The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)

On December 10, 2015 the President signed into law the Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015 (ESSA), which reauthorized the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). The Every Student Succeeds Act establishes protections for children in foster care under Title I, Part A (Title I). These provisions complement the requirements of the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008 (Fostering Connections Act) and further promote the purpose of Title I – to ensure that all children receive a high-quality education and to close achievement gaps between student groups. Together these laws strengthen opportunities for educational agencies and child welfare agencies to jointly determine the most effective practices to remove enrollment barriers and promote school stability and success for students.

Ensuring Educational Stability for Children in Foster Care

Joint guidance from the U.S. Departments of Education and Health and Human Services about the implementation of the foster care provisions of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) was released on June 23, 2016. This link, http://www2.ed.gov/policy/elsec/leg/essa/index.html will guide you to historical and current resources and guidance. For additional information and resources, please visit our Law and Guidance page. The legal provisions went into effect on December 10, 2016, at which time state and local child welfare and education agencies began conversations about their shared responsibility to support the school stability and success of students in foster care. The foster care provisions of ESSA, coupled with the school stability provisions of the Fostering Connections Act, compel shared responsibility for school stability and success between child welfare and education agencies. This joint guidance offers details about the requirements under the law, provides examples from around the country about “what’s working” to support students in foster care, and serves as a critical resource in implementation efforts.

Local Points of Contact

Local Education Agency (LEA) Points of Contact (POCs) are essential for implementing ESSA. This section offers tools and resources for our LEA POCs to support our students in foster care and ensure their educational rights.

Law & Guidance

The ESEA of 1965 and ESSA are the primary pieces of federal legislation that address the educational needs of students in foster care. Learn more about the federal and state guidance in this section.

Resources

Supporting students in foster care requires collaboration. Here you will find links to state and national organizations and initiatives for supporting children and youth in foster care.