DCFS-EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIPS

Amends the Children and Family Services Act. In provisions concerning scholarships and fee waivers, provides that each year the Department of Children and Family Services shall select a minimum of 53 students (at least 4 of whom shall be children of veterans) to receive scholarships and fee waivers which will enable them to attend and complete their post-secondary education at a community college, university, or college (rather than may select from among the youth under care, youth who aged out of care at age 18 or older, or youth formerly under care who have been adopted or are in a guardianship placement, a maximum of 48 students (at least 4 of whom shall be children of veterans) who have earned a high school diploma from a public school district or a recognized nonpublic school or a certificate of general education development (GED), or who have met the State criteria for high school graduation). Provides that youth shall be selected from among the youth for whom the Department has court-ordered legal responsibility, youth in the KinGap program, youth who aged out of care at age 18 or older, or youth formerly under care who have been adopted; and that recipients must have earned a high school diploma from an accredited institution, a General Education Development certificate or diploma, or have met the State criteria for high school graduation before the start of the school year for which they are applying for the scholarship and waiver. Provides that scholarships and fee waivers shall be available to students for at least 5 years, provided they are continuing to work toward graduation; and that unused scholarship dollars and fee waivers shall be reallocated to new recipients. Contains provisions concerning the selection committee and Department reports on measures of success.