Early Findings on the Impact of Extended Foster Care on Foster Youth’s Postsecondary Education Enrollment and Persistence

Foster care youth are less likely to enroll in college or continue their studies beyond their first year than their peers. However, evidence shows that receiving foster care services after age 18 could provide resources like subsidized housing and access to child welfare support that could improve their college success. This study explored the effect of extended foster care in California on enrollment and persistence in college. Findings show that extended care increased enrollment in postsecondary education by age 21 among youth involved with child welfare agencies but not those supervised by probation departments. The analysis also found no evidence that extended care increased persistence in college or number of completed semesters by age 21, indicating the need for more support after foster youth enroll in college.