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How Schools Can Get Homeless High Schoolers to College

By U.S. News & World Report

Eighteen-year-old Nia Hill spent her senior year of high school homeless, but she graduated and will attend Howard University, in the nation’s capital, on a full-ride scholarship this fall.

More than 1.3 million students lacked a permanent place to live during the 2013-2014 school year, according to a recent report.

Hill says some of her teachers at Whitney M. Young Magnet High School in Chicago offered her emotional support. The school gave her bus cards to get there, but she thinks the school could have done more to help.

Federal guidelines, released last week, aim to help states and school districts assist homeless students and implement recent changes to federal law that affect homeless youth.

States are now required to help homeless high schoolers with college readiness and ensure that unaccompanied homeless youth understand and receive help with applying for federal financial aid for college as an independent student, says Christina Dukes, federal liaison at the National Center for Homeless Education.

[Find out how homeless high schoolers face barriers to education.]

“A lot of times high school becomes such a frustration and when you are going through a lot of hardships, you are just trying to get through,” says Jonathan Houston, who coordinates homeless education for the Tukwila School District in Washington state, and has been homeless himself.

High school educators and administrators can use the following strategies to help homeless students get to college.

— Create a college-going culture: Many homeless youth are very capable of going to college, but may feel like it is out of reach, says Dukes, the federal liaison. They may not have family members who have been to college by their side to help guide them through the process.

Educators can help create a college-going culture among homeless youth by providing them with important information about the help that is available and encouraging them to believe that college is possible, she says.

— Ensure homeless youth are aware of available resources: Homeless youth have a plethora of free help available to them, including fee waivers for college entrance exams, Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate tests and college applications, says Dukes.

Unaccompanied homeless youth can also apply for federal financial aid for college as an independent student, which means they don’t need to provide their parents’ financial information on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid or have their parents sign the FAFSA. This can open doors for students, but students need to know that these, and other supports, are available and how to access them, she says.

— Help homeless teens transition to college: Moving to college can be especially difficult for homeless teens since they may be surrounded by students who have parental support or come from a better economic background, says Dukes.

Homeless students need help making the transition to college, connecting with the college community and accessing available resources, she says. This support is especially critical during their first year.

Hill, the recent graduate, became involved with Chicago Scholars, a nonprofit that helps students from underresourced communities pursue college, her junior year of high school.

She says the group really helped her: They gave her plane tickets to visit colleges, money to cover expenses while on these visits and helped her through the college application process. The organization, she says, will continue to provide support for her through college.

[Learn how mentoring programs aim to increase high school graduates.]

Hill, who is still homeless, says she received many opportunities because she was open about her situation and advises teens in similar circumstances to do the same.

“Be transparent and don’t be afraid to tell others your story because it can motivate other people and it can also open doors for you,” she says.

Have something of interest to share? Send your news to us at highschoolnotes@usnews.com.

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How Schools Can Get Homeless High Schoolers to College originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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