Child welfare agencies, courts, and local education agencies are just some of the entities that must work together to ensure positive educational outcomes for children and youth in out-of-home care. Though every discipline has a distinct role to play in supporting young people, effective collaborations are the foundation for services and supports to effectively meet the needs of the child. The following resources provide additional information about how these agencies can develop and maintain strong partnerships.
Education Records of Children in Foster Care (PDF - 263 KB)
Legal Center for Foster Care & Education (2013)
Presents the significance of, as well as the barriers to, sharing educational information among child welfare agencies, education agencies, and the courts. The report highlights specific educational information that can be legally released from child welfare agencies to third parties.
Fostering Success in Education: National Factsheet on the Educational Outcomes of Children in Foster Care (PDF - 511 KB)
National Working Group on Foster Care and Education (2018)
Summarizes the changes that have taken place over the past decade—as well as the growing number of Federal and State laws that provide rights and protection to children in foster care—in order to enhance the efficiency of data sharing and collaboration between educational and child welfare agencies.
Roadmap for Foster Care and K-12 Data Linkages: Key Focus Areas to Ensure Quality Implementation (PDF - 414 KB)
Data Quality Campaign & Legal Center for Foster Care and Education (2017)
Highlights the importance and benefits of child welfare and educational agencies sharing data and working together to improve educational outcomes for children in foster care. Offers suggestions for ways to improve and build linkages between agencies when additional resources are available.
Schools as Parents in Education Advocacy for Foster Youth: Tips for Attorneys on Engaging Schools
Ham (2017)
Child Law Practice Today
American Bar Association, Center on Children and the Law
Describes attorneys’ duties and responsibilities related to gathering educational information and how to approach and engage work collaboratively with schools in order to advocate for children in the child welfare system.
Students in Foster Care
U.S. Department of Education (2016)
Emphasizes the importance of a positive educational experience for youth in foster care as it can ultimately lead to increases in personal fulfillment and economic stability, as well as higher success in transitioning into adulthood. The webpage shares resources for youth, guidance and regulatory information, and related programs from the U.S. Department of Education.
Supporting Youth in Foster Care: Research-Based Policy Recommendations for Executive and Legislative Officials in 2017 (PDF - 570 KB)
Child Trends (2017)
Reviews the increase in the number of children in foster care, reasons for their entry into the child welfare system, and the challenges they face in foster care. The brief also highlights various ways to improve educational stability for youth in foster care.
| Author(s) | |
| Availability | View Download (PDF - 577KB) |
| Year Published | 2016 |