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Ensuring Educational Stability for Children in Foster Care
Joint guidance from the U.S. Departments of Education and Health and Human Services about the implementation of the foster care provisions of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) was released on June 23, 2016. This link, http://www2.ed.gov/policy/elsec/leg/essa/index.html will guide you to a 28-page guidance document as well as to two Dear Colleague Letters.
The document delivers a strong message that the unique needs of children in foster care must be addressed. Because these provisions go into effect December 10, 2016, state and local child welfare and education agencies must immediately begin conversations about their shared responsibility to support the school stability and success of students in foster care.
The foster care provisions of ESSA, coupled with the school stability provisions of the Fostering Connections Act, envision shared responsibility for school stability and success between child welfare and education agencies. This joint guidance offers details about the requirements under the new law, provides examples from around the country about "what's working" to support students in foster care, and will be a critical resource in implementation efforts.
Contacts
Primary points of contact (POC):
Ahsley McCartha, McDowell County Schools
natalie.gouge@mcdowell.k12.nc.us
828-442-9697
Cheri Miller, McDowell County Department of Social Services
cheri.miller@mcdowellcountyncdss.org
828-652-3355
Melinda Cole, McDowell County Department of Social Services
melinda.cole@mcdowellcountyncdss.org
828-652-3355
Carla Reid, McDowell County Department of Social Services
carla.reid@mcdowellcountyncdss.org
828-652-3355
Other resources:
Every Student Succeeds Act: Promoting Educational Stability for Children and Youth in Foster Care
https://serve.uncg.edu/projects/nc-foster-care/
Fostering Connections Implementation Toolkit (2011)