The proposed bill aims to establish the Great Expectations Pilot Program within West Virginia's community and technical college system to support foster children transitioning to higher education. The program will pair foster children with specialized coaches who will assist them in assessing their skills and interests, planning for college enrollment, and navigating the application process. Additionally, the coaches will help foster children explore career options, set future goals, and access financial aid, including tuition grants for eligible students who have experienced foster care.

Funding for the program is set at $95,000 per year, sourced from a newly created special revenue account, which will cover the salary and benefits of the coaches as well as necessary resources for recruitment and support services. The pilot program is scheduled to commence on September 1, 2025, and will run for three years, after which an evaluation will be conducted to assess its success and potential for broader implementation across other community and technical colleges in the state.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 18B-3G-1, 18B-3G-2, 18B-3G-3, 18B-3G-4