Tuition Waiver Reciprocity Campaign | American Foster Futures

Alongside the National Campaign for Foster Youth Tuition Waivers, American Foster Futures advances a dedicated Reciprocity Waiver Campaign. Drawn from AFF’s final business plan, this work is a core part of our policy agenda.

Objective

As foster care tuition waivers come online in every state in the U.S., the next step is tying them all together through an interstate reciprocity compact. Put simply, if a foster youth receives a waiver in their home state and is accepted to a college or university in a different state with a similar waiver, the individual shall have access to the waiver in the other state. State-by-state reciprocity in the application of foster youth tuition waivers will vastly increase the total number of educational opportunities, while increasing the quality of those outcomes for foster youth by allowing those seeking specialization in a field of study to attend a college of their choice.

College student walking across a university campus — Reciprocity expands where a foster youth can use a home-state tuition waiver — including colleges and specialized programs out of state.

Why reciprocity matters

Foster youth move across state lines for college, work, family, and specialized programs—education benefits should not stop at a border.
Without reciprocity, a youth who earned a waiver in one state may lose that pathway when they transfer or enroll out of state.
Reciprocity pairs with AFF’s Texas-style waiver campaign: expand strong programs and make them portable.

How we work

Advocacy and lobbying strategy — engage legislators and stakeholders to introduce, pass, and improve waiver laws, including reciprocity language where possible.
Evidence-based materials — research, reports, and recommendations that show why portable tuition support improves enrollment and completion.
Grassroots organizing — pilot and expand state campaigns, including states with no waiver and states whose systems need improvement.

Source: Business Plan — American Foster Futures (FINAL). Program details and sequencing may evolve with capacity and legislative calendars.

National Campaign map → Get involved → Case for Support →