May 2019 Foster Care Special Edition
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ENVISION EQUITY MAY <strong>2019</strong><br />
Legislation to Support<br />
Students in <strong>Foster</strong> <strong>Care</strong><br />
By Lindsay Bale, JCPS <strong>Foster</strong> <strong>Care</strong> Liaison<br />
As legislators continue to recognize<br />
the unique needs of children in foster<br />
care, State and Federal agencies<br />
have passed several pieces of<br />
legislation to support the educational<br />
achievement and experiences of youth in<br />
foster care. Some of these federal laws<br />
include the <strong>Foster</strong>ing Connections Act,<br />
Uninterrupted Scholars Act (USA), and the<br />
Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). In the<br />
state of Kentucky, House Bill 33 (KRS<br />
620.146) and House Bill 527 are bills that<br />
were passed to support the educational<br />
needs of students in foster care. In addition,<br />
laws were passed in the most recent<br />
legislative session that provides supports for<br />
families and caregivers, and provides foster<br />
youth with a Bill of Rights. Below is an<br />
overview of each law:<br />
<strong>Foster</strong>ing Connections: This federal law was<br />
passed in 2008. This law requires child<br />
welfare agencies to ensure that a student in<br />
foster care remains in the same school they<br />
were enrolled in at the time of placement<br />
into foster care.<br />
Uninterrupted Scholars Act: This law was<br />
passed in 2013 and amended FERPA to allow<br />
child welfare workers access to educational<br />
records of youth in their care without<br />
parental consent.<br />
Every Student Succeeds Act: This law was<br />
passed in 2015 and requires the<br />
collaboration of child welfare agencies and<br />
educational agencies to ensure educational<br />
stability for youth. This law allows students<br />
in foster care to remain in their school of<br />
origin when it is in their best interest, with<br />
transportation provided. In addition, it<br />
allows for students to be immediately<br />
enrolled in a new school, even when records<br />
that are normally required to enroll in school<br />
are not available. Lastly, it requires that<br />
educational agencies report annually on<br />
student achievement and graduation rates<br />
for foster youth.<br />
House Bill 33 (KRS 620.146): This law was<br />
passed in 2017 and requires CHFS social<br />
workers to notify school personnel of people<br />
who are authorized to contact the student at<br />
11<br />
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