SACRAMENTO, CA — Assemblyman Mark Leno’s Assembly Bill 1578, a comprehensive set of reforms designed to give foster youth the financial and supportive assistance they need to go on to college, got a boost today from Alex Smith, San Francisco 49ers Quarterback and founder of the Alex Smith Foundation, who testified on behalf of the bill in the Assembly Higher Education Committee, where it passed out unanimously on a vote of 6 to 0.   
“For the well over 70% of foster youth in California who dream of getting a higher education, we might as well be posting signs on our universities and colleges that read ‘Sorry We’re Closed,’” said Assemblyman Mark Leno (D-San Francisco).  “It’s an honor to have the support and assistance of such a wonderful role model for young people, Alex Smith, who has worked to open doors for foster youth and give them the tools they need to achieve their dreams.”

When foster youth reach 18 years of age, they “age out” of the foster care system, which for many means they no longer get the financial support they need to continue their education.  Statistics show that most young people don’t become financially independent of their parents until they are in their mid-twenties. 

AB 1578 would help current and former foster youth prepare for college and support them once they get there through housing priority, automatic eligibility for Cal-Grants and timely distributions of Federal Chafee Grants.  The bill also establishes the California Competitive Grant Program to provide current and former foster youth with comprehensive support on campus, such as guidance counseling and financial aid to ensure that they don’t fall through the cracks.

Alex Smith launched The Alex Smith Foundation last summer, meant to aid foster youths’ transition to adulthood and to raise awareness about the lack of resources available to them once they are “aged out” of the system.  “Incredibly, foster youth are cut loose at the age of 18, without the support that most other youth have – the support of parents,” Smith said.  “Many of these young people very much want to continue their education but lack the resources to do so.  Already, these young people are overcoming long odds.”

The odds are truly stacked against foster youth in California.  While reports show that 70 % of foster youth want to attend college, only half complete high school, and only 15 % take the necessary courses to gain college admission.   Fewer than 10% of foster youth who graduate high school go on to college.  Fewer than 2% of foster youth who go on to college graduate.  Without a college degree, former foster youth are more likely than the general population to face such challenges as homelessness, incarceration, and lower lifetime earning potential.

Please click onto the following YouTube links for full remarks by Leno and Smith at the committee: