Educational Issues and Services in Out-of-Home Care

Resources and information about educational issues and services for children in out-of-home care, including State and local examples.

Common Myths About the Education Rights of Children in Foster Care (PDF - 65 KB)
Education Law Center (2002)
Facts to dispel misperceptions about the rights of foster children to enroll in a school outside of their parents' district, the transfer of school records, documentation for enrollment, and the implementation of Individualized Education Programs.

Education Issues Webpage
National Child Welfare Resource Center on Legal and Judicial Issues
Webpage dedicated to the educational needs of foster children and other vulnerable youth.

Educational Experiences of Children in Out-of-Home Care
Chapin Hall Center for Children (2004)
Findings from a study assessing the educational performance and experiences of youth in out-of-home care.

The Educational Status of Foster Children
Chapin Hall Center for Children (2004)
Describes findings from studies on the educational status of children and youth in out-of-home care and examines some of the challenges confronting child welfare and educational systems in their attempts to work together more productively to improve educational outcomes.

Endless Dreams
Casey Family Programs
A video and curriculum for anyone assisting youth in care with their educational needs.

Expanded Access to College Financial Aid for Former Foster Youth (PDF - 80 KB)
Voice for Adoption (2010)
Provides information on a Federal law (P.L. 110-84) that makes it possible for teens in foster care to be adopted without losing eligibility for college financial aid.

Foster Care Education Fact Sheets (PDF - 238 KB)
California Foster Youth Education Task Force (2005)
Explains legal requirements relating to the education of foster children.

The Fostering Connections Act: Ensuring Educational Success
Barron, Gold, McNaught, & Stotland (2009)
Links to a webcast hosted by the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices that outlines the education provisions in the Fostering Connections Act and discusses national and State efforts to implement those provisions.

Learning Curves: Education Advocacy for Children in Foster Care
McNaught (2004)
View Abstract
General education advocacy strategies, education rights and key Federal laws, special education process, educational needs of young children, how school discipline policies impact children in foster care, and creative approaches to address education barriers for children in foster care.

Supporting Success: Improving Higher Education Outcomes for Students From Foster Care: A Framework for Program Enhancement
Bassett & Emerson (2008)
Provides guidelines to college counselors, administrators, professors, and staff for starting, building, and refining an approach to supporting students from foster care.

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State and local examples

Advocating for the Educational Needs of Children in Out-of-Home Care: Training Curriculum for Child Welfare Caseworkers and Supervisors (PDF - 499 KB)
Ward & Herrick (2010)
Provides Colorado child welfare caseworkers and supervisors with the tools to enable them to advocate for the educational needs of children in the child welfare system. Also see the manual. (PDF - 10,066 KB)

Helping Social Workers Address the Educational Needs of Foster Children
Zeltin, Weinberg, & Kimm
Child Abuse and Neglect: The International Journal, 29(6), 2005
View Abstract
Evaluates the effectiveness of the Education Initiative, an intervention program in one of the largest urban counties in the United States seeking to increase the responsiveness of social workers to the educational needs of foster children.

Interagency Agreement Between the School Board of Broward County, Florida, and the Department of Children and Families, District 10, Evaluation Report, 2002-03 (PDF - 132 KB)
Florida Department of Children and Families, District 10 (2003)
Describes the extent to which the school board and the child welfare agency complied with selected agreement requirements.

Los Angeles Education Summit on Needs and Challenges Facing Foster Youth (PDF - 48 KB)
Children's Law Center of Los Angeles (2003)
Recommendations from an education summit attended by Los Angeles educators, child welfare experts, advocates, and community leaders to identify key issues, challenges, and possible reforms relating to the educational needs of foster youth.

The Neighborhood Place System: Service Integration in Jefferson County, Kentucky (PDF - 40 KB)
Nelson A. Rockefeller Institute of Government (2002)
Established in response to a State law requiring schools to facilitate access to local human services.

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