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 1965funds 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.
Coordination and Collaboration for School Transportation
Gunderson, Rodriguez, Winters, & Kelly (2011)
Identifies strategies from jurisdictions transporting children to maintain school stability. These workshop resources highlight challenges, promising practices, and ways to promote collaboration between child welfare agencies, educators, and the courts. This workshop was presented at a conference co-sponsored by the Children's Bureau and the U.S. Department of Education. Workshop materials include the following:
- Workshop Video
- School Stability and Transportation Coordination for Children in Out of Home Placement (PPT - 283 KB)
- Providing Transportation to Ensure School Stability (PPT - 829 KB)
- The Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008 (Public Law 110-351) Education Travel Reimbursement (PDF - 165 KB)
- Child Welfare Agency and School District Sample Protocol to Coordinate the Educational Stability and Continuity of Children and Youth in Out of Home Placement (PDF - 133 KB)
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.