Educational Supports for Youth in Foster Care - Kansas
Support for Completing High School
Citation: Ann. Stat. § 38-2285; Pol. & Proc. Man. § 7221
The board of education of a school district shall award a high school diploma to any person requesting a diploma if such person meets the following requirements:
- Is at least age 17
- Is enrolled or resides in the school district
- Is or has been a child in the custody of the secretary for the Department for Children and Families, or in the custody of a federally recognized Indian Tribe in this State, at any time on or after such person's 14th birthday
- Has achieved at least the minimum high school graduation requirements adopted by the State Board of Education
In policy: To be eligible for an independent-living subsidy or foster care transition support services, youth shall be working on completion of secondary education or the equivalent via an accredited institution. An education plan that details the completion of the education or equivalent is required for the youth to receive foster care transition support services or subsidy. Youth with educational plans must attend class on a regular basis, complete assignments, and maintain passing grades. The plan shall be formally reevaluated by the independent-living coordinator, the youth, and his or her mentor (if assigned), at a minimum of every 6 months. The youth must be enrolled in the educational program specified in the plan and passing to continue to receive subsidy or foster care transition support services. Documentation of each reevaluation shall be attached to the plan.
The board of education of a Kansas school district must award a high school diploma to any person requesting a diploma if such person:
- Is at least age 17
- Is or has been a child in the custody of the department at any time on or after such person's 14th birthday
- Has achieved the 21-unit minimum high school graduation requirements adopted by the Kansas State Board of Education that shall include the following:
- Four units of English-language arts, including reading, writing, literature, communication, and grammar
- Three units of history and government, including world history; U.S. history; U.S. Government, including the U.S. Constitution; and concepts of economics and geography
- Three units of science, including physical, biological, and earth and space science concepts and at least one unit as a laboratory course
- Three units of mathematics, including algebraic and geometric concepts
- One unit of physical education, which shall include health and which may include safety, first aid, or physiology
- One unit of fine arts, which may include art, music, dance, theatre, forensics, and other similar studies selected by a local board of education
- Six units of elective courses
Students should be allowed to participate in all graduation activities. Students should be awarded a regular high school diploma.
Planning for Postsecondary Education
This issue is not addressed in the statutes and regulations reviewed.
Eligibility Requirements
Citation: Ann. Stat. §§ 75-53,112; 75-53,115
The Kansas Foster Child Educational Assistance Program is a program that shall provide for undergraduate enrollment of eligible foster children through the semester the eligible foster child reaches age 23.
An 'eligible foster child' is anyone who meets the following requirements:
- Is in the custody of the secretary and in a foster care placement on the date such child reached age 18
- Has been released from the custody of the secretary prior to reaching age 18, after having graduated from a high school or fulfilled the requirements for a general educational development certificate while in foster care placement and the custody of the secretary
- Is adopted from a foster care placement on or after such child's 16th birthday
- Left a foster care placement subject to a guardianship on or after such child's 16th birthday
- Enrolls in a Kansas educational institution on or after July 1, 2006
In order to remain eligible for participation in the program, an eligible foster child shall remain in good standing at the Kansas educational institution where the eligible foster child is enrolled and shall make satisfactory progress toward completion of the requirements of the educational program in which the eligible foster child is enrolled.
Financial Supports for Postsecondary Programs
Citation: Ann. Stat. §§ 75-53,111; 75-53,114; Pol. & Proc. Man. § 7260
The purpose of the Kansas Foster Child Educational Assistance Act is to establish an educational assistance program under which payment of the tuition and required fees charged to eligible foster children shall be waived.
No eligible foster child who is enrolled at a Kansas educational institution and who is participating in the program shall be charged the amount of tuition or required fees charged by the Kansas educational institution for enrollment in courses necessary to satisfy the requirements of an educational program. However, an eligible foster child shall not have waived the amount of tuition or required fees waived for any course repeated or taken in excess of the requirements for completion of the educational program in which such foster child is enrolled.
Within the limits of appropriations available therefor, the secretary may make expenditures to reimburse each eligible foster child who is enrolled in a Kansas educational institution and who is participating in the program for room and board, technical equipment, and course-required books.
Each eligible foster child who is enrolled in a Kansas educational institution and who is participating in the program shall be responsible for all fees charged by the Kansas educational institution that are not directly related to and required for the courses in the educational program of the eligible foster child.
In policy: The waiver will cover tuition and required fees only for undergraduate enrollment of eligible youth through the semester the eligible youth reaches age 23. Tuition will not be waived for any course repeated or taken in excess of the requirements for completion of educational program in which such eligible youth is enrolled. Youth eligible for the Foster Child Educational Assistance Act also may be eligible for assistance for other costs of higher education through a Chafee Education and Training Voucher.