Scholarship-Newsletter-Summer-2013

SB 1208 creates a five year pilot program providing tuition waivers at all three of Arizona's state universities and community colleges for certain children in foster care, or who have

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Senate Bill 1208 was signed into law by Governor Brewer on June 20, 2013 In 90

days from this signing, SB 1208 becomes law - on or about September 20, 2013 SB 1208

creates a five year pilot program providing tuition waivers at all three of Arizona's state

universities and community colleges for certain children in foster care, or who have been

adopted A full copy of SB #1208 is below

Now that the bill has passed, the technicalities of implementation and communication between

entities are seen as critical to the tuition waiver pilot’s success On July 24, AFFCF participated

in a state-wide stakeholders meeting, hosted by Children's Action Alliance, which included

representatives from the state universities and colleges as well as other community

organizations None of the universities or colleges could definitively say when they will have the

infrastructure in place to implement this pilot program The earliest possible date looks to be

spring 2014 Check back with affcf.org for continuing developments

1 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

2 Section 1 Title 15, chapter 14, article 1, Arizona Revised Statutes,

3 is amended by adding section 15-1809, to read:

4 15-1809 Tuition waiver for persons formerly in foster care;

5 pilot program; report; definition

6 A THE ARIZONA BOARD OF REGENTS SHALL DEVELOP A FIVE-YEAR PILOT

7 PROGRAM TO PROVIDE A TUITION WAIVER SCHOLARSHIP AT ANY UNIVERSITY UNDER THE

8 JURISDICTION OF THE ARIZONA BOARD OF REGENTS AND EACH COMMUNITY COLLEGE

9 DISTRICT SHALL DEVELOP A FIVE-YEAR PILOT PROGRAM TO PROVIDE A TUITION WAIVER

10 SCHOLARSHIP AT ANY COMMUNITY COLLEGE IN THAT COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT TO

11 ANY PERSON WHO MEETS EACH OF THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS:

12 1 RESIDES IN THIS STATE

13 2 EITHER:

14 (a) IS CURRENTLY IN FOSTER CARE AND IS AT LEAST SIXTEEN YEARS OF AGE

15 (b) WAS IN FOSTER CARE WHEN THE PERSON WAS AT LEAST SIXTEEN YEARS OF

16 AGE

17 (c) WAS ADOPTED FROM FOSTER CARE AND THE ADOPTION WAS FINALIZED AFTER

18 THE PERSON WAS SIXTEEN YEARS OF AGE

19 3 IS A UNITED STATES CITIZEN OR IS A NONCITIZEN WHO IS LAWFULLY

20 PRESENT IN THIS COUNTRY

21 4 HAS TOTAL PERSONAL ASSETS, NOT INCLUDING SCHOLARSHIPS OR GRANTS

22 RECEIVED BY THE PERSON, THAT ARE WORTH LESS THAN TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS

23 5 IS UNDER TWENTY-ONE YEARS OF AGE WHEN THE FIRST TUITION WAIVER

24 SCHOLARSHIP IS AWARDED TO THAT PERSON PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION IF THE

25 PERSON HAS BEEN PREVIOUSLY AWARDED A TUITION WAIVER SCHOLARSHIP PURSUANT TO

26 THIS SECTION AND THE PERSON IS MAKING SATISFACTORY PROGRESS TOWARD A

Arizona Friends of Foster Children Newsletter

AFFCF’s mission is to promote the self-esteem and enrich the lives of Arizona’s foster children

by funding activities, education, and other needs that provide them with quality experiences while they live through the most difficult circumstances

AFFCF Scholar Program Update & News

Summer 2013

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27 BACCALAUREATE DEGREE, AN ASSOCIATE'S DEGREE OR A CERTIFICATE AT THE TIME THE

28 PERSON REACHES TWENTY-ONE YEARS OF AGE, THE PERSON MAY CONTINUE TO BE AWARDED

29 A TUITION WAIVER SCHOLARSHIP UNTIL THE PERSON REACHES TWENTY-THREE YEARS OF

30 AGE

31 6 IS ACCEPTED INTO OR ENROLLED IN A DEGREE, CERTIFICATE OR OTHER

32 ACCREDITED PROGRAM AT A UNIVERSITY UNDER THE JURISDICTION OF THE ARIZONA

33 BOARD OF REGENTS OR A COMMUNITY COLLEGE UNDER THE JURISDICTION OF A COMMUNITY

34 COLLEGE DISTRICT THE PERSON MUST DEMONSTRATE CONTINUOUS PROGRESS TOWARD A

35 DEGREE OR CERTIFICATE IN ORDER TO REMAIN ELIGIBLE FOR A TUITION WAIVER

36 SCHOLARSHIP ISSUED

37 7 HAS COMPLETED AND SUBMITTED TO THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF

38 EDUCATION A FREE APPLICATION FOR FEDERAL STUDENT AID BEFORE EACH YEAR IN

39 WHICH THE PERSON RECEIVES A TUITION WAIVER SCHOLARSHIP PURSUANT TO THIS

40 SECTION

41 8 AFTER THE FIRST ACADEMIC YEAR IN WHICH THE PERSON RECEIVES A

42 TUITION WAIVER SCHOLARSHIP PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION, ANNUALLY COMPLETES AT

43 LEAST THIRTY HOURS OF VOLUNTEER SERVICE DURING THE PREVIOUS ACADEMIC YEAR

44 9 REMAINS IN GOOD STANDING WITH THE POLICIES ESTABLISHED BY THE

45 UNIVERSITY OR COMMUNITY COLLEGE AT WHICH THE PERSON IS ENROLLED S.B 1208

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1 B A TUITION WAIVER SCHOLARSHIP PROVIDED PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION

2 SHALL BE REDUCED BY THE AMOUNT OF ANY OTHER FEDERAL AID SCHOLARSHIPS OR

3 PUBLIC GRANTS AND ANY OTHER PUBLIC AID RECEIVED BY THAT PERSON FROM OR

4 THROUGH THE UNIVERSITY OR COMMUNITY COLLEGE AT WHICH THE PERSON IS ENROLLED,

5 EXCEPT THAT A TUITION WAIVER SCHOLARSHIP SHALL NOT BE REDUCED BY THE AMOUNT

6 OF FEDERAL GRANTS RECEIVED BY THE PERSON FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC

7 SECURITY UNDER THE ARIZONA EDUCATION AND TRAINING VOUCHER PROGRAM

8 C THE AUDITOR GENERAL SHALL REVIEW THE PILOT PROGRAMS AND ON OR

9 BEFORE JUNE 30, 2017 SHALL SUBMIT A REPORT TO THE GOVERNOR, THE PRESIDENT OF

10 THE SENATE AND THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES THAT EVALUATES THE

11 EFFECTIVENESS OF THE PILOT PROGRAMS THE AUDITOR GENERAL SHALL PROVIDE A

12 COPY OF THIS REPORT TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE

13 D IF THE PILOT PROGRAM IS TERMINATED BEFORE A TUITION WAIVER

14 SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT OBTAINS AN ASSOCIATE'S DEGREE, A BACCALAUREATE DEGREE

15 OR A CERTIFICATE AND BEFORE THE RECIPIENT REACHES TWENTY-THREE YEARS OF AGE,

16 THAT PERSON SHALL CONTINUE TO BE AWARDED A TUITION WAIVER SCHOLARSHIP UNTIL

17 THE PERSON REACHES TWENTY-THREE YEARS OF AGE OR OBTAINS A BACCALAUREATE

18 DEGREE, AN ASSOCIATE'S DEGREE OR A CERTIFICATE, WHICHEVER OCCURS FIRST, IF

19 THE PERSON CONTINUES TO MEET THE SCHOLARSHIP CRITERIA PRESCRIBED BY THIS

20 SECTION

21 E FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, "TUITION" MEANS TUITION AND

22 MANDATORY FEES CHARGED BY THE UNIVERSITY OR COMMUNITY COLLEGE

23 Sec 2 Delayed repeal

24 Section 15-1809, Arizona Revised Statutes, as added by this act, is

25 repealed from and after June 30, 2018

APPROVED BY THE GOVERNOR JUNE 20, 2013 FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE JUNE

20, 2013

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A Strong Middle School Education Matters

A report by American College Testing (ACT) found that:

“Eighth-grade achievement is the best predictor of students’ ultimate level of college and career readiness by high

school graduation—even more than students’ family background, high school coursework, or high school grade point

average.”

The ACT researchers found that students’ academic readiness for college and career can be improved when students develop behaviors in the upper elementary grades and in middle school that are known to contribute to successful academic performance The title of the report is The Forgotten Middle, which states

“Today, college readiness also means career readiness While not every high school graduate plans to attend college, the majority of the fastest-growing jobs that require a high school diploma, pay a salary above the poverty line for a family of four, and provide opportunities for career advancement require knowledge and skills

comparable to those expected of the first-year college student ACT data show that fewer than two in ten

eighth graders are on target to be ready for college-level work by the time they graduate from high school

This means that more than eight of ten eighth-grade students do not have the knowledge and skills they need to enter high school and succeed there And not surprisingly, our research shows that students who are not

prepared for high school are less likely than other students to be prepared for college and career by the time they graduate from high school So although the gates of high school are technically open to all students, for more than 80 percent of them, the door to their futures may already be closed.”

This research cites two academic behaviors that had a substantial impact on academic success in eighth grade; academic discipline (i.e., good work and study habits, such as consistently completing homework) and orderly conduct

Additionally they found that having positive relationships with peers and teachers makes a significant impact on future success

Other studies also compare student success from Kindergarten – eighth grade schools to those who must transition to

new school environments in the middle school years and again in high school Reducing multiple transitions reduces bullying behavior, increases self-esteem and increases academic success

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Key Scholarship Opportunities

 University of Phoenix- “First Chance Scholarship Program”- full tuition scholarships redeemable

at any University of Phoenix campus for youth in foster care under 25 years old Through a partnership between the University of Phoenix and the National Foster Parent Association, five (5) full-tuition scholarships will be offered Each scholarship will allow a prospective student the opportunity to complete an undergraduate or master's degree program at University of Phoenix Recipients may choose to attend a University of Phoenix on-ground campus or may attend University of Phoenix online www.phoenix.edu/tuition_and_financial_options/scholarships/institutional-scholarships.html

 Casey Family Programs- “Foster Care to Success” administers the Casey Family Scholars and Alumni Scholarship programs for youth served through Case Family Programs

www.fc2success.org/programs/scholarships-and-grants/

 Nina’s Scholars- Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust given to students registered at ASU between the

ages of 18-25 that have lived in a foster home http://ninascholars.asu.edu/

 Armstrong Family Foundation –Scholarships of up to $8000 for youth in foster care or court wards

http://www.armstrongfamilyfoundation.com/Page_D03_ASU_1-Scholarship_Program.html

 Yavapai College-Barbara Polk Scholarship -Champion’s Scholarship Fund/Barbara J Polk-Available to

qualified students who are former or current wards of Yavapai County court

https://www.yc.edu/v4content/yavapai-college-foundation/scholarships.htm

There are a number of other scholarship programs available to youth throughout the state, which youth transitioning from foster care can access These include, but are not limited to:

 Federal Pell Grant Program

 Arizona Community Foundation

 Arizona State University (ASU) Foundation

 Northern Arizona university (U of A) Foundation

Education and Training Voucher (ETV) Program- The ETV program is administered by ADES-DCYF with funding

from the Chafee Foster Care Independence Program Vouchers provide financial assistance up to $5000 per year for post-secondary education and training costs, including related living expenses to eligible youth up to

23 years old A youth may apply for assistance through the state ETV program if the youth:

 Was in out of home care in the custody of ADES-DCYF when age 16, 17 or 18;

 Is age 18-21 and was previously in the custody of ADES-DCYF or a licensed child welfare agency, including tribal foster care programs;

 Was adopted from foster care at age 16 or older; or

 Was participating in the ETV program at age 21

 Foster Care to Success staff and volunteers are available to advise, coach and guide each young people, which includes outreach and mentoring services through a state-of-the-art web portal

For additional gran and scholarship opportunities please visit our website at

affcf.org/scholarships/resources

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The Elks National Foundation

http://www.elks.org/enf/scholars/

The Elks National Foundation provides more than $3.74 million in college

scholarships each year through its three scholarship programs The application process and deadlines vary for each program All applications must go through a local Elks Lodge before reaching the Elks National Foundation office Contact your high school counselor for more information or your local Elks Lodge

Most Valuable Student Scholarships 500 four-year scholarships, ranging from $1,000 per year

to $12,500 per year, for graduating high school seniors based on financial need, leadership and

scholarship The 2014 Most Valuable Student scholarship contest will begin on September

1, 2013 Please check with a local Elks Lodge for more details and to access an application

 Any high school senior who is a citizen of the United States is eligible to apply

 Applicants need not be related to a member of the Elks

 Current college students are not eligible to apply

 Applicants must be citizens of the United States on the date their applications are signed; permanent legal resident status does not qualify

 Male and female students compete separately

Applicants will be judged on scholarship, leadership, and financial need The Most Valuable

Student scholarship deadline will be December 6, 2013 Applications must be submitted to the

Elks Lodge closest to the student's permanent U.S address

Applications must advance through local, district and state competitions to reach national

judging The weekend of April 25-27, 2014, the 20 top finalists will participate in a Leadership Weekend in Chicago during which they will interview with the national judges These 20

finalists will be vying for two first-place awards of $50,000; two second-place awards of

$40,000; and two third-place awards of $30,000 The remaining 14 finalists will receive awards

of $20,000 The 480 runners-up will receive fifth-place scholarships of $4,000

The Chicago office of the Elks National Foundation will announce the 500 national winners, and notify them in writing, by late April 2014 (Many local Lodges, districts and state Elks

associations award their own scholarships through this program These scholarships are not to be confused with the 500 Elks National Foundation Most Valuable Student Scholarships.)

All scholarships are in the form of certificates of award conditional upon the full-time enrollment

of the winner in an accredited U.S college or university

Ranging from $1,000 per year to $12,500 per year, Most Valuable Student scholarships are for students pursuing a four-year degree, on a full-time basis (minimum of 12 semester hours), in a U.S college or university

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Assistance for Youth Transitioning out of Foster Care

A New Leaf Transitional Living Program (Maricopa County) - serves 18-25 year-olds who are homeless or on the verge

of homelessness with an emphasis on youth who have aged-out of the foster care system The Empower Program, New Leaf Cottages and Desert Leaf apartments provide a combination of affordable (or subsidized) short-term transitional housing, basic needs, case management, and independent living training for young adults who are working and /or obtaining higher education or training for up to two years Young Adult participants temporarily may live in one of two “agency owned” homes in Mesa or in apartments across the Valley Independent Living Skills, support, and case management are provided at convenient locations for the residents A New Leaf Cottages incorporates wraparound services from behavioral health and community programs Desert Leaf Apartments opened December 2012, an 18-unit, 1 and 2 bedroom complex located near

A New Leaf’s Pat Gilbert Center, home to both Maricopa County's WIC and immunization programs, and A New Leaf behavioral health clinic and MesaCAN's community services

Source of Data: A New Leaf, (www.turnanewleaf.org )

HomeBase Youth Services Programs of Native American Connections

HomeBase Youth Services consists of Street Outreach, Day Outreach Center and Transitional Living for homeless youth ages 18-21

Street Outreach-Employees and volunteers, each night, travel out to the streets and other places where homeless

youth are found and bring meals, blankets, hygiene products and information about NAC services HomeBase strongly encourages youth to come to the Day Resource Center for more assistance

Day Outreach Center -a facility where homeless youth can come Monday through Friday to wash their clothes,

take a shower, have a hot meal and meet with case managers and receive referrals for medical and mental health professionals as they work toward entering the Transitional Living Program

Transitional Living-A program designed specifically to help homeless young adults prepare for healthy

independent living Services include housing for 25 youth, employment training and assistance, financial literacy courses, educational training and assistance and referrals for legal assistance, medical and mental health services, substance abuse services, social services and assistance with social/developmental challenges In addition, NAC provides the opportunity to access a wide variety of affordable housing when these young people are ready to be on their own

Our Family Teens in Transition: Transitional Housing (Pima County) consists of a 20 unit apartment complex leased from the City of Tucson and scattered site apartments designed to provide housing for up to two years for qualified youth ages 18-21 This housing program is designed for youth to work, complete educational or vocational goals, save money and transition into a permanent living situation All youth in this program have access to intensive case-management services, life skills training, parenting classes (if pregnant or parenting) and participate in education and employment programs

Independent Living Subsidy Program (ILSP)

The Independent Living Subsidy Program (ILSP) is an option for out-of-home placement for youth 17- 20 to live

independently provided they meet program requirements Youth receive up to $715 per month to help with their expenses

Transitional Independent Living Program (TILP)

The Transitional Independent Living Program (TILP) provides services to youth 18-20 who chose to leave foster care at age

18 or later and wish to reapply for support and services without returning to foster care Youth may also be from Arizona’s

or some other states or tribal foster care system Services are provided through contracts with community agencies

Beginning July 1, 2013, Arizona’s Children Association (AzCA) will provide independent living skills training and

transitional services to foster youth statewide under a contract with ADES-DCYF

Young Adult Transition Insurance (YATI)

Since 2000, Arizona has offered health coverage to eligible young adults ages 18-21 through AHCCCS, the state Medicaid program Young Adult Transitional Insurance (YATI) allows youth turning 18 while in the state foster care system to become enrolled through an expedited process designed to ensure seamless health care coverage There is no income

restriction for this category of eligibility, so youth may secure livable wage employment without fear of losing health care coverage

Continued on next page…

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*Save the Dates*

WHAT: AFFCF will be hosting its second annual “Foodie Fare for Foster Care”

WHEN: November 17, 2013 / 12 p.m to 3 p.m

WHERE: Kierland Commons / 15205 N Kierland Blvd, Scottsdale, AZ 85254 WHY: Proceeds to fund the needs of children in Arizona’s foster care system

Shop, eat, and give!

WHAT: AFFCF's Youth Shower Event

WHEN: September 28, 2013 / 1 pm - 3 pm

WHERE: More info to follow (check affcf.org “Events Calendar” for updates)

WHY: To celebrate and help young adults aging out of the foster care

system step into the next chapter of their lives

Shower Wish List:

• Target and Wal-Mart Gift Cards

• Grocery Gift Cards

• New Cleaning Supplies

• New or Gently Used Small Household Appliances

Transitioning youth may also access the Section 8 Rental Assistance (Voucher) Program although waiting lists can

be long City Housing Departments typically have some type of housing subsidy programs available Youth serving agencies have successfully partnered with local government housing departments to administer Section 8 Vouchers for homeless youth including youth who are transitioning from foster care Examples of these partnerships include:

 One in Ten – City of Phoenix

 Tumbleweed Center for Youth Development – City of Phoenix

County governments in Maricopa, Pima and Yuma received Family Unification Program (FUP) voucher funding through the U S Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) FUP makes available housing subsidies to former foster youth at least 18 years old and not more than 21 years who do not have adequate housing

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Jobs, Jobs & More Jobs

Jewish Family and Children’s Services (JFCS) – “Real World Job Development Program”provides services to at-risk youth between the ages of 14-21 who are phasing out of the foster care system into independence, dealing with emotional or mental health challenges and/or living in out-of-home placements Services include:

 Intake and assessments

 Literacy Skills

 GED education & support

 Job training

 Paid apprenticeships

 Individual/group living skills training

 Case management

 Job referral

 Information and other referral services

 Guidance and mentorship

Source of Data: Jewish Family and Children’s Services (www.jfcsaz.org) and Youth Focus Group conducted by Children’s Action Alliance for the Arizona Youth

Opportunities Initiative, 5.16.2013

Goodwill AZ- Goodwill Career Center locations have a full-time staff to provide assistance with any type of job search

Career Centers are equipped with computers, printers, Internet access, telephones, and fax machines to provide services at

no cost to the community Goodwill Youth Services collaborates with other community organizations and government agencies to provide employment programs for youth in central Arizona

Source of Data: Goodwill (www.goodwillaz.org )

Job Corps is a no-cost education and career technical training program administered by the U.S Department of Labor that

helps young people ages 16 through 24 improve the quality of their lives through career technical and academic training The Job Corps program is authorized by Title I-C of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 Arizona has two Job Corps programs, Phoenix Job Corps and Fred G Acosta Job Corps Center in Tucson Youth who are accepted to Job Corps also have options to attend programs in other states depending upon openings and training programs offered

Source of Data: (http://www.jobcorps.gov )

Tumbleweed Center for Youth Development

The Learning Center -a resource center that provides educational/vocational assistance, job development, and referral and

enhanced educational services for clients in Tumbleweed programs and in the Phoenix Community Programs include: Homeless Youth Intervention Project (HYIP), Family Builders, Supported Transitional Apartments, Resources, and Training (START), and Workforce Investment Act (WIA) job and educational services for individuals ages 14-21 Tumbleweed

Regional High School offers education for a High School Diploma In addition, Tumbleweed offers General Education Equivalent Diploma (GED) preparation classes The Center provides computer and internet access for educational and job search purposes

Tumble Tees –a youth-run T-shirt screen printing business operating in Downtown Phoenix since 2008 TumbleTees is a

unique screen printing shop that employs youth who are homeless or in unstable living situations, ages 16-25 They have the opportunity to learn real life business skills while also being creative TumbleTees customers include ASU, City of Grace Church, Magellan Health Services, Green Living Magazine, and 1n10

Source of Data: Interview with Carl Tuitavuki, Program Manager, Tumbleweed Young Adult Program (www.tumbleweed.org), May 15, 2013.

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number of training programs, including a youth program providing services to young people ages 14-21 The main thrust of the Youth Program is to increase the focus on longer-term

academic and occupational learning opportunities and provide long-term comprehensive service strategies Youth services are provided to in-school youth ages 14-21 and out-of-school youth ages 16-21 Resources are offered in each region

ARIZONA YOUTH PROGRAM TRAINING SERVICES BY COUNTY

Contract information

Coconino Coconino County Career Center 928.679.7400

Maricopa Maricopa Workforce Connections 602 372.4204

Arizona Call-A-Teen 602.252.6721 City of Tempe Youth Employment 480.350.5627 Gilbert Youth Employment Service 480.497.3300 ext 137 City of Scottsdale 480 312.7922 Chandler Public Schools 480.883.5030 Mesa Youth Placement Service 480 472-0500 Chicanos Por La Causa 602.269.6485 Goodwill Industries 602 254.2222 Job Corps 602.322.2886 Navajo Northern Arizona Academy - 928.536.4222

Northland Pioneer College 928.289.6504 Navajo Nation Fort Defiance 928.729.4180

Tuba City 505 283.333 Pinal Casa Grande 520.836-1887

Superior 520.689.9044 Pima Pima County Youth Services - 520 243.6700

Southwest Conservation Corps (SCC) 520.884.5550 Yavapai Yavapai County One Stop Center 928.774.1895

Cottonwood Valley Academy for Career and Technology Education

928.634.7131 Yuma Arizona Western College www.azwestern.edu/

Yuma Private Industry Council, Inc 928.329.0990 Statewide Arizona Department of Commerce

 Apprenticeship Program

 Job Training Grant Program

www.AZJobConnection.gov

Statewide Arizona Department of Education

 Student Services

 Career and Technical Education

 STRIVE for Students

www.azed.gov

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Student Loan Update:

Interest rates on federally subsidized student loans will drop, after doubling on July 1st, as a result of the United States House of Representatives passing a bill on July 31 to reduce the recently increased student loans After

passing in the Senate at the end of July, the House voted 392-31 in favor of the Bipartisan Student Loan Certainty Act

of 2013, which lowers student loan interest rates for federally subsidized Stafford loans taken out this fall by 3.86

percent The bill has gone to President Barack Obama for him to sign into law Congress had failed to reach a deal to keep interest rates at 3.4 percent before a July 1 deadline, causing rates to double to 6.8 percent The increase would have cost each student with a subsidized loan an additional $2,600 on average, according to Congress’ Joint Economic Committee

The cause of the hike began in 2007, when Congress passed the College Cost Reduction and Access Act, aimed

at gradually cutting interest rates on student loans in half from 6.8 percent to 3.4 percent by 2011 The College Cost

and Reduction Act was set to expire in 2013, but was moved to 2012 as a compromise between Republicans and

Democrats Congress then extended the legislation for another year in June 2012, making the expiration date July 1 While the new bill means interest rates will decrease, rates will still experience about a 13.5 percent increase since last year The latest bill fixed the interest rates on subsidized student loans to the rates of 10-year U.S Treasury notes – if the rates of treasury notes rise in the future, so will the interest rates on federally subsidized student loans Interest rates will be locked, however This means that the rate students are told they will pay when they take out the

loans will be the rate they are obligated to pay later The rate caps for the loans are also lower in the Bipartisan

Student Loan Certainty Act, with undergraduate student loan interest rates capped at 8.25 percent There may still be

increases in the rate over time, as the interest rates on 10-year Treasury notes is expected to rise to 5.2 percent by

2017 College students starting loans in 2017 could therefore face rates of about 7 percent, according to

Congressional Budget Office projections

Only interest rates for federally subsidized loans are affected by the Bipartisan Student Loan Certainty Act

The recently passed bill will not directly influence the interest rates for other types of federally funded loans or private loans Federal subsidized loans make up about 26 percent of all federal student loans, according to the

Congressional Budget Office Unlike federally unsubsidized and PLUS loans, interest is not added on to subsidized loans while a student is in college Those who take out subsidized loans are required to begin the repayment process six months after graduating or leaving college as the interest rates go into effect, according to the Office for Federal Student Aid