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Educational Training Voucher

What is the Education Training Voucher (ETV) Program?

The ETV program is a federally funded educational grant program designed to assist with the education and training needs of eligible youth and young adults currently or formerly in the conservatorship of DFPS.

The ETV program serves those eligible students ages 16 up to age 23 by providing up to $5,000 a year to attend college or vocational programs. The amount of ETV funds is based on the student’s cost of attendance as determined by the school and after all other financial aid assistance has been factored in. Students may not receive ETV funds for more than 5 years (whether or not consecutive).

Am I Eligible?

To be eligible for the ETV Program you must:

  • be at least 16 and in DFPS foster care, or are in extended foster care; or

  • have aged out of DFPS foster care or were legally emancipated by a court while in DFPS foster care and are not yet age 23; or

  • have been adopted from DFPS foster care after turning age 16 and not yet age 23; or

  • have entered the Permanency Care Assistance (PCA) program after turning age 16 and are not yet age 23.

 

Other Eligible Students include:

  • Youth placed in the custody of the Texas Juvenile Justice Department or under the jurisdiction of a local juvenile probation department who were receiving Title IV-E foster care payments the day before turning age 18 and are not yet age 23; or

  • Tribal youth or young adults in tribal foster care who are not yet age 23.

Dual Credit Course(s):

Eligible youth enrolled in dual college credit course(s) where joint high school and college credits are earned can apply to the ETV Program for college related expenses such as books, computers and related software, transportation to and from the college, and tutoring services.

What Can ETV Pay For?

The ETV Program pays expenses determined by the school where the student is enrolled.  These expenses may include:

  • Rent and utilities

  • Room and board costs/food

  • Tuition/fees (for schools  that do not accept the state tuition and fee waiver)

  • Personal items

  • Books/supplies

  • Child care

  • Tutoring

  • Transportation 

  • Computer or other related software and equipment

  • Medical insurance through the school

  • Other costs determined by the school

How Do I Qualify?

You must be determined eligible; and

  • Have a high school diploma or GED or be exempt from compulsory school attendance; and

  • be enrolled in at least *6 semester hours in an institution of higher education.

*student's in dual credit courses or in a summer semester can be enrolled in 3 semester hours.

If enrolling in Online, Correspondence, or Distance courses, students MUST contact an ETV staff for prior approval.

Which Schools Can I Attend?

You may enroll in accredited or pre-accredited public, private, or non-profit institutions of higher education that:

  • provides a bachelor's degree program or at least a 2-year program that provides credit towards a degree or certification; or

  • provides not less than a one-year program of training to prepare students for gainful employment in a recognized occupation; or

  • offers training programs and has been existence for at least two years preparing students for gainful employment in a recognized occupation

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Visit College for All Texans for a list of Texas higher education institutions.

Visit Trade Schools for a list of Texas schools that focus on skills training for regional in-demand occupations.

How do I Apply for ETV Services?

To apply for the ETV program visit Texas ETV to download the ETV application(s) and see what other information and documents must be submitted. 

To talk to an ETV staff about your application and school requirements, call the hotline at 1-877-268-4063.

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