WHILE MASSACHUSETTS may lag behind other states in financial aid for higher education (Page A1, July 13), let's give praise where it is due: The Commonwealth provides generous college support to youth who "age out" of foster care at 18. These young people, who have been raised by the state, have long been granted free tuition to UMass, state college, or community college. The recently signed child abuse legislation contained a little-known provision that will also waive all fees (which are often higher than tuition). Making the transition from a life in foster care to independent adulthood is fraught with incredible challenges. That Massachusetts gives our foster youth a free college education increases the odds that they will succeed in life.
ERIK S. PITCHAL
Boston
The writer is an assistant clinical professor at Suffolk University Law School. 
