Education and Training Voucher

The Education and Training Voucher (ETV) program assists youth with Cost of Attendance* post-secondary education related expenses not covered by financial aid grants or the DCFS Tuition & Fee Waiver.

Eligibility:

• Youth for whom DCFS is legally responsible or who aged out of care at age 18 or older
  OR
• Achieved permanency at age 16 or older through either guardianship or adoption

Benefits:

• Payment of up to $5,000 annually of education related expenses such as tuition, fees, books, supplies, uniforms, equipment and/or transportation not covered by other grants or scholarships
• Youth remain eligible until they attain age 26, but may not participate in the ETV program for more than 5 years (whether or not consecutive).

Requirements:

• Attend post-secondary school listed as accredited by US Department of Education and make satisfactory academic progress
• File FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) annually
• Complete any additional financial paperwork required by the school
• Submit completed application with requested documentation each term

Approval decisions and actual voucher award amounts are determined by the Office of Education and Transition Services (OETS).

Complete applications (CFS 449-3) or questions to: DCFS.ETVCoordinator@illinois.gov.

* The Cost of Attendance (COA) is not the bill that you may get from your college; it is the total amount it will cost you to go to college each year. The COA includes tuition and fees; on-campus room and board (or a housing and food allowance for off-campus students); and allowances for books, supplies, transportation, loan fees, and, if applicable, dependent care. It can also include other expenses like an allowance for the rental or purchase of a personal computer, costs related to a disability, or costs for eligible study-abroad programs.