County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Edwin Gomez Applauds Passage of AB 2768 and SB 1017 to Support Foster Youth Success

RIVERSIDE - Two bills sponsored by the Riverside County Office of Education (RCOE) that improve educational opportunities for foster students were passed by the California Legislature and signed into law by California Governor Gavin Newsom.

“The passage of AB 2768 and SB 1017 is a testament to the difference we can make when we prioritize the needs of students. As a result, every foster youth in California can take a more active role in their education and college dreams,” said Riverside County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Edwin Gomez. “The foster youth voices we listened to in Riverside County to launch the Foster Youth Success Initiative in 2024 are the same students who were empowered to courageously testify in Sacramento on the importance of these new laws.”

About AB 2768

Assembly Bill 2768, authored by Assemblymember Patrick Ahrens, waives or defers enrollment fees for foster youth attending college who might otherwise experience upfront enrollment costs as a barrier to college opportunity. Because financial aid is typically dispersed after the start of the academic year, foster youth often lack financial resources and family support to make early payments allowing them to begin classes.

AB 2768 requires higher education institutions to allow foster youth to pay costs such as tuition, housing, food, and educational materials after they have received financial aid. The new policies will take effect starting in the 2027-28 academic year.

About SB 1017

Senate Bill 1017, authored by State Senator Eloise Gomez Reyes, empowers foster youth 14 or older by giving them access to their student records. Previous law prevented foster youth from accessing their own student records until the age of 16, thereby limiting their ability to successfully transition to new school placements. Frequent school changes compound challenges for children in foster care who move schools an average of eight times, losing up to six months of learning with each move.

Foster Youth Success Initiative at Riverside County Office of Education

Historically, the educational performance, attendance, suspension, and post-secondary success rates of foster students consistently fall below the outcomes of almost every other student group. Nationally, fewer than 3% of foster youth earn a college degree, and foster youth graduate from high school at a rate of 61.2% compared to 86.2% statewide.

In response, Riverside County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Edwin Gomez launched the Foster Youth Success Initiative in 2024. The initiative aims to build stronger connections between school, community, and government entities, to directly help foster students shift from surviving to thriving.

Highlights from the first two years of collective focus include:

• Launched the Foster Youth Student Empowerment Program (RCFYSEP) with 12 school districts in Riverside County. The award-winning program, designed with the voices of foster youth, is a year-long in-person and virtual experience that helps students build skills in self-advocacy, post-secondary planning, housing and benefit navigation, financial aid, and leadership. Paid internships, legislative advocacy roles, and speaking engagements are a few of the positive outcomes for program participants.
  
  
• Recognized as the Growing Inland Achievement 2026 Toward a Shared Vision Equity-Focused Award recipient for the impact of the Foster Youth Student Empowerment Program. The award will be presented at a ceremony at the Riverside Convention Center on November 4, 2026.
  
  
• Created the FosterFerret student-designed mobile application that centralizes education records, wellness check-ins, and graduation planning in one place. Designed by foster youth for foster youth, the phone-based life management system has no equivalent on the California market and is positioned for statewide expansion.
  
  
• Initiated two scholarship funds with the Inland Empire Community Foundation. The Foster Youth Success Scholarship Fund was created to provide funds to foster youth pursuing their college and career dreams. The Foster Youth Success Fund invites donors to support the overall focus of the Foster Youth Success Initiative program.
  
  
• Developed the Foster Youth Success Initiative website that features access to FosterFerret, youth caregiver video series, educator training tools, donation opportunities, and additional student resources.

For additional details on RCOE’s Foster Youth Success Initiative, visit www.rcoe.us/foster-youth-success.

About the Riverside County Office of Education (RCOE)

RCOE is a service agency supporting the county’s 23 school districts and 500+ schools that serve nearly 430,000 students—more than the student population of 17 states. RCOE services include administrative support to districts and charter schools, programs for preschool, special education, pregnant minor, correctional, migrant, and vocational students. In addition, the organization provides professional training, support, and resources for more than 18,000 teachers, administrators, and staff, throughout the 7,000 square miles of Riverside County. Learn more at www.rcoe.us.