The John Burton Advocates for Youth recognized the San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools’ Children Deserve Success program for being the winner in the California Foster Youth FAFSA Challenge during a ceremony on April 1 in Sacramento.

The Foster Youth Services program, as part of Children Deserve Success for County Schools, coordinated efforts so that 52 percent of high school seniors in the county who are in foster care filled out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the 2018-19 academic year. The John Burton Advocates said that was the top producer in the Large County category across the state.

John Burton Advocates works to create greater post-secondary educational opportunities for foster youth. According to date, only 4 percent of foster youth earn college bachelor’s degrees by age 26, in comparison to 37 percent of the general population.

In the FAFSA Challenge, the statewide average for foster youth completing the FAFSA form was just 47 percent. County Schools salutes the work and dedication our schools and districts show to support our foster youth – a great effort that is worthy of statewide recognition!