Arizona Foster Care Tuition Waiver Pilot Programs—Programs have helped recipients attend college, but the Programs’ data management and implementation need improvement

The Legislature enacted statutes in 2013 requiring the Arizona Board of Regents (ABOR) and each community college district in Arizona to establish a pilot program (Programs) to waive tuition and mandatory fees (waiver) for current and former foster youth who meet certain eligibility requirements. Pursuant to statute, the Programs are scheduled to terminate on July 1, 2018. Although the Programs have helped some eligible current and former foster youth by providing waivers, data management needs improvement to assess the Programs’ effectiveness. In addition, changes to some requirements and additional supports, such as increasing the Programs’ age limit, may increase the Programs’ reach. Finally, the community college districts, and ABOR in collaboration with the universities, should improve the Programs’ implementation.