Data sharing between child welfare and educational agencies can greatly improve communication and collaboration among the agencies as well as education outcomes for children in foster care. Access to children’s education records can help caseworkers monitor and support children's educational success, assist with supporting them through transitions, and ensure children receive appropriate services and interventions. When a local education agency knows which children are in foster care, it helps education professionals better understand each child’s unique needs and assist them in reaching their full academic potential. The resources below provide additional information about how to promote and implement data sharing.
Collecting Data to Improve Educational Outcomes for Children in Out-of-Home Care (PDF - 101 KB)
American Bar Association Center on Children and the Law, Education Law Center, & Juvenile Law Center (2011)
Presents frequently asked questions and answers related to data collection, sharing, and analysis regarding the educational outcomes of children in foster care.
Education Information Sharing
Wisconsin Department of Children and Families, Division of Safety and Permanence (2015)
Notifies agencies about two tools that are available for child welfare staff to increase information sharing between child welfare agencies and schools. The first is a caseworker desk guide that is intended to assist child welfare staff in collaborating and sharing information with schools. The second is the Education Passport form that can be generated from the State automated child welfare information system and provided to schools, alerting them of a student's enrollment into or disenrollment out of school. The form also provides other pertinent information that can help facilitate a student's academic success.
Guidance on the Amendments to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) by the Uninterrupted Scholars Act (PDF - 135 KB)
U.S. Department of Education (2014)
Provides guidance about how to implement the changes made by FERPA.
Information Sharing to Improve Educational Outcomes for Children in Out-of-Home Care (PDF - 98 KB)
American Bar Association and Casey Family Programs (2008)
Includes frequently asked questions and answers related to information and data sharing regarding the education of children in foster care.
San Diego County Interagency Agreement for Providing Educational Support to Students in Foster Care (PDF - 6,320 KB)
San Diego County (2015)
Describes the interagency agreement among the Foster Youth Services Coordinating Program of the San Diego County Office of Education (FYSCP) and other San Diego County agencies, organizations, and school districts. The agreement created a web-based information sharing network for youth in foster care. The program, the Foster Youth – Student Information System (FY-SIS©), is designed to improve educational outcomes by gathering and transferring placement, health, and education records. FY-SIS© receives downloads of student information directly from school districts, child welfare, and probation and juvenile court. The ongoing operation and maintenance of FY-SIS© is governed by the FY-SIS© Memorandum of Agreement (MOA).
Supporting Students in Foster Care: Collaboration Between Education and Child Welfare Agencies Is Key
Legal Center for Foster Care and Education & Data Quality Campaign (2015)
Highlights the importance of child welfare and education agencies sharing education data across systems so that children in foster care receive the support and services they need to achieve success in school. This factsheet also provides information about which States securely link their K–12 and foster care data systems.