New Focus on Educational Needs of Foster Youth

by Jeff Wahrmund, Region VII Educational Specialist

"All of a child’s most current
school records will be in
the passport, which will be presented
to school officials at registration. The
passport will help ensure that the child
is placed appropriately in school."

This past summer we witnessed several special legislative sessions to address the funding of public schools. Although this issue has not yet been resolved, the regular session of the 79th Legislature did pass Senate Bill 6 (SB6), the omnibus reform bill for the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS). SB6 addresses several areas within DFPS, but one of the most exciting areas, and an area in which CASA has had a direct impact, is that of fulfilling the educational needs of children in foster care.

Children in foster care have unique needs. Many times educators are not aware of the needs of this special population, and our kids can get lost in a system designed to take any child to his/her full potential. Children in foster care tend to change placements—moving from home to home and thus school to school frequently. Foster children, who are victims of neglect and abuse, frequently have adjustment issues that may inhibit their ability to learn at an appropriate rate. And children in foster care qualify for special education services at a rate far higher than the general student population. The education portion of SB6 addresses these very issues.

This new legislation mandates that Child Protective Services (a department within DFPS) design and implement an Education Passport. The passport will be a document that travels with children when they change placement. All of a child’s most current school records will be in the passport, which will be presented to school officials at registration. The passport will help ensure that the child is placed appropriately in school.

Another requirement of the new legislation is that the department works with all interested parties to raise awareness of the educational needs of this particular population of children. CASA is one of the organizations involved in fulfilling this requirement of SB6. CPS now has an Education Specialist working in each region of the state. The Education Specialists are charged with serving as liaisons between schools and the agency via caseworkers, foster parents and child advocates, promoting positive educational outcomes for children in foster care. Training efforts, such as the “Endless Dreams” video and curriculum developed by Casey Family Programs to build a supportive educational community for youth in foster care, is another way that CPS and CASA can promote positive educational experiences for our youth. With more than 17,000 school-aged children in foster care, truly representing and advocating for their educational needs will take our combined effort. Together, we can improve educational outcome for our kids.