Advocates for Children of New York reposted this
A recent law review article from Sarah Part & Erika Palmer of Advocates for Children of New York analyzes New York City data, finding that "youth in the foster system have enormous potential that too often goes unrealized because the systems charged with their care and education fail to meet their needs, and even compound the challenges they face." However, "the troubling trends in attendance, exclusionary discipline, and academic achievement laid out in this article are by no means inevitable." Their recommendations to improve educational outcomes for youth in foster care include: - Train schools on the unique needs and legal rights of students in foster care and their families - Improve communication between schools, families, and child welfare professionals and ensure parents, foster parents, and child welfare staff all have timely access to educational information - Guarantee door-to-door transportation for students in foster care so they can continue to attend school without interruption - Collaborate with families, local departments of social services, and foster care agencies to promote school attendance - Revise policies to remove barriers that limit the full participation and success of students in foster care - Ensure students in foster care have access to a comprehensive, integrated system of behavioral and mental health services and are proactively supported through trauma-informed practices and other alternatives to suspension - Strengthen pathways to college, careers, and post-secondary programs, particularly for students on alternative routes to graduation - Publicly report educational data about students in foster care Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/eTVq9nMm