Foster Care
NYS and the Federal government have recognized the unique needs of children in foster care by providing guidance and enacting laws to increase educational stability and improve the educational outcomes achieved. The state and federal laws and guidance clarify joint responsibilities of educational and child welfare agencies to continually collaborate so that the provisions are successfully implemented and students in foster care achieve educational stability.
Updates and Memos
March 17 , 2022 - Students In Foster Care: Tool Kit for Local Education Agencies and Local Departments of Social Services - Revised 2022 ( 960 KB)
February 9, 2022 - Every Student Succeeds Act - ESSA Toolkit Updates ( )
OCFS Local Transportation Agreement for Students in Foster Care ( 170 kb)
OCFS Individual Transportation Agreement for a student in Foster Care ( 851 kb)
All forms in the toolkit are available as separate fillable forms on the Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) website: Form Search | Forms | OCFS (ny.gov)
August 21, 2018 - NYSED Memo: Educational Stability of Students in Foster Care New Law and Guidance Toolkit
January 2019 - The video recording from the Students in Foster Care – Broadcast Education Session on Educational Stability on October 29, 2018 has been posted at 10/29/18 Foster Care Video. Also posted are the presentation Power Point and hand outs from the training.
- This training is strongly encouraged for both school and local departments of social services' foster care points of contact, School Administrators, Finance and Business personnel, Directors of Pupil Transportation and other interested school personnel.
June 22, 2016 - US Department of Education Memo: Non-Regulatory Guidance: Ensuring Educational Stability for Children in Foster Care
April 2018 - Fostering Success in Education: National Factsheet on the Education Outcomes of Children in Foster Care
December 2, 2016 - NYSED Memo: Educational Stability and Transportation Provisions for Students in Foster Care
Laws and Regulations
Federal laws:
- Fostering Connections Act (FCA)
- Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
- Uninterrupted Scholars Act
State Laws
- Education Law §3244 - Education of children in foster care
- Education Law §3202 - Public schools free to resident pupils; tuition from nonresident pupils
Resources
- Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS)
- Pupil Transportation Services
- Foster Youth College Success Initiative Program
Points of Contacts (POC)
- Public School District Points of Contact for Foster Care
- Charter School Points of Contact for Foster Care
- List of Local District Social Services POC
NYSED Foster Care POC:
- Karen Hollowood
- 518-486-6090
- studentsupportservices@nysed.gov
NYSED Foster Care Transportation:
- Paul Overbaugh
- 518-474-6541
- emscmgts@nysed.gov
Office of Children and Family Services POC:
- 518-474-9462
- Ocfs.sm.cwcs.essa@ocfs.ny.gov