Governor Signs AB 2766 (Ahrens) to Improve Foster and Homeless Student Success Through Priority Housing and Enrollment

On Monday, September 14, Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 2766, authored by Assemblymember Patrick Ahrens (D-Silicon Valley). Taking effect January 1, 2027, the legislation aims to improve housing stability and timely degree completion for students who have been in foster care or are experiencing homelessness.  

AB 2766 standardizes select policies across the state’s public higher education segments, introducing new requirements for California Community Colleges (CCCs) and California State University (CSU) campuses. The bill requires CCCs to provide priority housing to their students who are current and former foster youth and youth experiencing homelessness, mirroring existing policies at CSUs and University of California (UC) campuses.  

The bill also requires CCC and CSU campuses to identify eligible students in housing applications, publicize priority housing benefits online, and defer housing deposits and fees for these student populations until after financial aid is disbursed, or waive them entirely. The bill requests that UC campuses implement these provisions. Finally, AB 2766 aligns priority registration eligibility with the CCC NextUp foster youth support program to ensure that like their younger peers, foster youth over the age of 25 can also access required courses helping them graduate on time. 

AB 2766 was cosponsored by John Burton Advocates for Youth, Student HOMES Coalition, uAspire and the UC Student Association. To learn more about AB 2766, view the implementation fact sheet.

JBAY to Host October 20 Webinar Unveiling New Financial Aid Practitioner’s Guide on Strengthening Satisfactory Academic Progress Practices Under AB 789



On Tuesday, October 20 from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. PST, John Burton Advocates for Youth (JBAY) will host a statewide webinar for higher education financial aid professionals highlighting promising Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) practices. SAP policies have historically harmed low-income students—particularly foster youth, jeopardizing their access to financial aid.

Three years after the passage of AB 789 (Berman)—which standardized SAP requirements and removed overly restrictive barriers—attention has shifted to practical implementation. Building on five years of research and JBAY’s prior AB 789 Toolkit, the webinar will mark the release of a new AB 789 practitioner’s guide, drawing on insights gathered from financial aid practitioners across the California Community Colleges, California State University, and University of California systems.

The webinar will explore practical approaches to student communications, appeals, website accessibility, technology, and leveraging existing staff resources and external supports.

Participants will leave with concrete ideas and strategies to strengthen SAP practices on their campuses, along with a sample SAP policy that meets readability standards.

Financial aid directors, staff, and other higher education professionals involved in SAP policy and implementation are encouraged to attend. Additional AB 789 guidance and resources are available on JBAY’s website. Register for the October 20 webinar here.

A Decade of Policy Change and Investment in Washington State Drives Improved School Stability and Graduation Rates for Students Experiencing Homelessness

The Learning Policy Institute has released a report and accompanying brief analyzing investments supporting students experiencing homelessness in Washington State. This report comes as California’s 2026-27 state budget included $116 million for Local Educational Agencies to support K-12 students experiencing homelessness.

The Washington State report highlights how outcomes for students experiencing homelessness have improved as state investments have increased. This includes improved homeless student identification and school stability, as well as improved graduation rates among students experiencing homelessness—above and beyond the increase for stably housed students.

The brief provides an overview of the state policy ecosystem that supports these students with special attention to two programs: the Homeless Student Stability Program (HSSP) and the Homeless Student Stability Education Program (HSSEP). The programs are designed to foster collaboration between school districts and community-based organizations to support students experiencing homelessness and their families. Districts receiving HSSEP and/or McKinney-Vento grants experienced even more pronounced improvements in homeless student identification and school stability.

These programs are part of a larger ecosystem of advancements in Washington State policy and investment since 2014, including improved homeless student identification, creation of the state’s Office of Homeless Youth, better data collection, strengthened coordination between district policy and school-level supports, expanded shelter access for minors, and codifying of McKinney-Vento protections into state law. For more information, refer to the brief or report.

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