The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) was signed into law on December 10, 2015, as Public Law 114-95 (PDF - 1,071 KB). ESSA reauthorized the Elementary and Secondary Education Act and includes new provisions to promote educational stability for children in foster care so they can continue their education without disruption, maintain important relationships, and achieve college and career readiness. ESSA also emphasizes the importance of collaboration and joint decision-making between child welfare and educational agencies. Find resources below that highlight the details of ESSA, including State and local examples.

Education Stability
American Bar Association Center on Children and the Law, Legal Center for Foster Care and Education (2019)
Defines the provisions and requirements of the Every Student Succeeds Act. The page includes a toolkit and resources to support school stability and the success of students in foster care.

Educational Stability for Foster Students During COVID-19
Child Welfare League of America (2020)
Provides recommendations to address the challenges to educational stability associated with the COVID-19 pandemic that may be prominent concerns for youth in foster care. These challenges include limited access to the internet, mental health challenges, abuse within the home, and the lack of active engagement in virtual classrooms.

What Is the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)?
Lee
Understood
Provides an overview of ESSA.

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State and local examples

Educational Stability for Children in Foster Care
New Jersey Department of Education (2020)
Outlines New Jersey's policies and procedures for ensuring educational stability for children and youth in out-of-home care.

Educational Stability Provisions for Students in Foster Care
New York State Office of Children and Family Services
Provides information and tools from the New York Office of Children and Family Services and Education Department about meeting ESSA requirements.

Education of Students Served by Pennsylvania County Children and Youth Agencies
Pennsylvania Department of Human Services
Discusses what Pennsylvania’s Department of Human Services is doing regarding ESSA and how the educational needs of the children and youth they serve are met by collaborating with schools, children, youth, and families.

ESSA Implementation Timeline: A Guide to Key State and Local Processes
Council of Chief State School Officers (2021)
Highlights similarities and differences in the planning and implementation processes of several State and local agencies implementing the Every Student Succeeds Act.

Foster Care and Student Success
Texas Education Agency (2020)
Highlights a variety of information about the education of students in foster care. The guide promotes best practices and contains numerous tips, tools, resources, and links to more information.

Foster Care Students (Educational Stability)
Maryland State Department of Education
Discusses how the Maryland State Department of Education is implementing Federal guidance on ESSA, including how it is addressing school stability challenges that children in foster care experience.

Student and Family Support (SFS): Educational Stability for Students in Foster Care
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (2020)
Provides contact information, trainings, and other related resources to help facilitate the educational stability of children and youth in foster care in Massachusetts.

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