Transportation support is a key element to ensuring school stability for children in out-of-home care, particularly when the out-of-home placement is in a different school district or attendance area than the original educational placement. To facilitate transportation for these children, a local education agency receiving title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 funds must collaborate with the State or local child welfare agency or agencies to ensure that transportation for children in foster care is arranged, provided, and funded. State education agencies and State or Tribal child welfare agencies also play a key role in ensuring the adequate provision of transportation for children in foster care as part of their overall responsibilities under title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 and the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act to provide educational stability for these children. Two strategies that States and localities can explore to help make educational stability a reality for young people in out-of-home care include using title IV-E foster care maintenance funds to pay for transportation to the school of origin and establishing cross-system collaborations. These and other strategies are discussed in the resources below.
Considerations for Local Educational Agencies (LEAs) in Developing Transportation Procedures for Students in Foster Care Under the Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015 (PDF - 217 KB)
The School Superintendents Association & National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth (2016)
Describes the barriers to providing transportation to students in foster care. The report also provides information on the development of transportation procedures, sources of transportation funding, and State laws and policies regarding transportation responsibilities.
Implementing ESSA’s Transportation Procedures: How Local Education Agencies Can Work With Child Welfare to Ensure School Stability (PDF - 365 KB)
American Bar Association, Center on Children and the Law, Juvenile Law Center, Education Law Center (2017)
Addresses the transportation requirements of local education agencies under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). The report also explains the duties and responsibilities of local education agencies and provides a step-by-step plan to implement ESSA’s transportation requirements.
Non-Regulatory Guidance: Ensuring Educational Stability for Children in Foster Care (PDF - 504 KB)
U.S Department of Education & U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (2016)
Highlights the importance of collaboration between child welfare and educational agencies in order to increase educational stability and improve educational outcomes for children in foster care. The report provides educational agencies with guidance on how to meet their obligations under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act and answers frequently asked questions.
Transportation for Students in Foster Care: A Legal and Practical Reference Tool
School House Connection (2018)
Reviews transportation requirements for child welfare and educational agencies. A toolkit that includes information on the development of foster care transportation procedures and samples of transportation guidelines and procedures is also included.
When School Stability Requires Transportation: State Considerations (PDF - 126 KB)
American Bar Association Center on Children and the Law, Education Law Center, & Juvenile Law Center (2011)
Describes strategies to ensure children receive transportation to support school stability when in their best interest.