SB 512 will strengthen the Next Up program by removing barriers to the accessibility by modifying eligibility to enable students who were in foster care after age 13 to participate, creating flexibility around income requirements for students transitioning from full-time employment to school, specifying that existing funds can be used to provide support to enrolled students as they are matriculating, and clarifying that programs should create streamlined systems for application and entry.
This bill also expands eligibility for priority enrollment at UC, CSU, and the CCCs by including students who were in foster care on or after their 13th birthday. These changes align the age threshold with the determination for independent status used by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).