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Board adopts NextUp Title 5 regulations and approves foster-youth college access demonstration project
Summary
The Board of Governors adopted revised Title 5 regulations for NextUp (foster-youth support) that expand eligibility, lower the minimum age to 13, and allow continuity of services beyond age 26 for those who enrolled earlier. Members also heard and backed a demonstration project that will link high schools and community colleges to increase dual-enrollment and college enrollment for foster youth.
The Board of Governors voted to adopt revised Title 5 regulations to formalize and expand NextUp, the Chancellor—s Office program supporting current and former foster youth across the California Community Colleges. Deputy Chancellor Rowena Tomaneng said changes align Title 5 with recent Education Code amendments and Vision 2030 priorities. Key changes include lowering the minimum age for eligibility from 16 to 13; permitting students enrolled prior to age 26 to continue receiving services beyond their 26th birthday; and allowing flexibility for students with fewer than nine units when an education plan shows a path to 9 or more units.
The board heard implementation details and public comment from NextUp coordinators and partner advocates (John Burton Advocates for Youth). NextUp coordinators described hands-on work in high schools and college campuses: dependency verification, dual-enrollment outreach, FAFSA assistance, warm handoffs to campus NextUp or Guardian Scholars programs, and agreements (MOUs) with county offices for CALPADS 5.7 data to identify eligible students. Riverside City College supplied concrete outcomes: staff embedded as resource specialists in feeder high schools, 52 dual-enrolled foster youth participants with stipends for successful course completions, and scaling of Guardian Scholars services since 2018.
The board approved the NextUp regulations and then heard a demonstration project proposal to scale high-school-to-college access for foster youth through MOUs, targeted student outreach, dual-enrollment support, skill-building modules, and coordinated community supports. Staff noted outcome measures: increases in dual-enrollment participation and completion among foster youth, higher FAFSA/Dream Act completion rates, and increased matriculation to community college immediately after high school.
Vote: The board adopted the NextUp Title 5 regulations by roll call; the motion carried.
What comes next: The Chancellor's Office will finalize guidance on implementation and seek funding connections; the demonstration project will recruit colleges and districts to pilot the high-school-to-college pipeline work and return outcome data to the board.
