The Governing Board recognizes the district's obligation to ensure that foster youth have the opportunity to achieve state and district academic standards. The district shall provide such students with access to the academic resources, services, and extracurricular and enrichment activities that are available to all district students.
(cf. 6011- Academic Standards)
(cf. 6145 - Extracurricular and Cocurricular Activities)
(cf. 6173 - Education for Homeless Children)
The Superintendent or designee shall ensure that placement decisions for foster youth are based on the students' best interests as defined in law and administrative regulation. To that end, he/she shall designate a staff person as a district liaison for foster youth to help facilitate the enrollment, placement, and transfer of foster youth.
The Superintendent or designee and district liaison shall ensure that all appropriate staff, including, but not limited to, each principal, school registrar, and attendance clerk, receive training regarding the enrollment, placement, and rights of foster youth.
(cf. 4131 - Staff Development)
(cf. 4231 - Staff Development)
(cf. 4331 - Staff Development)
To help ensure the maximum utilization of available funds and to support the educational needs of foster youth, the Superintendent or designee shall collaborate with local agencies including, but not limited to, the county placing agency, social services, probation officers, juvenile court officers, nonprofit organizations, and advocates. The Superintendent or designee shall explore the feasibility of entering into agreements with these groups to coordinate services and protect the rights of foster youth.
(cf. 1020 - Youth Services)
(cf. 1400 - Relations between Other Governmental Agencies and the Schools)
(cf. 5141.6 - Student Health and Social Services)
(cf. 5149 - At-Risk Students)
Legal Reference:
EDUCATION CODE
42920-42925 Foster children educational services
48645.1 Juvenile court schools
48645.5 Acceptance of coursework
48850-48859 Educational placement of students residing in licensed children's institutions
49061 Student records
49069.5 Foster care students transfer of records
49076 Access to student records
56055 Rights of foster parents in special education
WELFARE AND INSTITUTIONS CODE
300 Children subject to jurisdiction
309 Investigation and release of child
361 Limitations on parental or guardian control
366.27 Educational decision by relative providing living arrangements
602 Minors violating law; ward of court
726 Limitations on parental or guardian control
727 Order of care, ward of court
UNITED STATES CODE, TITLE 29
794 Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Section 504
UNITED STATES CODE, TITLE 42
11431-11435 McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act
Management Resources:
CSBA PUBLICATIONS
Educating Foster Youth: Best Practices and Board Considerations, Policy Brief, March 2008
AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION PUBLICATIONS
Mythbusting: Breaking Down Confidentiality and Decision-Making Barriers to Meet the Education Needs of Children in Foster Care, 2005
WEB SITES
CSBA: http://www.csba.org
California Department of Education, Foster Youth Services: http://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/pf/fy
California Department of Social Services, Foster Youth Ombudsman Office: http://www.fosteryouthhelp.ca.gov
California Youth Connection: http://www.calyouthconn.org/site/cyc
Cities, Counties, Schools Partnership: http://www.ccspartnership.org/default.cfm
Policy STANDARD SCHOOL DISTRICT
adopted: November 18, 2008 Bakersfield, California