Welfare and Institutions Code section 826.9
(a)
Notwithstanding Section 827 and in order to support a person who is or was previously adjudged a dependent or ward of the juvenile court, placed in foster care or on probation, or taken into the custody of the county probation department, in attending an institution of higher education by assisting the person with tasks, such as applying, registering, enrolling, or obtaining financial aid or support, personnel at a county child welfare department, county probation department, or local educational agency may provide, upon request of the person, the institution of higher education with either or both of the following:(1)
A sworn attestation, as defined in paragraph (7) of subdivision (a) Section 66020.8 of the Education Code, to be used for the purposes described in subdivision (b) of Section 66020.8 of the Education Code.(2)
Information verifying that the person is or was previously adjudged a dependent or ward of the juvenile court, placed in foster care or on probation, or taken into the custody of the county probation department that may only include the following information:(A)
The applicant’s name and date of birth.(B)
The dates during which the applicant was within the jurisdiction of the juvenile court, placed in foster care or on probation, or taken into the custody of the county probation department, or, if the applicant was not within the jurisdiction of the juvenile court, a statement to that effect.(C)
A statement that the applicant is or was a foster youth or juvenile court ward.(b)
(1)All information received by the institution of higher education pursuant to subdivision (a) is confidential, shall only be used for the purposes specified in subdivision (a), shall only be shared among the institution of higher education’s staff who directly facilitate services for the person such as applying, registering, enrolling, or obtaining financial aid or support to the extent that the person is notified or sharing is necessary to facilitate the person’s request and, notwithstanding any other law, shall not be further disclosed or disseminated by the institution of higher education.(2)
The institution of higher education shall retain the information received pursuant to subdivision (a) in a confidential file for three years after the person’s last term of enrollment, after which the confidential file shall be destroyed.(3)
An intentional violation of the confidentiality provisions of this subdivision is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed five hundred dollars ($500).(4)
Information obtained pursuant to this section does not in and of itself constitute eligibility for persons who would not otherwise be eligible for any service or support intended solely for persons who are or were dependents or placed in foster care.(c)
For the purposes of this section, “institution of higher education” means either of the following:(1)
A public postsecondary educational institution.(2)
A private postsecondary educational institution, including a trade or vocational school or similar program, that has been licensed or authorized to operate by the state in which it operates.
Source:
Section 826.9, https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=WIC§ionNum=826.9. (updated Jan. 1, 2026; accessed Dec. 15, 2025).
