Under this subchapter, qualified students who spent part of their childhood in foster care will receive a tuition waiver to attend state institutions of higher education. It is the intent and purpose of the General Assembly, through this subchapter, to help ensure that young adults who experienced instability in their childhood and were in the State’s foster care system are provided the opportunity to improve their lives and pursue higher education regardless of financial circumstances.

83 Del. Laws, c. 255, § 1; 

As used in this subchapter:

(1) “Department” means the Department of Services for Children, Youth & Their Families.

(2) “Eligible costs” means tuition and all mandatory fees relating to attendance at the institution. Where the institution offers room and board to its students, eligible costs include on-campus housing and a standard meal plan, which shall be made available to waiver recipients year-round, so long as the waiver recipient is registered for a sufficient number of credits in the spring and fall semesters to be eligible for on-campus housing.

(3) “Fostering independence waiver” or “waiver” means a waiver of tuition under the Program.

(4) “Institution of higher education” or “institution” means University of Delaware, Delaware State University, and Delaware Technical and Community College.

(5) “Office” means the Office of the Child Advocate.

(6) “Program” means the Delaware Fostering Independence Through Education Tuition Waiver Program established by this subchapter.

83 Del. Laws, c. 255, § 1;  84 Del. Laws, c. 509, § 2; 

(a) This subchapter establishes the Delaware Fostering Independence Through Education Tuition Waiver Program.

(b) An institution of higher education shall award a fostering independence waiver for undergraduate courses at the institution for each student who is eligible under this section.

(c) To receive a fostering independence waiver under this section, a student must be a current resident of this State, under the age of 26, and meet 1 of the following:

(1) Be eligible for the Delaware Chafee Education and Training Voucher program.

(2) Have 12 or more months in the custody of the Department when the student was between the ages of 14 and 18.

(d) The amount of the waiver is for total eligible costs of attending the institution, less any grants or scholarships the student receives.

(1) The institution of higher education may not apply any loans toward the eligible costs of attendance. Loans may only be applied to costs that exceed the eligible costs of attendance.

(2) Ivyane Davis Scholarships and Chafee Education and Training Vouchers administered by the Office may not be included as grants or scholarships, and must instead be applied to any direct or indirect costs in excess of the waiver.

(e) The waiver covers eligible costs for winter and summer courses if offered by the institution. This includes Delaware State University’s Summer Academy regardless of a student’s admission status.

(f) The waiver covers eligible costs for students whether enrolled full time or part time.

(1) If continuously enrolled full time, the student is eligible for the waiver for up to 5 years, until the student earns a bachelor’s degree, or until the student reaches the age of 26, whichever occurs first.

(2) If at any time the student is enrolled part time, the student is eligible for the waiver until the student reaches the age of 26 or the student earns a bachelor’s degree, whichever occurs first.

83 Del. Laws, c. 255, § 1;  84 Del. Laws, c. 509, § 3; 

(a) The Office shall administer the Program. The Office shall coordinate with the Department and each institution of higher education to provide resources and assistance to eligible students and to achieve the purposes of the Program.

(b) In implementing the Office’s role in administering the Program, the Office shall do all of the following:

(1) Serve as the primary contact for students participating in the Program.

(2) Coordinate eligibility verification for the Program.

(3) Assist eligible students with identifying additional direct and indirect costs of higher education to determine whether any additional sources of funding are required.

(4) Coordinate with the Department and each institution of higher education to ensure the institution has policies and procedures in place for application of the waiver, scholarships and grants, and any additional costs and fees, as well as housing and food access during school breaks for students eligible for on-campus housing.

(5) Coordinate with the Department and the Department’s contracted independent living providers to assist students in addressing issues related to participation in the Program.

(6) Maintain a record of students participating in the Program and coordinate with each institution of higher education to report by April 1 of each year to the Controller General and the Office of Management and Budget the number of students who are receiving a waiver under this subchapter.

(7) Include in the Office’s annual summary to the Governor and the General Assembly, as required by § 9005A(11) of Title 29, the number of recipients of the tuition waiver, the institutions attended by the recipients, and such other information as the Office deems useful. The summary may not include identifying or confidential information on recipients.

(8) Adopt rules and regulations as the Office deems necessary and proper to administer the Program.

(c) In implementing the role of the institutions of higher education in administering the Program, each institution of higher education shall designate an appropriate staff person to serve as the point of contact for the Office and for students participating in the Program who are attending the institution. The point of contact, and staff designated to assist the point of contact, shall do all of the following:

(1) Ensure contact information for the point of contact is posted on the publicly accessible internet website of the institution of higher education.

(2) Assist students with obtaining verification of eligibility for the Program from the Office.

(3) Assist eligible students to access available federal and state financial aid resources and identify further scholarship and grant opportunities. Notwithstanding this paragraph (c)(3), the institution of higher education shall coordinate with the Office before any eligible student applies for or receives loans.

(4) Provide students participating in the Program with information and referrals for on-campus and off-campus support services and resources.

(5) Maintain a record of students participating in the Program and provide those records to the Office so the Office may comply with paragraph (b)(6) of this section.

83 Del. Laws, c. 255, § 1;  84 Del. Laws, c. 509, § 4;