Resources and information on ways to ensure continuity in the educational experience of children and youth in care and provide higher education opportunities for youth transitioning from out-of-home care, including special education resources.
Special Education Resources
Blueprint for Change
American Bar Association Center on Children and the Law, Legal Center for Foster Care and Education (2018)
Provides a series of tools and frameworks to help work toward goals and benchmarks to achieve education success for children in out-of-home care.
The Effects of Placements and School Stability on Academic Growth Trajectories of Students in Foster Care
Clemens, Klopfenstein, Lalonde, & Tis (2018)
Children and Youth Services Review, 87
Examines, through a study of nearly 8,000 students, the effects of placement and school stability on students' academic growth before, during, and after out-of-home placements.
Fostering Success in Education: National Factsheet on Educational Outcomes of Children in Foster Care (PDF - 276 KB)
National Working Group on Foster Care and Education (2014)
Highlights research, promising policies, and promising practices related to the educational success of children in foster care.
Students With Disabilities and the Juvenile Justice System: What Parents Need to Know (PDF - 1,101 KB)
Pacer Center (2013)
Addresses the factors that may play a role in students with disabilities becoming involved in juvenile justice. This article provides families with steps for protecting their children’s rights in school and in court.
NCTAC Factsheet: Youth With Special Education Needs in Justice Settings (PDF - 4,008 KB)
The National Evaluation and Technical Assistance Center for the Education of Children and Youth Who Are Neglected, Delinquent, or At-Risk (2014)
Explores the prevalence of youth with educational-related disabilities within the juvenile justice system setting and describes the characteristics and challenges of serving these young people.