SSS

Student Support Services

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 (pdf icon 960 KB)

February 9, 2022 - Every Student Succeeds Act - ESSA Toolkit Updates (ppt external link)

OCFS Local Transportation Agreement for Students in Foster Care (pdf icon 170 kb)

OCFS Individual Transportation Agreement for a student in Foster Care (pdf icon 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 Careexternal link icon

December 2, 2016 - NYSED Memo: Educational Stability and Transportation Provisions for Students in Foster Care

Laws and Regulations

Federal laws:

State Laws

Resources

Points of Contacts (POC)

NYSED Foster Care POC:

NYSED Foster Care Transportation:

Office of Children and Family Services POC:

 

Last Updated: September 12, 2022