Dedicated to improving educational outcomes for California's children and youth in foster care.

Past Publications

Ed Law Fact Sheets - 6th Edition
6/2017

Year 2 LC LCAP Review
5/5/16


Coalition for Educational Equity for Foster Youth Resources
5/11/15
Resources Presentation
Foster Youth Sample LCAP
Foster Youth Year 2 Template
LA LCAPs Reviewed


Ed Law Fact Sheets - 5th Edition
2/2015
These fact sheets contain information and legal citations to the key provisions of variousl bills and laws impacting education rights, early care and education, education services for transition aged youth, special education, non-public schools, functional behavioral assessments, behavioral intervention plans, school discipline, and special education discipline. Updated as of February 2015.

Sample County LCAP for Foster Youth
Sample District LACP for Foster Youth
Sample LCAP for Foster Youth Cover Letter
2/2014
These customizable samples have been reviewed and endorsed by the Task Force under the leadership of our LCFF workgroup.

AB 2060 Fact Sheet
3/2013
This fact sheet contains information related to AB 2060 which requires that a foster child's education rights must be held by a relative or other adult who knows the child.  It also requires that education rights holders and surrogates must meet with the child, investigate education needs, and report to the court.  

AB 167 Frequently Asked Questions [PDF]
4/2010
A compilation of frequently asked questions about California Assembly Bill 167 (AB 167), California legislation that amended section 51225.3 of the California Education Code (E.C.) to exempt pupils in foster care from school district graduation requirements that exceed state graduation requirements if the pupil transfers to the district, or transfers from one high school to another within a district in the 11th or 12th grade if the pupil would not be reasonably able to complete the additional district requirements.

CAL Ed Summit Report [PDF]
4/2008
During the 2007 California Foster Youth Education Summit, six cross- disciplinary workgroups discussed a specific issue brief and defined a series of recommendations. Each workgroup then presented its recommendations to a joint panel of thirteen members of the California State Assembly, chaired by Majority Leader Karen Bass and Assemblyman Bill Maze, and members of the California Blue Ribbon Commission on Children in Foster Care, chaired by California Supreme Court Justice Carlos Moreno. The specific recommendations range from proposing incremental changes to improve local communication and collaboration, to encouraging large-scale data collection to improve our understanding of foster youth educational status and achievement rates. This report provides a summary of the recommendations on each issue. It includes an appendix of the policy briefs prepared for discussion at the summit.

Ed Summit Policy Brief - Early Childhood [PDF]
1/2007
Early childhood education programs can provide critical education and other services for children in foster care, but not all eligible foster children are enrolled in an appropriate program. Early child care providers and teachers may not be familiar with the challenges faced by children who have been removed from home because of abuse or neglect and placed in foster care. Similarly, persons working in the child welfare system may not be familiar with the educational and care needs of children zero to five years old, the related needs of their care and education providers, available programs and services, funding possibilities, or even with the educational rights of these children. This document provides a list of early childhood education policy issues and proposed courses of action.

Policy Brief - AB 490 Intro [PDF]
1/2007
In some places across California, there has been tremendous progress toward implementation of AB 490. In most places, however, there is a great deal more that can and must be done to support our youth. The Policy Briefs that follow introduce critical provisions of AB 490 and offer ideas for implementation that could improve educational opportunities for foster youth. They cover: Immediate enrollment in schools; transportation; partial credits; and least restrictive educational placements.

Policy Brief - AB 490 Transportation [PDF]
1/2007
Youth in foster care face tremendous barriers to educational success due to frequent disruptions in their home and school placements. In order to address these obstacles, AB 490 provides foster youth with the right to remain in their school of origin (if doing so is in the youth’s best interests) for the remainder of the school year when a child welfare or probation agency moves them to a new placement. This policy brief outlines the responsibilities of Child Welfare and Education with respect to transportation, as well as the need for collaboration.

Policy Brief - AB 490 Partial Credits [PDF]
1/2007
The calculation and acceptance of partial credits is critical to ensure that foster youth are not academically penalized because they are often transferred from school district to school district. It is not uncommon for these school transfers to take place within the course of the school year without regard for semester or quarter completion dates. This policy brief outlines the responsibilities of the new school and the sending school and provides guidance on model policies related to partial credit policies.

Policy Brief - AB 490 Least Restrictive Educational Placements [PDF]
1/2007
Students in foster care are entitled under federal and CA laws to be placed in the “least restrictive educational programs” that can meet their needs. This means that school districts and educational decision makers cannot track students into alternative educational placements based solely on their foster care status or academic performance. This policy brief outlines the law related to placement in the least restrictive environment and suggests some possible courses of action.

Policy Brief - AB 490 Immediate Enrollment [PDF]
1/2007
Foster youth face tremendous barriers to educational success due to frequent disruptions in their home and school placements. These barriers can be further exacerbated by lengthy delays while the youth is awaiting enrollment in a new school or district. This policy brief outlines the law related to immediate enrollment and suggests how various agencies can help ensure this aspect of AB 490 is implemented.

AB 490 FAQs [PDF]
5/2006
A 16-page compellation of frequently asked questions about AB 490. Includes an introduction and sections on Educational placement decisions: School of origin and child’s best interest; Immediate enrollment; Transfer of records; Educational rights; Partial credits and grade protection; and McKinney-Vento and AB 490.

FYET Walletcard [PDF]
12/2005
A wallet-sized summary of the most important provisions of AB 490 and where to go for more information.