,,ii  #aacth ,,congress  #ast ,session  
,s4 #aged  ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of     
,,the ,,united ,,states  ,november #ba1 
#bjac,mrs4 ,murray 7for herself1 ,ms4   
,landrieu1 and ,ms4 ,baldwin7 introduced
 the following bill2 which was read     
twice and referred to the ,committee on 
,health1 ,education1 ,labor1 and        
,pensions  ,a ,,bill  ,to amend the     
,higher ,education ,act of #aife to     
improve the financial aid process for   
homeless children and youths and foster 
care children and youth4  #a4 ,short    
title ,this ,act may be cited as the    
,higher ,education ,access and ,success 
for ,homeless and ,foster ,youth ,act4  
#b4 ,definitions  7a7 ,independent      
student ,section #dhj7;d7 of the ,higher
 ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4
 #ajhgvv7d77 is amended-- 7#a7 in       
paragraph 7#a77;,h7-- 7,a7 in the matter
 preceding clause 7i7-- 7i7 by striking 
during the school year in which the     
application is submitted2  7ii7 by      
inserting age #bc or younger after      

unaccompanied youth2 and  7iii7 by      
striking terms are and inserting term   
is2  7,b7 in clause 7i71 by inserting 1 
or a designee of the liaison after ,act2
  7,c7 in clause 7ii71 by striking a    
program funded under the ,runaway and   
,homeless ,youth ,act and inserting an  
emergency or transitional shelter1      
street outreach program1 homeless youth 
drop-in center1 or other program serving
 homeless youth12 and  7,d7 in clause   
7iii71 by striking program funded under 
subtitle ,b of title ,,iv of the        
,mc,kinney-,vento ,homeless ,assistance 
,act 7relating to emergency shelter     
grants7 and inserting ,federal ,,trio   
program or a ,gaining ,early ,awareness 
and ,readiness for ,undergraduate       
program under chapter #a or #b of       
subpart #b of part ,a12 and  7#b7 by    
adding at the end the following3  7#c7  
,simplifying the determination process  
for unaccompanied youth  7,a7           
,verification ,a financial aid          
administrator is not required to verify 

homelessness determinations made by the 
individuals authorized to make such     
determinations under clause 7i71 7ii71  
or 7iii7 of paragraph 7#a77;,h7 in the  
absence of conflicting information4 ,a  
documented phone call with1 or a written
 statement from1 one of the relevant    
authorities is sufficient verification  
when needed4  7,b7 ,determination of    
independence ,a financial aid           
administrator shall make a determination
 of independence under paragraph        
7#a77;,h7 if a student does not have1   
and cannot get1 documentation from any  
of the other designated authorities4    
,this determination is based on the     
definitions outlined in paragraph       
7#a77;,h7 and is distinct from a        
determination of independence under     
paragraph 7#a77;,i74 ,the determination 
may be based on a documented interview  
with the student if there is no written 
documentation available4  7,c7 ,duration
 of determination ,a student shall      
receive a determination under paragraph 

7#a77;,h7 during the school year in     
which the student initially submits the 
application4 ,in subsequent years1 the  
student shall be presumed to be         
independent unless-- 7i7 the student    
informs the financial aid office that   
circumstances have changed2 or  7ii7 the
 financial aid administrator has        
specific conflicting information about  
the student's independence4  4  7b7     
,foster care children and youth ,section
 #ajc of the ,higher ,education ,act of 
#aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajjc7 is amended  
by adding at the end the following3     
7#be7 ,foster care children and youth   
,the term foster care children and      
youth-- 7,a7 means children and youth   
whose care and placement is the         
responsibility of the ,state or ,tribal 
agency that administers a ,state plan   
under part ,b or ,e of title ,,iv of the
 ,social ,security ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4  
#fba et seq4 and #fgj et seq471 without 
regard to whether foster care           
maintenance payments are made under     

section #dgb of such ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4
 #fgb7 on behalf of the child2 and  7,b7
 includes individuals whose care and    
placement was the responsibility of the 
,state or ,tribal agency that           
administers a ,state plan under part ,b 
or ,e of title ,,iv of the ,social      
,security ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #fba et   
seq4 and #fgj et seq47 when they were   
age #ac or older but are no longer the  
care and responsibility of the ,state or
 tribal agency4  4  #c4 ,student loan   
ombudsman ,section #ada7;f77#c7 of the  
,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj   
,u4,s4,c4 #ajah7;f77#c77 is amended--   
7#a7 in subparagraph 7,a71 by striking  
and after the semicolon2  7#b7 in       
subparagraph 7,b71 by striking the      
period at the end and inserting 2 and2  
and  7#c7 by adding at the end the      
following3  7,c7 receive1 review1 and   
resolve expeditiously complaints        
regarding a student's independence under
 subparagraph 7,b7 or 7,h7 of section   
#dhj7;d77#a71 in consultation with      

knowledgeable parties1 including child  
welfare agencies1 local educational     
agency liaisons for homeless children   
and youths designated under subtitle ,b 
of title ,,vii of the ,mc,kinney-,vento 
,homeless ,assistance ,act 7#db         
,u4,s4,c4 #aadca et seq47 or ,state     
,coordinators for ,education of         
,homeless ,children and ,youths         
established under such subtitle4  4  #d4
 ,program participation agreements      
,section #dhg7;a7 of the ,higher        
,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 
#ajid7;a77 is amended-- 7#a7 in         
paragraph 7#ai71 by inserting housing   
facilities1 after libraries12 and  7#b7 
by adding at the end the following3     
7#cj7 ,the institution certifies that   
the institution-- 7,a7 has designated an
 appropriate staff person1 who may also 
be a coordinator for other programs1 as 
a single point of contact to assist     
homeless children and youths 7as such   
term is defined in section #gbe of the  
,mc,kinney-,vento ,homeless ,assistance 

,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #aadcd;a77 and      
foster care children and youth in       
accessing and completing postsecondary  
education2  7,b7 posts public notice    
about student financial assistance and  
other assistance available to homeless  
children and youths and foster care     
children and youth1 including their     
eligibility as independent students     
under subparagraphs 7,b7 and 7,h7 of    
sections #dhj7;d77#a72  7,c7 has        
developed a plan for how homeless       
children and youths and foster care     
children and youth can access housing   
resources during and between academic   
terms1 through means that may include   
access to on-campus housing during      
breaks and a list of housing resources  
in the community that provide short-term
 housing2 and  7,d7 has included in its 
application for admission questions 7to 
be answered voluntarily7 regarding the  
applicant's status as a homeless child  
or youth or foster care child or youth1 
which the applicant can answer          

voluntarily for the limited purpose of  
being provided information about        
financial aid or any other available    
assistance4  4  #e4 ,federal ,,trio     
programs ,section #djb;,a of the ,higher
 ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4
 #ajgj;a-#aa7 is amended-- 7#a7 in      
subsection 7c71 by striking the fourth  
sentence and inserting the following3   
,the ,secretary shall require each      
applicant for funds under the programs  
authorized by this chapter to identify1 
conduct specific outreach to1 and       
recruit foster care children and youth  
and homeless children and youths 7as    
such term is defined in section #gbe of 
the ,mc,kinney-,vento ,homeless         
,assistance ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4         
#aadcd;a771 in collaboration with child 
welfare agencies1 homeless shelters1 and
 local educational agency liaisons for  
homeless children and youths designated 
under section #gbb7;g77#a77;,j77ii7 of  
the ,mc,kinney-,vento ,homeless         
,assistance ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4         

#aadcb7;g77#a77;,j77ii771 and make      
available to foster care children and   
youth and homeless children and youths  
services under such programs1 including 
mentoring1 tutoring1 and other services 
provided by such programs42 and  7#b7 in
 subsection 7f77#c7-- 7,a7 in           
subparagraph 7,a77i71 by inserting and  
to homeless children and youths and     
foster care children and youth after by 
the program2  7,b7 in subparagraph      
7,b77i71 by inserting and to homeless   
children and youths and foster care     
children and youth after by the program2
  7,c7 in subparagraph 7,c77iii71 by    
inserting and to homeless children and  
youths and foster care children and     
youth after total number of students2   
and  7,d7 in subparagraph 7,e77iii71 by 
inserting and to homeless children and  
youths and foster care children and     
youth after by the program4  #f4 ,talent
 search ,section #djb;,b7d7 of the      
,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj   
,u4,s4,c4 #ajgj;a-#ab7;d77 is amended-- 

7#a7 in paragraph 7#c71 by striking and 
after the semicolon2  7#b7 in paragraph 
7#d71 by striking the period at the end 
and inserting a semicolon2 and  7#c7 by 
adding at the end the following3  7#e7  
require that the project collect and    
submit to the ,secretary data on the    
number of homeless children and youths  
and foster care children and youth      
served2  7#f7 require that the project  
review and revise policies and practices
 to remove barriers to the participation
 and retention of homeless children and 
youths and foster care children and     
youth1 including policies to allow      
immediate participation even if the     
child or youth is unaccompanied by a    
parent or guardian or is unable to      
produce records normally required for   
enrollment1 such as previous academic   
records1 medical records1 proof of      
residency1 or other documentation1 and  
other policies consistent with the      
,mc,kinney-,vento ,homeless ,assistance 
,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #aacja et seq472    

7#g7 require that the project submit a  
description of the activities that will 
be undertaken to outreach to homeless   
children and youths and foster care     
children and youth2 and  7#h7 require   
that the project submit a description of
 any strategies or program enhancements 
that were used that were effective in   
meeting the needs of homeless children  
and youths and foster care children and 
youth4  4  #g4 ,upward bound ,section   
#djb;,c7e7 of the ,higher ,education    
,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4            
#ajgj;a-#ac7;e77 is amended-- 7#a7 in   
paragraph 7#d71 by striking and after   
the semicolon2  7#b7 in paragraph 7#e71 
by striking the period at the end and   
inserting a semicolon2 and  7#c7 by     
adding at the end the following3  7#f7  
require that the project collect and    
submit to the ,secretary data on the    
number of homeless children and youths  
and foster care children and youth      
served2  7#g7 require that the project  
review and revise policies and practices

 to remove barriers to the participation
 and retention of homeless children and 
youths and foster care children and     
youth1 including policies to allow      
immediate participation even if the     
child or youth is unaccompanied by a    
parent or guardian or is unable to      
produce records normally required for   
enrollment1 such as previous academic   
records1 medical records1 proof of      
residency1 or other documentation1 and  
other policies consistent with the      
,mc,kinney-,vento ,homeless ,assistance 
,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #aacja et seq472    
7#h7 require that the project submit a  
description of the activities that will 
be undertaken to outreach to homeless   
children and youths and foster care     
children and youth2 and  7#i7 require   
that the project submit a description of
 any strategies or program enhancements 
that were used that were effective in   
meeting the needs of homeless children  
and youths and foster care children and 
youth4  4  #h4 ,student support services

 ,section #djb;,d7e7 of the ,higher     
,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 
#ajgj;a-#ad7;e77 is amended-- 7#a7 in   
paragraph 7#e71 by striking and after   
the semicolon2  7#b7 in paragraph       
7#f77;,b71 by striking the period at the
 end and inserting a semicolon2 and     
7#c7 by adding at the end the following3
  7#g7 require that the project collect 
and submit to the ,secretary data on the
 number of homeless children and youths 
and foster care children and youth      
served2  7#h7 require that the project  
review and revise policies and practices
 to remove barriers to the participation
 and retention of homeless children and 
youths and foster care children and     
youth1 including policies to allow      
immediate participation even if the     
child or youth is unaccompanied by a    
parent or guardian or is unable to      
produce records normally required for   
enrollment1 such as previous academic   
records1 medical records1 proof of      
residency1 or other documentation2  7#i7

 require that the project submit a      
description of the activities that will 
be undertaken to outreach to homeless   
children and youths and foster care     
children and youth2 and  7#aj7 require  
that the project submit a description of
 any strategies or program enhancements 
that were used that were effective in   
meeting the needs of homeless children  
and youths and foster care children and 
youth4  4  #i4 ,educational opportunity 
centers ,section #djb;,f7c7 of the      
,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj   
,u4,s4,c4 #ajgj;a-#af7;c77 is amended-- 
7#a7 in paragraph 7#b71 by striking and 
after the semicolon2  7#b7 in paragraph 
7#c71 by striking the period at the end 
and inserting a semicolon2 and  7#c7 by 
adding at the end the following3  7#d7  
require that the project collect and    
submit to the ,secretary data on the    
number of homeless children and youths  
and foster care children and youth      
served2  7#e7 require that the project  
review and revise policies and practices

 to remove barriers to the participation
 and retention of homeless children and 
youths and foster care children and     
youth1 including policies to allow      
immediate participation even if the     
child or youth is unaccompanied by a    
parent or guardian or is unable to      
produce records normally required for   
enrollment1 such as previous academic   
records1 medical records1 proof of      
residency1 or other documentation1 and  
other policies consistent with the      
,mc,kinney-,vento ,homeless ,assistance 
,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #aacja et seq472    
7#f7 require that the project submit a  
description of the activities that will 
be undertaken to outreach to homeless   
children and youths and foster care     
children and youth2 and  7#g7 require   
that the project submit a description of
 any strategies or program enhancements 
that were used that were effective in   
meeting the needs of homeless children  
and youths and foster care children and 
youth4  4  #aj4 ,gaining early awareness

 and readiness for undergraduate        
programs ,section #djd;,c7a77#b7 of the 
,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj   
,u4,s4,c4 #ajgj;a-#bc7;a77#b77-- 7#a7 in
 subparagraph 7,i71 by striking and     
after the semicolon2  7#b7 in           
subparagraph 7,j71 by striking the      
period at the end and inserting 2 and2  
and  7#c7 by adding at the end the      
following3  7,k7 describe how the       
eligible entity will facilitate the     
participation of foster care children   
and youth and homeless children and     
youths 7as such term is defined in      
section #gbe of the ,mc,kinney-,vento   
,homeless ,assistance ,act 7#db         
,u4,s4,c4 #aadcd;a771 including-- 7i7   
how the entity will identify foster care
 children and youth and homeless        
children and youths1 in collaboration   
with child welfare agencies1 homeless   
shelters1 and local educational agency  
liaisons for homeless children and      
youths designated under section         
#gbb7;g77#a77;,j77ii7 of the            

,mc,kinney-,vento ,homeless ,assistance 
,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4                     
#aadcb7;g77#a77;,j77ii772  7ii7 how the 
entity will collect and submit to the   
,secretary data on the number of        
homeless children and youths and foster 
care children and youth served2 and     
7iii7 the policies and practices the    
entity will adopt to remove barriers to 
the participation of homeless children  
and youths and foster care children and 
youth1 including policies to facilitate 
continued participation despite changes 
in residence resulting from homelessness
 or foster care placement and policies  
consistent with the ,mc,kinney-,vento   
,homeless ,assistance ,act 7#db         
,u4,s4,c4 #aacja et seq474  4  #aa4     
,in-,state tuition rates for homeless   
children or youths and foster care      
children and youth ,section #ace of the 
,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj   
,u4,s4,c4 #ajae;d7 is amended-- 7#a7 in 
the section heading1 by inserting 1 and 
homeless children and youths and foster 

care children and youth after children2 
7#b7 in subsection 7a7-- 7,a7 by        
striking 7a7 ,requirement4--,in the case
 and inserting the following3  7a7      
,requirement  7#a7 ,armed forces ,in the
 case  2 and  7,b7 by adding at the end 
the following3  7#b7 ,homeless children 
or youths and foster care children or   
youth ,in the case of a homeless child  
or youth or a foster care child or      
youth1 such ,state shall not charge such
 individual tuition for attendance at a 
public institution of higher education  
in the ,state at a rate that is greater 
than the rate charged for residents of  
the ,state4  2 and  7#c7 by striking    
subsections 7c7 and 7d7 and inserting   
the following3  7c7 ,effective date     
7#a7 ,armed forces ,with respect to an  
individual described in subsection      
7a77#a71 this section shall take effect 
at each public institution of higher    
education in a ,state that receives     
assistance under this ,act for the first
 period of enrollment at such           

institution that begins after ,july #a1 
#bjji4  7#b7 ,homeless children or      
youths and foster care children or youth
 ,with respect to an individual         
described in subsection 7a77#b71 this   
section shall take effect at each public
 institution of higher education in a   
,state that receives assistance under   
this ,act for the first period of       
enrollment at such institution that     
begins after ,july #a1 #bjae4  7d7      
,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7     
,armed forces ,the terms armed forces   
and active duty for a period of more    
than #cj days have the meanings given   
those terms in section #aja of title    
#aj1 ,united ,states ,code4  7#b7       
,homeless children and youths ,the term 
homeless children and youths has the    
meaning given the term in section #gbe  
of the ,mc,kinney-,vento ,homeless      
,assistance ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4         
#aadcd;a74  4  #ab4 ,grant for ,federal 
work-study programs ,section            
#ddc7;b77#f7 of the ,higher ,education  

,act of #aife 7#db ,u4,s4,c4            
#bgec7;b77#f77 is amended by inserting 1
 and to prioritize employment for       
students who are currently or formerly  
homeless children and youths or foster  
care children and youth after thereof4  
#ac4 ,excludable income ,section        
#dhj7;e7 of the ,higher ,education ,act 
of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajhgvv7e77 is  
amended by striking paragraph 7#e7 and  
inserting the following3  7#e7 payments 
made and services provided under part ,e
 of title ,,iv of the ,social ,security 
,act1 including the value of vouchers   
for education and training made         
available under section #dgg of such    
,act1 and any payments made directly to 
the youth as part of an extended foster 
care program pursuant to such part ,e2  
and  4  #ad4 ,,gao report on educational
 attainment of homeless children and    
youths and foster care children and     
youth  7a7 ,in general ,not later than  
#a year after the date of enactment of  
this ,act1 the ,comptroller ,general of 

the ,united ,states shall prepare and   
submit a report on the educational      
attainment of youth who are or have been
 homeless1 including those who are or   
have been unaccompanied homeless youth1 
and foster care youth to the appropriate
 committees of ,congress4  7b7 ,content 
,the report described in subsection 7a7 
shall review and assess enrollment and  
completion data for both accompanied and
 unaccompanied homeless youth and foster
 care youth1 including the following3   
7#a7 ,the percentage of such youth      
attending an institution of higher      
education4  7#b7 ,the percentage of such
 youth graduating from an institution of
 higher education4  7#c7 ,the average   
length of time taken to obtain an       
associate's or bachelor's degree4  7#d7 
,the percentage of such youth           
attending-- 7,a7 a public institution of
 higher education2  7,b7 a private      
institution of higher education2  7,c7 a
 community college2 and  7,d7 a #d-year 
institution of higher education4  7#e7  

,reasons why such youth choose not to   
pursue a higher education4  7#f7 ,the   
availability of public and private      
tuition assistance specifically for such
 youth and the awareness among such     
youth of such programs4  7#g7 ,the      
availability of other public or private 
programs designed to encourage and      
support enrollment in1 and completion   
of1 higher education for such youth4    
7#h7 ,ways in which the ,department of  
,education might increase the           
educational attainment rates of such    
youth4