•••• Full of pertinent information, user friendly, and/or aimed at teens
••• Quite a bit of relevant information
•• Good relevant information for some users
• Relevant for particular topics, not for everyone. 

MONEY FOR COLLEGE
•••• Paying for College - Education and Training Voucher Program
For youth who graduated from high school while in foster care, or who meet other eligibility requirements, financial assistance for college and post-secondary training programs is available through an SRS program called the Education and Training Voucher Program. The program can pay for tuition, fees, and other expenses at Kansas Vo-Tech schools, community colleges, Washburn University, and Board of Regents schools. In some cases, the program will pay for other expenses, as well. Participants must enroll as a full-time student, maintain good academic standing, and work 10-hours a week. Your Independent Living Coordinator has more information about this opportunity.
 
Application for Foster Child Education Assistance Program AKA Tuition waiver
LINK: http://www.srs.ks.gov/agency/cfs/Documents/PPM 20Forms/Appendix_8A_FC_Ed_assistance_application.pdf
 
Education & Training Voucher Program -- End of Plan Year Review
LINK: http://www.kansasregents.org/resources/PDF/641-2010FosterCareWaiverApp8AFCEdassistanceapplication.pdf
 
•••• Kansas Student Aid
The State of Kansas site will help you learn about the eligibility requirements for numerous financial aid awards, scholarships, and grants available in Kansas, along with other useful related information.
LINK: http://www.kansasregents.org/student_financial_aid
 
•••• Federal Student Aid—FASFA4caster
If you don’t know what federal student aid is, what programs there are, or what you need to do to get money for college, this is a very user friendly site that will respond these questions and much more!! 
LINK: http://www.fafsa4caster.ed.gov/F4CApp/index/index.jsf
 
•••• Free Application for Federal Student Aid – AKA—FASFA 
This is the Federal Government portal that provides VERY useful information and resources for you to apply for Federal Student Aid.  Federal student aid covers school expenses, such as tuition and fees, room and board, books and supplies, and transportation. This aid can also help you pay for a computer and dependent childcare expenses. Check out their 1-2-3 process and keep the deadline in mind! If you have questions regarding the application process you can contact the Federal Student Aid Information Center 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243) or 1-319-337-566.
LINK: http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/
 
Dependency Status:
Step 1 of the Application asks whether you are receiving foster care services, adapting the application if you are…Remember that if you’re in foster care you won’t need some of the documents that FAFSA demands, such as your parents’ federal income tax return.
LINK: http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/FOTWWebApp/fotw1011/WorksheetServlet?locale=en_US&wstype=WSDEP
 
Eligibility FAQs:
Check out if you qualify for federal student aid!
LINK: 
http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/faq003.htm
 
•••• Federal Student Aid Programs
There are three categories of federal student aid: grants, work-study and loans. Federal grants are available for students attending colleges, including career colleges and universities. Grants, unlike loans, do not have to be repaid. Federal student loans allow students to borrow money to help pay for college. Remember that not all schools participate in all federal student aid programs. Check out the programs!!!
LINK:  http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/what010.htm
  
••• MyFSA
You can create a personal portfolio to help you through the FASFA application process.  This portfolio can help you store your information and identify the steps you need to take to complete your application.  This can be a very valuable tool for you! For example, this site has a “scholarship match” tool, that matches your portfolio to possible scholarships for you…
LINK:  https://studentaid2.ed.gov/xap_pack/Default.asp 
 
SCHOLARSHIPS AND GRANTS
••• Kansas Scholarships and Grants
This State of Kansas site provides information about different scholarships, including graduate and undergraduate scholarships such as state, minority, nursing, and teacher scholarships. Check your eligibility!
LINK: http://www.kansasregents.org/scholarships_and_grants
 
••• Greater Kansas City Community Foundation
This link provides a list of scholarships available through the Greater Kansas City Community Foundation. There are several scholarships available for all levels of school, as well as undergraduate and graduate studies. This is a GREAT opportunity for you!
LINK: http://www.gkccf.org/scholarship.aspx?id=1540
 
•••• Kansas Foster and Adoptive Children Scholarship Fund
Scholarships for any type of further education beyond high school including college, junior college, vocational, technical or other trade schools for Kansas youth who are or have been in foster care.
LINK: http://www.gkccf.org/scholarship.aspx?id=584
 
 
••• Greater Salina Community Foundation
This link provides a list of scholarships available through the Greater Salina Community Foundation.  There are several scholarships available for undergraduate and graduate studies.  Check them out!
LINK: http://www.gscf.org/Pages/Scholar.html
 
••• Greater Wichita Community Foundation
This link provides a list of scholarships available through the Greater Wichita Community Foundation.  There are several scholarships available for school, vocational, undergraduate, and graduate studies.  Check them out!
LINK: http://www.wichitacf.org/scholarships/
 
•••• Orphan Foundation of America
OFA is the largest national nonprofit organization dedicated entirely to helping former foster youth obtain the academic and technical skills and competencies needed to thrive in today’s economy. To that end, OFA provides scholarship and grant money to former foster students in colleges and specialized training programs across the country. There are scholarships for undergraduate studies, such as the Casey Family Scholars Program.  Check them out!
LINK: http://orphan.org/what-we-do/scholarships-and-grants/
 
•••• College Scholarships-- Scholarships for Foster Kids
This link provides a list of scholarships available for youth in foster care.  There are several scholarships available for school, vocational, undergraduate, and graduate studies.  Check them out!
LINK: http://www.collegescholarships.org/scholarships/foster.htm
 
 
••• Federal Grants
Grants, unlike loans, do not have to be repaid. Check if you are eligible for a grant! 
LINK: https://studentaid.ed.gov/PORTALSWebApp/students/english/grants.jsp?backURL=/xap_pack/Default.asp&Language=en&returnurl=/students/english/grants.jsp
 
••• Federal Pell Grant
Federal Pell Grants are only for undergraduate students. Check them out!
LINK: https://studentaid.ed.gov/PORTALSWebApp/students/english/PellGrants.jsp?tab=funding 
 
•••• Scholarship Wizard
This link provides the federal government list of scholarships and search by keyword.
LINK: http://studentaid2.ed.gov/getmoney/scholarship/
 
•••• Students.gov: Scholarships and Grants
This is the student gateway to the US government.  It provides a VERY comprehensive list of Government and Private Scholarships to help you pay for your education.
LINK: http://www.students.gov/STUGOVWebApp/Public?topicID=15&operation=topic
 
• Aviation Institute of Maintenance
Aviation Institute of Maintenance offers Aviation Maintenance Technician programs that prepare students for the Airframe and Powerplant license. Locations include Kansas City.
LINK: http://www.aviationmaintenance.edu 
 
GETTING A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA / GED
••• GED
The GED Tests measure the major academic skills and concepts associated with four years of regular high school instruction. They provide an opportunity for people who have not graduated from high school to earn a high school equivalency diploma.  GED measures competency in five subject areas: Language Arts-Writing, Social Studies, Science, Language Arts-Reading, and Mathematics.
Kansas GED Information has the GED testing calendar, location of GED centers, GED preparation programs, GED records and forms, and answers to frequently asked questions such as eligibility criteria, documents required to take the GED test, fees, and retesting.
LINK: http://www.kansasregents.org/adult_education
 
GED Testing Centers
LINK: http://www.kansasregents.org/ged_testing_centers
 
GED FAQs
LINK: http://www.kansasregents.org/ged_faqs
 
More GED info links:

Content of the GED Tests

 

••• The Learning Centers
The ESSDACK Learning Center concept began as a performance-based highschool diploma program for adults in 1996 in four central Kansas locations. In its ten years of existence, the program has evolved and expanded into community learning centers in 14 locations.

The high school diploma program is consistent in all of the learning centers. The program is individualized for each student both in content and schedule. The students work at their own pace and set their own goals and timeline. The addition of totally virtual delivery in 2005 makes the program anywhere, anytime learning. The addition of a career development component in the fall of 2006 helps meet long term goals of students.

Each learning center has adapted to meet the needs of the community it serves. The Centers now provide classes such as computer classes, ESL classes, virtual art, and work place classes to community members. The flexibility of the courses allows each student to juggle employment and family responsibilities while earning his or her diploma.
LINK: http://www.essdack.org/?q=learningcenters

To view information on a specific learning center, please click on the links below.

Learning Center Locations

•••• YouthBuild KCK
YouthBuild KCK teaches 16-24 year-olds who have not finished high school to rebuild themselves by completing their education and building homes for low-income families. United Way is the lead agency for a partnership of 30 organizations who provide education, counseling, leadership, and home construction training to young adults wanting to turn their lives around and complete their high school education. YouthBuild KCK is a comprehensive 10-month training and educational program for undereducated and unemployed young people. All trainees split their time between the classroom, construction sites, and doing community service.
LINK: http://www.unitedway-wyco.org/reports/YouthBuild-Brochure.pdf

Victor Hernandez - Program Director 913-371-3770

 

•••• Technical and Vocational Schools in Kansas
Training for an in-demand career is an investment in your economic future. Attending a vocational, technical, or trade school can help reach this goal! There are many opportunities in various fields of high-skilled employment, such as healthcare, automotive, information technology, electronics, or legal service. The site listed below lists all vocational, technical, or trade schools in Kansas:
LINK: http://www.rwm.org/rwm/tf_kan.html

 

•••• Foster Club:
Foster club has excellent information to answer questions you may have about school, such as switching schools, getting tutoring, flunking school, and much more.
School, jobs, and other activities
LINK: http://www.fosterclub.com/questionsanswers/school-jobs-and-other-activities
 
Why do I need more education?
LINK: http://www.fosterclub.com/questionsanswers/school-jobs-and-other-activities
 
Where will I live when I leave foster care?
LINK: http://www.fosterclub.com/questionsanswers/school-jobs-and-other-activities
Additional educational resources
••• Kansas Board of Regents:
Much information on getting a college education in Kansas.
LINK: http://www.kansasregents.org/

••• Students.gov
Federal government information for college-bound students.
LINK: http://www.students.gov

••• Mapping Your Future
A free and neutral resource on career, college, financial aid, and money management.
LINK: http://mappingyourfuture.org