Foster Youth Within Foster Youth Within Lake Elsinore Unified School DistrictLake Elsinore Unified School District

Presented by: Steve Behar, Director of Student ServicesPresented by: Steve Behar, Director of Student Services

Important Statistics

• 30% of foster youth perform below grade level.

• 50% of foster youth are held back in school.

• Of all foster youth who exit care prior to high school graduation, only 54% go on to receive a high school diploma.

• In California, less than 3% of foster youth go on to four-year colleges.

• Despite these low outcomes, the aspirations of foster youth are very high. 70% plan to attend college, and 19% plan to continue their education past college graduation.

Foster Children in Our District

• 116 children in the Lake Elsinore Unified School District during the 2008/09 school year were in out of home care

• K - 5th grade (5-10yrs) = 46

• 6 - 8th grade (11-13yrs)= 27

• 9th - 12th grade (14yrs and over)= 43

AB 490

“Everyone shares the duty to promote the educational progress of children in out-of-home placements.”

Placing agencies, the courts and the school districts all have a role to play in providing school stability for these students.

• Placement agencies have more accountability to consider the educational needs of the child being placed, and notify all parties involved when a change of placement is proposed.

• The courts are required to discuss any proposed school change with the child and the child’s education rights-holder, and may request a hearing within 2 days of receiving notice.

AB 490 Requires School Districts to:

• IMMEDIATELY ENROLL foster youth (even without uniforms, health/education records)

• TRANSFER RECORDS to a child’s new school within 2 business days

• ALLOW county placing agencies and probation officers to access student records

• DESIGNATE an AB 490 educational liaison for to help foster youth directly.

AB 490 Gives Foster Youth the Right to:

• SCHOOL STABILITY: remain in their original school when they enter foster care or move (if in their best interests)

• IMMEDIATE ENROLLMENT: be immediately enrolled in a new school (even without health/ education records)

• PARTIAL CREDIT: receive partial or full credit for work completed at other schools (all students have this right)

• FAIRNESS: not be punished for court-related absences.

Riverside County Foster Youth Student Information System

Benefits of this program will include:• Improved communications• Increased productivity• Faster and better decision making• Compliance with legal mandates• Unlimited expansion opportunities

• Safer, more productive life for youth