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Supporting the Educational Stability of Students in Foster Care

Overview

  • In order to support students in foster care, ESSA requires districts to do the following: 
    • Establish a Foster Care Point of Contact (POC) that Alaska’s Office of Children’s Services (OCS), and other Title IV-E agencies, can work with;
    • Work with OCS and other Title IV-E agencies to receive and record student's foster care status in the district student information system;
    • Allow students in foster care to remain in their “school of origin” (regardless of changes in housing) unless a determination is made that it is not in the student’s best interest;
    • Coordinate with OCS to provide transportation to the "school of origin;" and
    • Facilitate expedited enrollment in a new school when it is determined in the student’s best interest to switch schools.

[ESEA Sections 1111(g)(1)(E) and 1112(c)(5)]

Alaska Guidance and Templates and Training Materials

In order to assist districts in coordinating with OCS and complying with ESSA’s and Fostering Connection’s requirements, DEED and OCS have created joint guidance and templates.

 

DEED-OCS Joint Guidance

Joint Guidance on Ensuring the Educational Stability of Children in Foster Care –This joint guidance establishes statewide roles, definitions, and procedures for supporting students in foster care to help districts comply with federal statutes as they work in partnership with OCS.

Guidance for Education Data Sharing for Alaska Children in Out-of-Home Care - This 2014 joint guidance clarifies how data can be appropriately shared between schools, districts, and OCS in light of the amendments to FERPA by the Uninterrupted Scholars Act of 2013.

 

Templates

Memorandum of Understanding to Ensure Educational Stability of Children in Foster Care (docx) –This template can be used to create an MOU between the district and OCS that documents points of contact, affirms the Joint Guidance, and identifies a transportation agreement, which are activities required by ESEA.

Foster Care Student Transportation Agreement (docx)–This template can be used to arrange transportation and associated funding for an individual student in foster care on a case-by-case basis.

Best Interest Determination (BID) Form - This template can be used to guide and document Best Interest Determination meetings/deliberations regarding whether a student in foster care should switch to a new school instead of remaining in their School of Origin.  This document is "protected" so only fillable fields are editable.  To make other revisions, click on "protections", go to "restrict editing", and click "stop protection".

School of Origin Maintenance and BID Tracking Sheet - This spreadsheet can be used to track and document whether each individual foster care student was able to remain in their School of Origin or if it was determined to be in the student's best interest to switch schools.

 

Training Materials

Flowchart for Foster Care Student Enrollment - This one-page visual can be used to train and guide staff on the proper steps to take when notified that a child 1) has been taken into OCS/Title IV-E foster care, or 2) was already in foster care, but there has been a change in their FC placement.  Additionally, it can be used to guide your development of your own district protocols, forms, and training.

Foster Care Training Slides - These slides can be used to train staff on ESEA's foster care requirements.  There are slides where the district is prompted to input district-specific information and protocols.

 

Connecting with OCS

Whereas DEED divides the state into 53 school districts led by Superintendents, OCS divides the state into 5 regions: Northern, Western, Southcentral, Anchorage, and Southeast. Each region is run by at least one regional Protective Services Manager (PSM).  Within most regions there are several sub-regional field offices that serve specific communities in the region.  See the map below to determine which region your district falls in, or see this detailed list of schools and districts by OCS Region.

Contact Information of OCS Regional Protective Services Managers - Districts should use this document to identify their regional PSM and email them to set up an MOU with Transportation agreement, determine which OCS staff serves as its POC, and for other questions.

Map of OCS Regions

Receiving Student FC Status from OCS

In order to support students in foster care and provide them their special rights under ESEA, districts must receive and maintain current information regarding which of its students are in OCS/Title IV-E foster care.

All districts should request the weekly Out-of-Home Placement Report (OOH Report) from OCS that includes information such as which foster care children are currently placed in their district's communities, which adults have care of the child, and the case worker's contact information.  The OOH Report is confidential and sent securely via email.

 

To receive the weekly OOH Report...

  • Send an email to fcs.ocs.researchunit@alaska.gov requesting to become a recipient of the OOH Report.
  • In response, OCS sends a Data Sharing Agremeent (DSA) that the district superintendent must sign.
  • Additionally, the superintendent completes the "Recipient Request for OCS OOH Report," specifying the district staff authorized to receive the weekly OOH Report.  Districts are encouraged to list at least three staff, including the Foster Care POC and the registrar.

Upon receiving the report, district staff should safeguard this sensitive information, but also ensure it is shared with those who need to know, including adding the information to the district electronic student information system database, with appropriately restricted tiered access controls.

    In addition to the OOH Report, OCS is expected to contact schools within 48 hours if one of their students is taken into foster care placement. Sometimes a formal notification document is delivered to the school in person by the student’s case worker, but more often the foster parent is asked to deliver the formal letter that was provided to them. Alternately, OCS may notify the school by sending an email.

    National Resources

    There are several national advocacy organizations offering free resources and templates to help districts support students in Foster Care. Please note: These resources may describe best practices, not necessarily what is specifically required by ESSA or an allowable use of Title I-A funds. Additionally, other states may also share their state’s Foster Care resources, but be aware that these may be based on funding, laws, and protocols specific to that state and not applicable in Alaska.

    ESSA Implementation Toolkit: Improving Education Outcomes for Children and Youth in Foster Care

    NAEHCY

    Legal Center for Foster Care & Education

    ESSA/Educational Stability page of the Legal Center for Foster Care & Education

    Child Welfare Information Gateway

    US ED Foster Care Page

    Comprehensive Center Network's Foster Care Page