§ 20-26-634 — Montana Foster Youth Higher Education Assistance Program -- Program Requirements -- Student Participant Eligibility

20-26-634 . (Temporary) Montana foster youth higher education assistance program -- program requirements -- student participant eligibility. (1) Institutions awarded a grant shall develop a program that:
(a) serves students who are eligible participants pursuant to subsection (2);
(b) provides on-campus, year-round room and board, including meal plans, to participants from the time they age out of foster care;
(c) provides support services to each participant, including help with admissions and enrollment, assistance completing financial aid paperwork and scholarship applications, life skills training, academic tutoring, job search and career assistance, and a community family or mentor for the purpose of creating a family-like and nurturing connection in the community;
(d) provides last dollar scholarship awards, not to exceed the cost of attendance, based on each term for which a student is eligible. The scholarship awards must be 50% funded by the Montana foster youth higher education assistance program and the remaining 50% funded by private academic unit funds.
(2) To be considered an eligible participant, a student must:
(a) be eligible for the federal John H. Chafee foster care for successful transition to adulthood program;
(b) be enrolled full time and taking courses that lead to:
(i) an associate or bachelor's degree offered by the institution; or
(ii) a vocational or entry-level professional credential or certification offered by the institution;
(c) have been a resident of Montana for at least 12 months prior to applying to the program;
(d) have graduated from high school or received a secondary education equivalency certificate; and
(e) have completed and submitted the free application for federal student aid for the current academic year and accepted all federal and state aid grants available.
(3) A participant shall:
(a) make satisfactory progress toward a degree or vocational or entry-level professional credential or certification;
(b) maintain a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0;
(c) pay a nominal fee toward the cost of attendance, as determined by the institution;
(d) work a minimum of 10 hours per week from the second semester onward; and
(e) accept support services, including tutoring and life skills classes, offered by the institution. (Terminates June 30, 2031--sec. 4, Ch. 629, L. 2023.)

Legislative History

En. Sec. 2, Ch. 629, L. 2023.