The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) (P.L. 114-95) was signed into law on December 10, 2015, as Public Law 114-95 (PDF - 895 KB). ESSA reauthorized the Elementary and Secondary Education Act and includes new provisions that promote educational stability for children in foster care so they can continue their education without disruption, maintain important relationships, and have the opportunity to achieve college and career readiness. The law also emphasizes the importance of collaboration and joint decision-making between child welfare agencies and educational agencies.
- ED-HHS webinar series: Ensuring educational stability for children in foster care
- State and local examples
- Immediate enrollment
- Best-interest decision-making and dispute resolution
- School transportation
- Joint collaboration
- Data sharing
Non-Regulatory Guidance: Ensuring Educational Stability for Children in Foster Care
U.S. Department of Education & U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (2016)
Provides joint guidance for education and child welfare agencies to use as they establish new partnerships and implement the educational stability provisions of ESSA. These materials include promising practices from the field and two joint letters on the guidance and timelines.
Letter to Chief State School Officers and Child Welfare Directors
King & Matthews-Burwell (2016)
U.S. Department of Education & U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (2016)
Highlights provisions of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) as amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) that relate to the educational stability of children and youth in foster care.
Letter to Chief State School Officers and Child Welfare Directors – Effective Dates
Whalen & Greenberg (2016)
U.S. Department of Education & U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (2016)
Outlines the effective dates of the implementation of the provisions of the Every Student Succeeds Act.
Letter to Child Welfare Leaders About Ensuring Educational Stability for Children in Foster Care
López (2016)
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Administration on Children, Youth and Families
Provides information about recent and upcoming guidance for the provisions in the Every Student Succeeds Act regarding educational stability for children in foster care and collaboration between child welfare and education agencies. The letter also highlights key provisions that take effect on December 10, 2016.
Technical assistance is available to States, Territories and Tribes through the Child Welfare Capacity Building Center for States. To learn more about the services available, contact the appropriate Regional Liaisons.
If you have difficulty accessing any of the information on these pages or have other suggested resources, please contact us (info@childwelfare.gov).