etc.). It also mandates that institutions prioritize these youth for institutionally owned or operated housing, including during school breaks, and develop plans for housing resources. Institutions must also include voluntary questions about homelessness/foster care status in admissions applications.
Sections 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 of the bill, amending Sections 402A, 402B, 402C, 402D, and 402F of the Higher Education Act of 1965
Integration into Federal TRIO and Related Programs
These sections amend various federal TRIO programs (Talent Search, Upward Bound, Student Support Services, Educational Opportunity Centers) to explicitly require outreach to and services for homeless and foster care youth. Grantees must review and revise policies to remove participation barriers, describe outreach activities in applications, and report on the number of such youth served and effective strategies.
Section 10 of the bill, amending Section 402H of the Higher Education Act of 1965
Reporting on Homeless and Foster Youth in TRIO Programs
This section requires entities carrying out TRIO projects (Talent Search, Upward Bound, Student Support Services, Educational Opportunity Centers) to submit reports to the Secretary of Education. These reports must include data on the number of homeless and foster youth served and a description of effective strategies used to meet their needs.
Section 11 of the bill, amending Sections 404C(a)(2) and 404D(b) of the Higher Education Act of 1965
Integration into GEAR UP Programs
This section requires GEAR UP program applicants to assure that they have reviewed and revised policies to remove barriers for homeless and foster youth, describe outreach activities, and report on services for these youth. It also adds facilitating recruitment, participation, and retention of these youth as a permissible activity, including partnerships with community organizations and policies to ensure continued participation despite residential changes.
Section 12 of the bill, amending Section 443(b)(6) of the Higher Education Act of 1965
Work-Study Priority
This provision amends the Federal Work-Study program to require institutions to prioritize employment for students who are homeless youth or foster care youth.
Section 13 of the bill, amending Section 483(c)(2) of the Higher Education Act of 1965
Financial Aid Application Data Transparency
This section requires the Department of Education to collect and report data on the number of undetermined requests for homelessness consideration in financial aid applications, including statuses that remain unknown because no determination was made.
Section 14 of the bill, amending Section 135 of the Higher Education Act of 1965
In-State Tuition Mandate
This section mandates that states cannot charge homeless youth or foster care youth tuition and fees at public institutions of higher education at a rate greater than that charged for residents of the state. This provision takes effect for the first enrollment period during the first full award year after the bill's enactment.
Section 15 of the bill, adding a new Section 124 to Part B of Title I of the Higher Education Act of 1965
Department of Education Guidance and Professional Development
This section requires the Secretary of Education to issue revised guidance for institutions and financial aid administrators on serving homeless and foster youth within 120 days of enactment. It also mandates annual professional development or training for institutional liaisons and interested staff, and a report to Congress every five years on effective strategies for supporting these youth.
This subsection renumbers several paragraphs within Section 103 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to accommodate the insertion of new definitions for 'foster care youth' and 'homeless youth'.
Section 2(a)(1) of the bill
Why it matters:This is standard legislative practice to maintain logical numbering within a statute when adding new definitions or provisions.
Case for: Supporters would argue that proper statutory organization is crucial for clarity and ease of reference, ensuring that the new definitions are correctly integrated into the existing legal framework.
Case against: No specific case against, as this is a technical, non-controversial aspect of legislative drafting.
Estimated impact: No direct fiscal impact, but essential for the legal clarity of the bill's other provisions.
Requires institutions to provide a means for students to access institutionally owned or operated housing if they are temporarily unable to meet financial obligations due to delayed disbursement of education and training vouchers (under Social Security Act Section 477) or delays attributable to the institution.
Section 4(a)(4) of the bill, amending Section 487(a)(19) of the HEA
Why it matters:It's a specific operational detail within a larger policy change, making it easy to overlook if not reading carefully.
Case for: Proponents would highlight this as a crucial safeguard, preventing vulnerable students from losing housing due to bureaucratic delays outside their control, which is a common issue for foster youth.
Case against: Institutions might express concern about the administrative burden of tracking specific voucher delays and providing temporary housing solutions, particularly if not explicitly funded.
Estimated impact: Prevents housing instability for an unspecified number of students facing administrative delays, potentially incurring minor, unpredictable costs for institutions.
Requires institutions to include voluntary questions in their admission applications regarding an applicant's status as a homeless youth or foster care youth, with clear explanations of terms. This information can be shared with the designated liaison with applicant consent after admission but before the academic term begins.
Section 4(n)(5) of the bill, adding to Section 485 of the HEA
Why it matters:It's a nuanced detail balancing data collection with student privacy, which is often placed in the fine print of implementation requirements.
Case for: Supporters argue this is a critical mechanism for early identification of students who need support, allowing institutions to proactively connect them with resources while respecting privacy through voluntary response and consent.
Case against: Some privacy advocates might raise concerns about any collection of such sensitive data, even with consent, though the bill's provisions aim to mitigate this by making it voluntary and limiting information sharing.
Estimated impact: Improves early identification and support for vulnerable students, with minimal administrative cost for adding questions to existing applications.